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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Issues Brief: Conflict Prevention, Post-conflict Peacebuilding and the Promotion of Durable Peace, Rule of Law and Governance

These briefs analyze conflict prevention, post-conflict peacebuilding and the promotion of durable peace, rule of law and governance as foundations and enablers of sustainable development. 

Issues Brief: Sustainable Development

2639issues_brief_on_peace_etc_final_21_nov.pdf

Security Council Open Debate on Peace and Justice: The Role of the ICC, October 2012

Overview

On Wednesday October 17th the Security Council held an open debate on Peace and Justice, with a special focus on the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Security Council Open Debate on the Rule of Law, July 2010

At the Open Debate on the Rule of law the Security Council and Member States discussed the role of the International Criminal Court, the strengthening of international law and ending impunity for violations of the law, and the listing and delisting processes for sanctions.

Security Council Open Debate on Security Sector Reform, October 2011

Overview

On 12 October 2011 the Security Council convened under the Presidency of Nigeria to discuss, with a particular focus on Africa, progress on and challenges associated with SSR. The open debate saw almost 30 speakers take the floor, including Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations and the Permanent Observer for the African Union, Téte António.

‘Gender equality and the empowerment of women and youth is pursued in a...

Extract: 

‘Gender equality and the empowerment of women and youth is pursued in all levels of decision making. Tuvalu has formulated in 2012 a "Family Protection Bill" that aims at safeguarding our women and girls against sexual and gender based violence, domestic violence and rape.

Second, as other like-minded countries have already done, Japan also intends ...

Extract: 

Second, as other like-minded countries have already done, Japan also intends to develop a national action plan regarding women, peace, and security, in cooperation with people working at the grass-roots level.

We wish especially that the international community define as a global priori...

Extract: 

“We wish especially that the international community define as a global priority the reduction of violence against women and children, as well as the universal access to justice. Only in a world without violence against women, providing justice for all, can a path be opened towards development based on full respect for human rights.”


I can inform this Assembly that in urban areas of Guatemala City where homici...

Extract: 

“I can inform this Assembly that in urban areas of Guatemala City where homicides, extortions and insecurity were prevalent, we have managed to reinstate peace and social coexistence.

To uphold peace and 'rule of law' and end a 'culture of impunity', my governm...

Extract: 

“To uphold peace and 'rule of law' and end a 'culture of impunity', my government remains pledge-bound to bring to justice the culprits of war crimes, crimes against humanity, rape, and genocide committed during our 1971 Liberation War.”

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