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.

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Justice SGBV HUman rights

Extract: 

We also call for greater efforts to promote and respect the human rights of women and girls as, well as to strengthen all efforts to effectively address gender- based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. For too long, sexual violence against women and girls has been committed on a systematic and widespread scale as a crime against humanity, or even a weapon of war.

SSR

Extract: 

Slovakia underlines the importance of the effective implementation of resolution 2151 (2014), on security sector reform. That landmark resolution underscores the importance of the equal and effective participation and full involvement of women in all stages of security sector reform.

SGBV SSR

Extract: 

On another level, in Senegal, a sectoral strategy implemented by the Ministries of Defence and Security has led to the institutionalization of the gender approach in actions taken by the Senegalese defence and security forces. Senegal has also adopted the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual or gender-based violence, particularly in peacekeeping operations.

Justice PK

Extract: 

Women are now deployed in all areas of peacekeeping and special political missions as part of the missions’ police, military and civilian personnel. More security personnel have been trained to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

SSR PEacekeeping AGBV

Extract: 

Portugal also reiterates its pledge to continue conducting training programmes for national personnel and members of the armed and security forces assigned to international peacekeeping missions on gender equality and violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings.

New Zealand SSR Part

Extract: 

That also means deploying more women in United Nations missions. And it means ensuring that those deployed — male and female — have the knowledge and training required to respond to challenges related to a lack of gender equality or women’s empowerment. That requires making greater effort within our national military and police forces.

Netherlands JUSTICE

Extract: 

That brings me to my second point, that is, the integration of resolution 1325 (2000) in our foreign and security policies. This is a key aim in the Netherlands. I will provide an example. In the joint Spanish-Dutch Gender in Operations training initiatives, we tried to teach diplomats and military personnel about gender and human rights issues.

Morocco SSR

Extract: 

Morocco has adopted a voluntary, proactive policy to entrench the principles of gender equality, which is now enshrined in my country’s Constitution. In addition to legislative texts, Morocco has committed itself to significant legal and institutional reforms to promote a culture of gender equality and the gender perspective.

Kenya Justice

Extract: 

The Kenyan Constitution, promulgated in 2010, now addresses structural discrimination challenges and protects and guarantees fundamental freedoms and the civic and socioeconomic rights of men and women equally.

Seminar on UN Security Council Reform: UNSC 2020 and 2050

Seminar on UN Security Council Reform.pdf

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