INTERNATIONAL: UN Seeks Advice from Civil Society Group on Role of Women in Peace and Security

As Security Council Resolution 1325 on the role of women in peace and security marks its tenth anniversary in 2010, the United Nations has appointed a group of independent experts to advise on ways to better protect women in conflict situations and ensure that their voices are heard in peace processes, and that they are included in post-conflict reconstruction and governance structures.

The group of experts will provide recommendations on a wide-range of issues, including assessing the impact of Resolution 1325 on women in the context of armed conflict over the past decade.

The group will also help identify time-bound goals and targets, along with measurement and accountability mechanisms to inform and guide the work of a UN High-Level Steering Committee set up by UN Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro.

The experts group, which will meet for the first time later this week in New York, will be co-chaired by President of Realizing Rights, Mary Robinson, and Executive Director of Femmes Africa Solidarité, Bineta Diop.

"Our advisory group is made up of individuals with long experience in addressing conflict situations.” says Mary Robinson, the co-chair of the Panel.

“We will be consulting with civil society organizations around the world and looking at a range of possible ways forward, including scaling up resources dedicated to protecting women in times of conflict as well as involving them more in building lasting and just peace." she added.

Other members of the advisory panel are: Salim Ahmed Salim (Tanzania), Elisabeth Rehn (Finland), Lahkdar Brahimi (Algeria), Hina Jilani (Pakistan), Sanam Anderlini (Iran/UK), Thelma Awori (Liberia/Uganda), Swanee Hunt (US), Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls (Fiji), Susana Villaran De La Puente (Peru), Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda (Zimbabwe), Zainab Salbi (Iraq/US) and Donald Steinberg (US).

The Advisory Group will receive secretariat support from the Women Leaders Intercultural Forum, a program of Realizing Rights; The Institute for Inclusive Security; and the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.