An Analysis Of Chapter Ten Of The Global Study: Key Actors for Women, Peace and Security: Monitoring and Accountability

By Anna Warrington

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon poses for a group photo with members of civil society groups in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. To his right is Ivan Šimonović, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights (UN Photo/Rick Bajornas)

 

Chapter ten of the Global Study on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 examines initiatives undertaken by United Nations, member states, regional organisations, media and civil society to accelerate national actions, measure progress and deliver better results on the ground on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda. It is vital for the effective implementation of UNSCR 1325 to advance the WPS agenda on the global, national and local level in order to ensure the inclusion of women at all levels of decision making as well as to increase the coordinated efforts among the United Nations, member states, regional organisations, media and civil society and allocate the necessary funding to the action plans.

 

Facts and Figures:

  • A review of 47 national action plans on women, peace and security in 2014 showed that only 11 had a budget (Global Study on 1325, 270);

  • As of May 2015, only 39 percent of UN Resident Coordinators were women. This number drops even further, to 19 percent, in conflict and post-conflict settings  (Global Study on 1325, 240);

  • A landmark study has found that most important factor was the strength of women’s organizations or the women’s movement in that country; however, the critical role of civil society – particularly women’s rights organisations, networks and movements – in NAP development and implementation is not adequately supported, resourced, or recognised (Global Study on 1325, 247);

  • Statistics that measure needs, gaps and progress on the ground in conflict and post-conflict settings remain scarce. That limits the ability to accurately capture the needs and challenges faced by women and girls in conflict situations (Global Study on 1325, 316).

 

Key recommendations:

  • Member States should provide capacity building and support the development, financing, implementation and monitoring of NAPs in conflict-affected countries that lack the resources to initiate and sustain a NAP development and implementation process, through partnerships, bilateral and multilateral cooperation (Global Study on 1325, 250);

  • Member States should also support and fund the attendance and meaningful participation of civil society organisations in regional decision-making processes (Global Study on 1325, 263);

  • Regional organisations should appoint high-level women, peace and security representatives to drive implementation at the regional level, building on the experience of the AU and NATO, establish channels for women leaders and civil society organisations to systematically contribute to the conflict-prevention and peacebuilding work of regional organisations (Global Study on 1325, 263);

  • The United Nations and regional organisations should collaborate to establish avenues for cross-learning and information exchange on gender-sensitive priorities and concerns pertaining to the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda (Global Study on 1325, 263).

  • The CEDAW Committee should consider expanding the extraordinary reporting function and hold special sessions to specifically examine conflict countries and their implementation of General Recommendation 30 (Global Study on 1325, 306).

 

For more information, see UN Women’s Global Study Factsheets or the entire Global Study on Women, Peace and Security.