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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Combatting Sexual Violence in Conflict: Recommendations to States at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict (10-13 June 2014) - Amnesty International

In this paper, Amnesty International sets out a series of recommendations addressed to States, urging them to take steps to entrench long-lasting commitments to tackling impunity for sexual and gender-based violence in conflict in domestic law and policy, enhance international coordination and technical assistance, and ensure the empowerment and participation of survivors of these serious crimes under international law.

Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Pakistan: Why Policewomen Must Have a Role - Institute for Inclusive Security

Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies struggle to combat militant violence that contributes to political, economic, and social instability. To improve the operational effectiveness of Pakistani forces, the government of Pakistan and international donors must prioritize the recruitment, retention, and professionalization of women in the police.

WILPF Letter to Ambassadors on Security Council consideration of Yemen and Women, Peace and Security, February 2015

Letter to Security Council_Yemen_WILPF.pdf

Women, Peace and Security: Canada Moves Forward to Increase Women’s Engagement

Canada_Senatereport_1325.pdf

Civil Society Monitoring Report 2011: Liberia

GNWP_Monitoring_Liberia.pdf

EU NAP Comparison Table

EU_NAP Comparison table.pdf

Universal Periodic Review 10th Session: Nepal

Universal Periodic Review 10th Session: Nepal The Universal Periodic Review of Nepal took place on 25 January, 2011. First Deputy Prime Minister Sujota Koirala presented the National Report to the UPR Working Group, and addressed the country's recent turbulent history in the introductory remarks. In 2006, the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) was signed, ending the ten year long armed conflict between government forces and Maoist rebels.

Stressing that the best solution to the situation in Yemen is through a peace...

PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform
Human Rights
Extract: 

Stressing that the best solution to the situation in Yemen is through a peaceful, inclusive, orderly and Yemeni-led political transition process that meets the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Yemeni people for peaceful change and meaningful political, economic and social reform, as set out in the GCC Initiative and Implementation Mechanism and the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, welcoming Yemen's efforts to strengthen WOMEN's participation in political and public life, including through measures to ensure at least 30 per cent WOMEN candidates for national legislative elections and elected councils,

30 June 2012 leading to a genuine political transition that meets the legitim...

PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
General Women, Peace and Security
Participation
Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Extract: 

30 June 2012 leading to a genuine political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and enables them independently and democratically to determine their own future, and further stresses that rapid progress on a political solution should include full participation by all groups and segments of Syrian society, including WOMEN, and represents the only sustainable opportunity to resolve the situation in Syria peacefully, and that the implementation of this resolution is key to meeting the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people;

6. (b) Promote the rule of law and monitor and protect human rights, in accor...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Libya
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform
Human Rights
Extract: 

6. (b) Promote the rule of law and monitor and protect human rights, in accordance with Libya's international legal obligations, particularly those of WOMEN, children and people belonging to vulnerable groups, such as minorities and migrants, including through assisting the Libyan government to ensure the humane treatment of and due process for detainees, including children, and to implement fully its transitional justice law, and reform and build an independent judiciary and transparent and accountable law enforcement and correctional systems;

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