Reconstruction and Peacebuilding

The Reconstruction and Peacebuilding theme focuses on the application of a gender perspective to peacebuilding. The response of local, national, and international systems to women’s priorities in post-conflict situations can significantly impact stability and development.

The realisation of women’s right to full participation in preventing, resolving and recovering from conflict, is critical to building sustainable peace and the fulfilment of human security. Furthermore, the response of local, national and international systems to women’s priorities in post-conflict situations, can significantly impacts the stability and development of communities.

The engagement of women in early stages of peacemaking can increase gender analysis in post-conflict planning, lead to improved outcomes for women, and enhance their capacity to participate in longer-term peacebuilding. However, women’s rights and concerns should not be dependent on the presence of women in peace processes. Systems must be in place to ensure their inclusion is standard operating procedure.

In SCR 1325, the Security Council recognises that addressing the unique needs of women and girls during post-conflict reconstruction requires integrating a gender perspective at all stages (1325,OP8). The Security Council acknowledges the need to counter negative societal attitudes regarding women’s equal capacity for involvement, and calls for the promotion of women’s leadership and support for women’s organizations (1889,OP1). In addition, the Security Council requests training on the protection, rights and needs of women in all peacebuilding measures (1325,OP6).

To achieve this, the Security Council tasks the Secretary-General to report on challenges and make recommendations relevant to the participation of women and gender mainstreaming in peacebuilding and recovery efforts (1888,OP19). In response, the Secretary-General issued a report on women’s participation in peacebuilding in 2010. The report details the challenges obstacles women must confront in participating in recovery and peacebuilding efforts, and advocates for a Seven-Point Action Plan to respond to these challenges.


First, the plan calls to increase women’s engagement in peace processes and to address gender issues in the context of peace agreements. Secondly, the plan urges for the inclusion of gender expertise at senior levels in the UN’s mediation support activities. Thirdly, the plan notes that, while the international community cannot control the gender composition of the negotiating parties, it must investigate strategies for the inclusion of more women. Fourthly, the plan calls for the establishment of mechanisms to ensure that negotiating parties engage with women’s civil society organisations. The Action Plan’s fifth commitment involves increasing the proportion of women decision makers in post-conflict governance institutions. The sixth point addresses rule of law, emphasising the importance of issues such as women’s access to justice and a gender perspective to legal reform. The Action Plan’s seventh commitment is concerned with women’s economic empowerment. The Action Plan’s implementation remains the challenge.

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We have established under this Action Plan five main strategic objectives, tr...

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We have established under this Action Plan five main strategic objectives, translated into thirty specific objectives, for which implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are identified and developed. These are:To increase women's participation and mainstream gender equality in all phases of peace building processes and at all levels of decision-making;

To promote capacity building of those involved in peace building and developm...

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To promote capacity building of those involved in peace building and development aid efforts on gender equality and gender-based violence, as well as other aspects covered by UNSCR 1325 and 1820;

Portugal believes that important progress has been accomplished in the implem...

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Portugal believes that important progress has been accomplished in the implementation of 1325 and the other important resolutions that have followed. However, we all recognize that significant challenges still remain. On the one hand, women are still underrepresented at all levels of peacekeeping and peace building efforts and they are poorly represented in formal peace negotiations.

It is our understanding that women are indispensable actors of change and &mi...

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It is our understanding that women are indispensable actors of change and ·development. Therefore, it is fundamental to overcome the traditional perspective of these actors as mere vulnerable victims in need of protection and to implement measures that guarantee that their perspective is taken into all stages of peace building processes by the international and local actors involved.

The Philippines attaches great importance to the integration of gender equali...

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The Philippines attaches great importance to the integration of gender equality perspectives in peace and security issues. This is demonstrated by the fact that five years before the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the Philippines had already established the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development, 1995-2025, a 30-year plan that gives due recognition to the important role of women in peacebuilding efforts and initiatives.

I am pleased to say that this year, on 25 March 2010, the Philippines became ...

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I am pleased to say that this year, on 25 March 2010, the Philippines became the first Asian country to adopt a national action plan on women and peace and security, implementing Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). Our plan envisions enhancing and strengthening women's role in peacebuilding processes.

We must also bear in mind that, as the Secretary-General recalled, the securi...

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We must also bear in mind that, as the Secretary-General recalled, the security of women and girls is not guaranteed once a conflict has come to an end. We must therefore ensure that there is a focus in post-conflict phases on the strengthening of the rule of law that ensures respect for their rights and access to justice.

Ten years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), we reiterate that the...

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Ten years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), we reiterate that the participation of women must be an integral part of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts. This is the view of my country, which currently has a number of female military observers.

Resolution 1325 (2000) was the starting point for subsequent developments in ...

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Resolution 1325 (2000) was the starting point for subsequent developments in the Security Council related to this topic, aimed at ensuring the participation of women in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and the fight against sexual violence against women and girls.

As indicated by the Secretary-General in his report on women's participation ...

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As indicated by the Secretary-General in his report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466), women are decisive agents in the three pillars of lasting peace: economic recovery, social cohesion and political legitimacy.

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