Security Council Resolution 1888 - News

The annual United Nations report documenting conflict-related sexual violence around the world today for the first time names some of the military forces, militia and other armed groups that are suspected of being among the worst offenders.

If war is still a man's game, what is particular to women that they bring of value to the peace table? And what would be the implications for the U.N.'s work if this was clearly articulated and factored into decision-making?

A growing list of U.N. Security Council Resolutions acknowledges the importance of gender in processes for peace. Resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889 and 1960 note that women continue to be marginalised in peace negotiations and their potential is not fully utilised in humanitarian planning, peacekeeping operations, peace building, governance and reconstruction.

Twenty years ago, the first “Zene u Crnom” demonstration in Belgrade was held on October 11, 1991 to protest against rape and ethnic cleansing. This was one of the first Women in Black demonstrations to be held outside Jerusalem, where Israeli and Palestinian women had started a weekly vigil in 1989. Since then, the Women in Black movement has spread around the world, from India to Colombia, London to Seattle.

After curving through miles of Quebec's countryside, the road to Montebello arrives at an enormous log cabin along the Ottawa River. Busloads of women pull up, from Rwanda, Colombia, the Congo, Mexico, Bosnia, Burma -- women who think they can change the world. .

It is a crime that is perpetrated against the most vulnerable members of the world's most broken societies – one that destroys the lives of its victims and rips apart the fabric of communities.

The President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, will tomorrow Tuesday June 8th 2010 launch the ‘Sierra Leone National Action Plan (SiL NAP) on United Nation Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820.' This special event, is hosted by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender & Children's Affairs (MSWGCA) in collaboration with the United Nations, Cordaid, WANEP, WANMAR 1325 and Femme Africa Solidarite.

They work like stepping stones to pave a major fresh path in women's history: First 1325, then 1820, now 1888. These are U.N. resolutions that in the past 15 or so years have put wartime sexual violence on the international policy map.

Margot Wallström starts March 1 her two-year stint as special U.N. representative on ending conflict-zone sexual violence. She says she'll be going right away to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a global epicenter of mass rape.

Joe Ratnam, a spokesman for the US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC), said, "USTPAC endorses and supports Secretary Clintons speech at the UN Security Council on September 30 on the new Resolution 1888". The resolution requests Secretary General to "appoint a Special Representative to lead, coordinate and advocate for efforts to end sexual violence." The Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution, which also calls on the Secretary-General to rapidly deploy a team of experts to work with governments to strengthen the rule of law, address impunity and enhance accountability. During her speech Secretary Clinton stated, "Rape has been used as weapon of war in the Balkans, Burma and Sri Lanka and elsewhere."