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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Statement of Sweden on the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, October, 2015

H.E. Olof Skoog Rep of Sweden at the UN Security Council open debate on WPS (1).pdf

Statement of European Union, October, 2015

Extract: 

We will improve the way we measure the impact of our actions, in order to enhance accountability. In this context:

- The EU will update the indicators for its Comprehensive Approach to Implementation of UNSC Resolutions 1325 and 1820, to measure more effectively the impact of our action.

Statement of European Union, October, 2015

Extract: 

The EU's approach to WPS is to ensure that the agenda aims to:

- promote and protect the human rights of women and their participation as positive agents of change, agents of peace and development, and

- make conflict resolution and peacebuilding more effective,
- while we must also protect women in situations of conflict, and prevent them from becoming victims or perpetrators.

Statement of European Union on the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, October, 2015

Mr. Mara Marinaki of European Union at the UN Security Council open debate on WPS.pdf

Statement of Italy, October, 2015

Extract: 

Thus the participation of women in negotiations becomes fundamental to guarantee adequate intervention in the phases following the signing of peace agreements. Even more fundamental is the inclusion of gender issues at the negotiating table to not render the presence of women completely irrelevant.

Statement of Brazil, October, 2015

Extract: 

Brazil sees protection and empowerment as inseparable aspects of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Women and girls are not just entitled to safety, but also to an active voice. No decision concerning women should be adopted without consultation and consideration oftheir unique perspective.

Statement of African Union on the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, October, 2015

H.E Mrs. Bineta Dio of African Union at the UN Security Council open debate on WPS.pdf

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: July 2016

For July, in which Japan has the presidency of the UN Security Council, the MAP provides recommendations on the situations in the Central African Republic, Cyprus, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and West Africa.

Realising the vision for gender justice: what needs to change in 2015

Christian Aid Report.pdf

Civil Society Consultation on the Work of the President of the UN General Assembly’s Commission of Experts on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System

2009_ngls_civil-society-consultation-on-reform-of-the-international-monetary-and-financia-system.pdf

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