Participation

The Participation theme focuses on women’s representation and participation in peace processes, electoral process – as both the candidate and voter – UN decision-making positions, and in the broader social-political sphere.

The Security Council acknowledges the need for strategies to increase women’s participation in all UN missions and appointments to high-level positions in SCR 1325(OP3) and 1889(OP4) and further emphasises the need for women’s participation in peacebuilding processes (1889). 

Specifically, it calls for the mobilisation of resources for advancing gender equality and empowering women (OP14), reporting on the progress of women’s participation in UN missions (OP18), equal access to education for women and girls in post-conflict societies (OP11), and the increase of women’s participation in political and economic decision-making (OP15). Until this language translates into action, the potential for women’s full and equal contribution to international peace and security will remain unrealized.

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INTERNATIONAL: Women in Politics, Women in Public Service

"Show me something that is not transformed by the other half of the human race." -- Gloria Steinem

INTERNATIONAL: Occupy the Media: The Women's International Perspective in 2012

2011 was a remarkable year. People no longer conceded to sit idly while unjust economic policies and governments denied them prosperous futures. Around the world citizens began to occupy the establishment. At these global protests and uprisings women were common symbols - holding placards, marching in the streets, and speaking truth to power.

INTERNATIONAL: Q&A Somali Advocate Represents Refugee Community at UNHCR Ministerial Meeting

Fatuma Elmi, a resettled refugee from Somalia, recently attended an international conference on the world's forcibly displaced and stateless organized the UN refugee agency.The meeting took place last month at the organization's headquarters in Geneva.

KURDISTAN: Women's Rights Activist Sentenced to 6+ Years

Ronak Saffarzadeh is a Kurdish women's rights activist, and signatory to “One million signatures campaign for the repeal of discriminatory laws against women”.

ISRAEL: 250 Women Dance in Beit Shemesh Protest Flashmob

More than 250 women participated in a flashmob in Beit Shemesh Friday morning, dancing in protest of gender segregation in public spaces.

SOMALIA: COGWO Says: 'Who Knows Role of the Somali Women for the Peace?'

High decorated ceremony organized by the organization of the Somali women known as COGWO that focused on the role of the women for the peace and development of the Somali society took place in the capital Mogadishu on Monday.

NORTH AFRICA: For Arab Women, Change in the Digital Reality is Coming, but Slowly

By all standards, 2011 was quite an exceptional year for men and women in the Arab world. It was a year of dramatic transitions marked by the so-called Arab Spring of political democratization and social emancipation. It all started in Tunisia, going through Egypt and Libya in the West, and continuing to drag on in both Yemen and Syria in the East.

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