Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform

The Justice, Rule of Law, and Security Sector Reform theme focuses on the application of a gender perspective into the post-conflict process of reforming security and justice institutions, with the aim of ensuring transparent, accountable, and effective services.

Huge gaps remain in area of security sector and justice reform although the United Nations and the Women, Peace and Security resolutions have stressed that Justice and SSR must be gender sensitive throughout planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation phases.

The Women, Peace, and Security resolutions stress the particular need for improved security sector responses to address and prevent SGBV. Member States are urged to undertake comprehensive legal and judicial reform to better protect women from violence (1888, OP6). Reiterating the call for prosecutions to end impunity (1325,OP11), Member States are called upon to investigate and bring perpetrators of sexual violence to justice (1820,OP4; 1888,OP6).

To help strengthen national judicial systems, and identify gaps in national responses to sexual violence, the Security Council requests that a UN team of experts work with national officials to enhance criminal responsibility for crimes of sexual violence (1888,OP8). Vetting armed forces to ensure the exclusion of those associated with past actions of rape and other forms of sexual violence is an essential component of Justice and SSR (1820, OP3; 1888, OP3). Finally, it is critical that access to justice, protection, and redress for survivors of sexual violence is ensured (1820, OP4; 1888,OP6-7).

The resolutions set out specific obligations, in addition to broader guidelines, for transitional justice and justice reform within SSR. Women’s rights must be ensured in the reform and rebuilding of the police and judiciary (1325,OP8), and within peace agreements. To facilitate this, SCR 1820 calls for the inclusion of women and women’s organisations in all UN-assisted reform efforts (OP10). Justice and SSR are crucial components of peacebuilding, and have a direct impact on a country’s ability to achieve sustainable peace. Both gender mainstreaming in policy making, and the participation of women, are integral to successful reform.

For more resources on this Critical Issue, visit PeaceWomen Resource Center >>

The UN has a number of effective tools at its disposal to help push forward t...

Extract: 

The UN has a number of effective tools at its disposal to help push forward this objective. The Security Council, for example, could designate consistent leadership within the Council on this issue and consider methods to maintain its engagement in a more comprehensive manner.

As you are aware, Mr. President, Ireland launched a cross-learning initiative...

Extract: 

As you are aware, Mr. President, Ireland launched a cross-learning initiative on 1325 in 2009. Yesterday afternoon, I had the honour to present the findings of this initiative to the head of UN Women, Under-Secretary General Michelle Bachelet.

There is, however, no room for complacency, Mr. President. Recent events in t...

Extract: 

There is, however, no room for complacency, Mr. President. Recent events in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone highlight that much more remains to be done. The objectives and principles of 1325 underpin the core tenets of international human rights law, international humanitarian law as well as the UN Charter itself.

One important issue highlighted throughout the cross-learning initiative was ...

Extract: 

One important issue highlighted throughout the cross-learning initiative was the urgent need to fight against the culture of impunity in relation to sexual violence. Impunity and justice are mutually exclusive; to let perpetrators of sexual violence roam free is to tell their victims that the world is not listening. But we must listen. And we must act.

Let me also add my voice to other speakers who had called for greater deploym...

Extract: 

Let me also add my voice to other speakers who had called for greater deployment of female military and police personnel to United Nations peacekeeping operations, and to provide all military and police personnel with adequate training to carry out their responsibilities. In this regard, we encourage, especiallly those who champion the importance of participation of women peacekeepers and also have the inclination and capacity, to do so.

We hold the view that the slow progress of Member States in fully implementin...

Extract: 

We hold the view that the slow progress of Member States in fully implementing resolution 1325 (2000) is the result of poor monitoring, lack of awareness at the national, regional and international levels, lack of capacity to operationalize the resolution, compartmentalization of issues raised by the resolution, poor coordination among various security sectors, and poor funding and stereotyping of the resolution as a women-only tool.

Protection of women and their participation in all parts of society are two s...

Extract: 

Protection of women and their participation in all parts of society are two sides of the same medal. Resolution 1325 clearly stipulates that women must be seen as active players whose contributions in all aspects of peace-building and peace-keeping processes are absolutely essential for the (re-) construction of societies and in achieving sustainable peace and development.

Everyone agrees that women and children are the main targets of armed conflic...

Extract: 

Everyone agrees that women and children are the main targets of armed conflict. They make up the majority of refugees and displaced persons in the world. Violence against women and girls is a flagrant violation of human rights. Those responsible for such heinous crimes should be prosecuted and brought to justice.

As an additional tool, I wish to highlight the potential of the Justice Rapid...

Extract: 

As an additional tool, I wish to highlight the potential of the Justice Rapid Response mechanism, a multilateral stand-by facility to deploy rapidly criminal justice and related professionals, trained for international investigations and at the service of States and international institutions.

Finally, a few words on the centrality of the work against impunity and due a...

Extract: 

Finally, a few words on the centrality of the work against impunity and due attention to the victims of human rights violations and serious crimes. Justice for victims is essential in restoring the confidence of the people in their government and in promoting sustainable peace. There should never be amnesties for the most serious crimes, including sexual and gender based violence, which can constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Pages