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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First, the prevention of armed conflict-related sexual violence must be addre...

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First, the prevention of armed conflict-related sexual violence must be addressed at its root cause, that is, the prevention of armed conflicts itself. Mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution must be implemented.

We emphasize the need for greater attention to be paid to restoration of the ...

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We emphasize the need for greater attention to be paid to restoration of the rights and rehabilitation of victims of serious violations, in particular in cases of abuse and sexual exploitation.

The natural feedback between protection and participation is probably the cor...

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The natural feedback between protection and participation is probably the core concept emerging from resolution 1325 (2000), in which the Council reaffirmed the important role played by women in preventing and resolving conflicts and in peacebuilding. In that regard, we are concerned over the low representation of women at various levels

Lamentably, despite the progress made in recent years, as a troop-contributin...

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Lamentably, despite the progress made in recent years, as a troop-contributing country we can say that in the areas of peacekeeping and peacebuilding, civilians, in particular women and girls, continue to be those most severely affected by conflict and in post-conflict situations

Lasting peace can be achieved only if women are more involved in decision-mak...

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Lasting peace can be achieved only if women are more involved in decision-making processes relating to peacebuilding and post-conflict development, which are necessary for the sustainable development of our societies.

We note that this year report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related se...

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We note that this year report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence (S/2014/181) contains references to the Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka (A/HRC/25/L.1/Rev.1), accountability and a comprehensive truth and reconciliation commission. We are disappointed that such issues, which have no relevance to that before us, have been dragged into this report.

The Government of Sri Lanka has implemented a firm policy on sexual violence ...

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The Government of Sri Lanka has implemented a firm policy on sexual violence and taken firm action on reported cases of violence against women and girls during the conflict and the post-conflict periods in my country. Sri Lanka has deplored all violence against women and has a well-established policy against gender-based violence and all forms of sexual abuse.

The Government has given special consideration to uplifting the social and ec...

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The Government has given special consideration to uplifting the social and economic status of war widows. Bilateral assistance has already been obtained to initiate a self-employment programme for war widows in Batticaloa in collaboration with the Self Employed Women's Association, based in India.

Significantly, no credible evidence has been directly brought to the attentio...

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Significantly, no credible evidence has been directly brought to the attention of Government authorities by any of the parties. The Government has not been provided the evidence — which is claimed to be in the possession of the authors of these reports — in order to investigate and respond.

Legal action has been taken by the Government in all of the above-mentioned c...

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Legal action has been taken by the Government in all of the above-mentioned cases in which Sri Lankan Security Forces personnel were involved. The military has taken stringent action, including discharging offenders or imposing other punishments in accordance with the military and penal codes. Furthermore, charges have also been filed in normal criminal courts.

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