SPEECH: UN Calls for Greater Conflict Resolution Role for Women; Najib Assifi, United Nations Population Fund's Deputy Regional Director for the Asia Pacific

The United Nations has released its latest report on the State of the World's Population.

And it finds that while the past ten years has seen falling adolescent birth rates and an increasing use of contraception, overall progress has slowed towards universal access to reproductive health. It also finds a continuing gulf between the the world's wealthiest and the poorest women, the best-educated and the least-educated as well as urban and rural women. This year's report also marks the tenth anniversary of the U-N Security Council resolution thirteen-twenty-five. That resolution called for the protection of women and girls from gender-based violence during armed conflict and for greater involvement by women in negotiating and implementing peace agreements.

Presenter: Linda LoPresti
Speaker: Najib Assifi, United Nations Population Fund's Deputy Regional Director for the Asia Pacific

LOPRESTI: Mr Assifi this year's report makes some chilling reading with graphic reminders of the savagery visited on women during wars of not that long ago, but also while recovery and reconciliation are now a feature of countries like Bosnia, Rwanda and Liberia, we still hear of horrors in war in clear violation of Security Council Resolution 1325. Is this resolution a failure?

ASSIFI: Well actually, no, not at all. I think it was a groundbreaking resolution that draws the attention of the states about the need that they should all join forces to ensure that womens rights are protected during the conflicts and that womens contribution for prevention of war and also for peacebuilding should be recognised. It is not a failure. However, fortunately still there are a lot of conflicts going on around the world and consequently womens life and rights are affected severely in these situations and of course this is regretted.

LOPRESTI: Well, the resolution called for the expansion of the role of women among military observers, civilian police, human rights officers, humanitarian personnel. Do you think that's occurred?

ASSIFI: Well, it is occurring in some places and some countries actually and we see women playing the role of negotiator, moderator and peacebuilders. But this is not enough. What is happening is not enough and we want the acknowledgement of the important role that women can play in prevention of war and peacebuilding and we feel that it is important that women are more involved for prevention of war for peacebuilding in negotiation and moderation in other roles. So therefore what is happening is great, but definitely is not sufficient and we want this to be scaled up.

LOPRESTI: Well, how do you think that the role of women as peacebuilders could apply, to example, in a current situation in a country like Afghanistan?

ASSIFI: Well in Afghanistan, unfortunately, as you know, the situation of women is getting worse right now. Women don't have access to basic social services in most cases, but while this happening, we also see quite a number of women who are actively involved in the peacebuilding situation. It is just that I think more effort needs to be made to engage women in discussion, in negotiation, and they have to give them space to voice their concern and their concern must be heard and must be acted upon.

LOPRESTI: Well, let's look at East Timor, which is featured in this report, a country whose recent history includes violent conflict, also with a high fertility rate and traditions backed by religion that disempower women. How is East Timor doing on these issues?

ASSIFI: Actually, there are a lot of actors working in East Timor on various issues to ensure womens rights are ensured and that women have stronger voice in various matters, including peacebuilding. So there are some progresses made, but we know that the maternal mortality in East Timor is still high and there is more work needed in that area. But what I am trying to say is that there are opportunities being provided to women and we know that in conflict and disaster, if women are given the opportunities, they can really become more effectively engaged in the process and contribute. So yes, in Timor Leste, the situation of women is not ideal, but I think there is a lot happening in the country and we're hoping that situation would change for the good.

LOPRESTI: Let's look very briefly at reproductive health, which is a major component of this report. Now, the report finds that progress on access to reproductive health has slowed since 2000. Why is that and what are the implications?

ASSIFI: You see the most important factor to ensure that women have access to reproductive health services are several. One is the availability of the services, that is hospitals, clinics and also the need for availability of trained health personnel to assist women during the anti-natal care and during the delivery is essential. In East Timor, currently many agencies, United Nations as well as others are working to improve the situation, to contribute to improving the access to health care services in the country.

LOPRESTI: And where do you think Asia-Pacific nations with all their diversity sit on measures like child and maternal mortality and access to reproductive health?

ASSIFI: Well overall, when you look at the Asia-Pacific region as a whole there has been some good news. There has been decrease in maternal mortality in some countries but the disparity remains and even within a single country, while in some parts of some provinces, there are improvements and others situations has not improved. In fact, that is an issue of concern for all United Nations agencies and others who are working on achievement of Millennium Development Goals, that we see that the progress toward achievement of Millennium Development Goal Number 5 which is on maternal health. The achievement there has not been very good, in fact it has been very uneven.

LOPRESTI: And just finally, Mr Assifi, it does seem reading this report that some progress has been made in past ten years as we said, that the progress has been somewhat mixed. What is your feeling for the next ten years?

ASSIFI: Well, I think what we all have to do is to be positive and keep doing what we're doing and engage with various stakeholders and that is the government of course, but also the faith-based organisations and the civil society as a whole. So one agency cannot do much, but if we all join forces, there is a hope that we can make a greater impact and improve the lives of women in various countries and against the issues of gender-based violence.