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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Statement of Palestine at the Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, April 18, 2016

Myanmar’s new cabinet: national reconciliation without equality

Security Council Resolution 2252: Para. 2

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Sudan
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Participation
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding
Extract: 

2. Urges all parties to engage in an open and fully inclusive national dialogue seeking to implement lasting peace, reconciliation and good governance, including through the full and effective participation of youth, women, diverse communities, faith groups, civil society, and all political parties, and encourages the efforts of the JMEC, IGAD, the AU, and the United Nations to support implementation of the Agreement by the parties; 

Security Council Resolution 2250: Reintegration Clause.

PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding
Extract: 

17. Encourages all those involved in the planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration to consider the needs of youth affected by armed conflict, including, inter alia, such specific aspects as: (a) evidence-based and gender-sensitive youth employment opportunities, inclusive labour policies, national youth employment action plans in partnership with the private sector, developed in partnership with youth and recognising the interrelated role of education, employment and training in preventing the marginalisation of youth; (b) investment in 

Security Council Resolution 2247.

Security Council Resolution S/RES/2239: para. 2

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Liberia
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding
Extract: 

2. Encourages the Government of Liberia to prioritize national reconciliation and economic recovery, to combat corruption and to promote efficiency and good governance, in particular by continuing to strengthen transparency and accountability, including by managing effectively Liberia’s natural resources, emphasizes the importance of pursuing a national reconciliation and social cohesion strategy through concrete measures to promote national healing, justice and reconciliation at all levels and involving all Liberian stakeholders and recognizes the efforts of the Government of Liberia to support enhancing the participation of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, including in decision-making roles in postconflict governance institutions and the broad range of reform efforts;

Security Council Resolution S/RES/2238.

Security Council Resolution S/RES/2235.

Security Council Resolution S/RES/2228: para. 24.

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Sudan
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Participation
Peace Processes
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding
Extract: 

24. Demands that the parties to the conflict immediately cease all acts of sexual and gender-based violence and make and implement specific and time -bound commitments to combat sexual violence, in accordance with resolution 2106 (2013); urges the Government, with the support of the United Nations and African Union, to develop a structured framework through which conflict related sexual violence will be comprehensively addressed, and to allow access for service provision for sexual violence survivors; requests UNAMID to strengthen its reporting on sexual and gender-based violence and actions taken to combat it, including through the swift deployment of Women Protection Advisers; requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the relevant provisions of resolution 1325 (2000), and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security, are implemented, including supporting the full and effective participation of women during all stages of peac e processes, particularly in conflict resolution, post-conflict planning and peacebuilding, including women’s civil society organizations, and to include information on this in his reporting to the Council; and further requests UNAMID to monitor and assess the implementation of these tasks and requests the Secretary-General to include information on this in his reporting to the Council

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