2008: A Year for Action - Responses to Sexual & Gender Based Violence

1. EDITORIAL
Sam Cook

Welcome to this, the first edition of the PeaceWomen 1325 E-News for 2008. This year will be an important one for the PeaceWomen Project as we look forward to the 100th Edition of the E-News at the end of April and exciting plans for developing our website. More importantly, however, we approach this year in the hope that it will be one in which strides are made in concrete implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325. For this we need action. We have thus taken an action-oriented approach to this month's edition. In focusing on responses to sexual violence in conflict, we hope to reveal some of the ways in which a multiplicity of actors have responded to an issue which has, over the course of the last year, come to receive much needed public attention.

As our news section (Item 2) reveals, this problem is one that continues in conflicts around the world and sadly, although not surprisingly, has revealed itself in new points of crisis as in the case of Kenya. What these stories also reveal, however, is that there are many actors who are attempting to respond to this violence. To be comprehensive and effective, there needs to be action on many levels – from directly addressing incidents of violence, to addressing the circumstances of gender inequality in which it takes place. This range is reflected in this month's news – from targeted fundraising efforts within the UN to the development of a strategic approach by ministers in South Asia; calls for funding of gender equality programmes in South Africa; and calls for women's participation in elections in Angola and in the Juba peace talks. In the case of Kenya, there are several calls to action including that of the World YWCA – in our Feature Initiatives section (Item 3) – to, amongst other things, say no to impunity.

Certainly no actions or response to sexual violence will ever be fully effective if impunity is not addressed. As noted in our Feature Resource (Item 4) in relation to the situation of Afghan women, law alone is note enough. Ending impunity will require efforts at the national level and a demonstrated commitment by international actors to ensuring justice for women and the establishment of real and sustainable peace. The commitment of international actors must, however, be one that addresses the needs and concerns of local actors and one that supports these, the most critical of actors. The Congolese Women's Campaign Against Sexual Violence in the DRC (Item 3) calls for just such an approach. Through this Congolese women too are calling for an end to impunity but also, for effective reparation and responses to the violence in the DRC that are effective on the ground. As the campaign notes, “the scope of sexual violence in the DRC is a well known reality….and initiatives and calls for mobilization against sexual violence have multiplied over the last four years, but have not brought any concrete results on the ground.” This campaign thus “aims to ensure that the assistance mobilized goes directly to the victims.”

The area of support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel is one in which there has, in fact, been a very positive development. In December of 2007, the General Assembly adopted a strategy to assist victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel. The adoption of such a strategy is something for which advocates have been pushing for several years. The strategy is featured in our Gender and Peacekeeping Update (Item 5) along with other news and resources on the topic. It is an important development in ensuring that victims are supported through the UN system – either through being guided to appropriate services when they first bring complaints – or through access to existing resources once such complaints have been established. It also sees important recognition of responsibilities towards children born as a result of these incidents. Although no additional resource commitments have been made by member states at this point, establishing a dedicated fund may be something that will receive attention in the future. The strategy has a built in opportunity for review and reporting after two years. It is thus important that advocates monitor closely the effectiveness of the strategy as it is implemented. Responding to sexual exploitation and abuse more broadly is also the subject of our featured peacekeeping resource from Refugees International (Item 5)

Advances in these concrete and specific ways are vital to implementation of Resolution 1325 and the contribution from the NGO Working Group on women, peace and security (Item 7) puts forward this approach in its preview of the year of advocacy ahead. We at the PeaceWomen Project look forward to working with all of you in this coming year to advance 1325 and ensure accountability for its implementation.

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We continue to welcome contributions to the newsletter's content. Contributions for the January 2008 edition should be sent to enewssubmissions@peacewomen.org by Thursday 14 February 2008.

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2. WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY NEWS

Global: How did women fare in 2007?
Januay 15, 2008 - (Pambazuka News) Last year saw three female presidents come into power. In Argentina, left-leaning Cristina Fernandez was elected president, becoming the country's second ever woman to occupy its highest office. In her inaugural speech, Fernandez vowed to ensure the conclusion of the numerous human rights abuses cases arising from the dictatorship era from 1976 to 1983.

UN expert urges action to help women victims of violence in DR Congo
January 25, 2008 – An independent United Nations expert today called for international action to help women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who have been victimized by violence, including sexual abuse and rape, perpetrated by both militia and Government troops and fostered by a culture of impunity.

UN Heads Petition to Curb Gender Violence
January 23, 2008 – (AllAfrica) The United Nations Foundation (UNF) will donate $1 for each of the first 100 000 signatures to an online petition aimed at eliminating violence against women.

Kenya: Top UN Official Spotlights Spike in Sexual Violence During Crisis
January 22, 2008 - (UN News Service) With reports of increasing sexual assaults against women displaced by Kenya's post-election violence, a senior United Nations official today called on the global community to recognize such crimes as an affront to basic human rights

South asia:SAARC to focus on six areas to end violence against women
January 19, 2008 -(India eNews) The sixth South Asia regional ministerial conference, which ended here Saturday, identified six priority areas for the next two years to tackle gender inequality and violence against women.
The representatives of the eight South Asian Association for Regional cooperation (SAARC) countries deliberated on a range of issues related to the condition of women for three days here at the meeting hosted by India's Ministry of Women and Child Development and Unifem, the UN fund for women.

Arab World Forum Shares Gender Field Notes
January 18, 2008 - (WOMENSENEWS) Gender research in the Arab region drew conference participants from across the Middle East and North Africa this week. While challenges and restrictions are abundant at women's studies centers, degrees and programs are growing. But not everyone could make it.

Angola: Women Called to Participate in Legislative Elections
January 18, 2008 – (AllAfrica) The secretary general of Angola's ruling MPLA party' Women Wing (OMA), Luzia Inglês Van-Dúnem "Inga", Friday in Luanda, appealed to women to actively participate in the training for leadership and win trust to vote.

South Africa: Govt Must Fund Gender Programmes
January 17, 2008 – (AllAfrica) Government should channel finances towards gender equality and women's empowerment programmes, says Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi.

FIJI ISLANDS:A RESPONSE TO THE LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF BUILDING A BETTER FIJI TODAY
January 16, 2008 -(femLINKPACIFIC) The Interim Prime Minister / Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces' willingness to consider establishing a specific working group to review the role of the military in Fiji as part of the process of the People's Charter is a welcome move, and a positive indication of addressing and curbing the coup cycle culture in Fiji. It will also be an opportunity to review the security sector in Fiji and contribute to the desired conflict transformation process in Fiji says femLINKPACIFIC Coordinator, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: HIGH RATE OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
January 16, 2008 - (The National) Studies conducted by the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) reveal an alarming rate of gender-based violence (GBV) cases.

KENYA: Health workers grappling with conflict-related sexual violence
January 15, 2008 - (IRIN) As Kenya counts the human and material cost of the political violence, hospitals are reporting an increase in reported rapes during the immediate post-election period, spurring the government and health organisations to find ways to treat these cases as well as protect the displaced from further incidents of sexual violence.

Uganda: NGO Pleads for Inclusion of Women in Juba Peace Talks
January 11, 2008 – (The Monitor) The government and the Lords Resistance Army have been asked to increase the number of women participating in the South Sudan mediated peace talks, an international NGO has appealed.

COLOMBIA: Hostages' Release, Seen from the Other Side
January 11, 2008 - (IPS) While the international spotlight was shined on two women hostages released by Colombia's FARC guerrillas, IPS interviewed by telephone a woman who reflects the other side of the hostage crisis.

Zambia: Gender Violence Haunts HIV Positive Women
January 7, 2008 – (AllAfrica) Violence against Zambian women is hindering them from accessing and adhering to HIV treatment, claims a new report by an international human rights group.

Afghanistan sets up panels for women's rights
January 6, 2008 - (India eNews) The Afghanistan Ministry for Women Affairs has constituted two new organisations to protect women's rights, a local newspaper reported Sunday.

Dutch Action Plan 1325
January 2008 - (WPP In Action) "Resolution 1325 (2000) holds out a promise to women across the globe that their rights will be protected and that barriers to their equal participation and full involvement in the maintenance and promotion of sustainable peace will be removed. We must uphold this promise" (UN Secretary-General's 2004 report on Women, Peace and Security).

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For more regional women, peace and security news, CLICK HERE

For more international women, peace and security news, CLICK HERE

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3. FEATURE Initiatives

Congolese Women's Campaign Against Sexual Violence in the DRC

January 2008
The Congolese Women's Campaign Against Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is an initiative launched by women's associations in Eastern DRC to bolster the fight against sexual violence. The Campaign is supported by the Coalition for Women's Rights in Conflict Situations.

The scope of sexual violence in the DRC is a well known reality that has been documented and reported by media, NGOs, international institutions and States. Initiatives and calls for mobilization against sexual violence have multiplied over the last four years, but have not brought any concrete results on the ground. Born of the need to bolster the fight against sexual violence, the Campaign aims to ensure that the assistance mobilized goes directly to the victims.

To sign the online petition, please click here

For more information on the campaign, please click here

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World YwCA Call for Action

Elections in Kenya resulted in nearly 500 deaths and 250, 000 people are displaced in the search for safety. Amidst the violence women have been systematically raped and abused. Gang rape as a means of retaliation is on the increase and the Nairobi Women's Hospital has recorded a two-fold increase in rape cases in recent days.The Kenya government last year passed a progressive sexual offence law and it must be exercised at this time.

The World YWCA is calling on member associations, civil society, partners and donors to take the action to alleviate the suffering in Kenya by:
1. Donating and supporting ongoing efforts
2. Advocating for women's inclusion in peace building
3. Saying ‘No' to impunity for rape and abuse of women
4. Dedicating a prayer session to Kenya

For more information, please click HERE

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For more Global & Regional Initiatives, click HERE

For more Country-specific Initiatives, click HERE

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4. FEATURE Resource

Evaluation Report on General Situation of Women in Afghanistan
Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission

Women's rights are enshrined in most international human rights treaties to which Afghanistan has joined, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thus, the Afghan government has an obligation, also mentioned in the Constitution, to observe and respect women rights.

Article 7 of the Constitution reads, “The State must abide by the UN Charter, international treaties and international convention that Afghanistan has signed, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”Article 22 of the Constitution says, “Any kind of discrimination and privilege between the citizens of Afghanistan are prohibited. The citizens of Afghanistan whether man or woman has equal rights and duties before the law.”

However, despite all these treaties and laws and relative development of women in recent years, a myriad of problems for women in political, social, and cultural spheres still persist. One clear example of this is the continuation of sexual and gender-based violence that women experience in Afghanistan.

This report has been prepared on the basis of a study on general status of Afghan women made by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.

To read the full report, please click HERE

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For more women, peace and security resources, click HERE

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5. Gender and Peacekeeping update

Gender and Peacekeeping News

Haiti: UN organizes workshop for police to address problem of sexual violence
January 25, 2008 –(UN News) United Nations police have trained their Haitian counterparts serving in Jacmel on dealing with sexual crimes as part of a broader campaign to tackle the problem.

press conference by headquarters, field mission gender advisers
January 18, 2008 - (UN Press Release) The establishment of gender units in all United Nations peace missions had been an important outgrowth of the Security Council's adoption of its landmark resolution 1325 (2000), which emphasizes increased participation by women at all levels of decision-making in formal peace processes, Comfort Lamptey, Gender Adviser in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations said today.

Gender issues in UN peacekeeping focus of New York gathering
January 16, 2008 – (UN News Centre) Gender advisers and focal points from all United Nations peacekeeping missions are meeting at the world body's Headquarters in New York on issues related to the specific needs of men and women in post-conflict situations.

UNMIL sex abuse declines
January 4, 2008 - (afrol News) - There has been a sharp decline in the number of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) staff in the last half of last year, a report revealed.

For more gender and peacekeeping news, please click HERE

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New Peacekeeping resource

UN Peacekeeping: Responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Refugees International, November 2007
In 2004, the media erupted with allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) levied against UN uniformed and civilian peacekeepers based in Bunia, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In the three years that have passed since these reports first surfaced, the UN has taken significant steps to address the problem, but reports of abuse and exploitation continue.

To read the full report, please click here

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Peacekeeping Watch

Peacekeeping Watch is a project focused on monitoring sexual exploitation and abuse by UN Peacekeepers, and documenting efforts to address such abuse. In the past decade, accounts have surfaced of violations committed by peacekeepers against civilians, in a particular women and girls, during UN peacekeeping operations.

Report of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
December 2007 (A/62/595)
The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse held several meetings at United Nations Headquarters on 19 December 2007. A Draft Resolution on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse was subsequently adopted.

To read the full report, including the draft resolution, please click here

For more information on Peacekeeping Watch, please click here

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For the Gender and Peacekeeping index, please click here

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6. TRANSLATION UPDATE: Bengali and Romany Languages

Total number of available 1325 translations: 82

Bengali and Romany Translations Now Available!

Bengali is a native language of eastern South Asia. Bengali is one of the most spoken languages with nearly 230 million of total speakers. It is the primary language spoken in Bangladesh and is the second most spoken language in India.

The Bengali translation was done by Tapati Basu. Mrs. Basu holds a postgraduate degree in Bengali literature. She worked as a tutor for elementary and middle school students. She is a freelance writer, and now lives in West Bengal, India.

The Romani or Romany language belongs to the family of Indo-European languages and is comprised of a number of different dialects. The language is nowhere official, but there are attempts aimed at the creation of a standard language out of all variants. Also, different variants of the language are now in the process of being codified in those countries with high Roma populations.

The Romany translation has been coordinated by Mrs.Soraya Post, president of the International Romani Women's Network.

For more information on translators, please visit : http://www.peacewomen.org/1325inTranslation/sources.html
Bengali and Romany are among the languages identified as a priority for translation by women, peace and security advocates. Other languages currently on this priority list are:

Achehnese (Indonesia)

Acholi/Luo (Northern Uganda, W. Kenya, South Sudan)

Aymara (Bolivia, Peru)

Embera (Colombia)

Hmong (spoken in Laos, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, and Southern China)

Luganda (Uganda)

Malayalam (South Indian)

Mongolian

Oshiwambo (Namibia)

Paez (Colombia)

Pashto (Afghanistan)

Quechua (Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Northern Chile, Argentina, Southern Colombia)

Sangho (Central African Republic)

Wayu (Venezuela)

Wayunaiki (Colombia)

Xhosa (S. Africa)

Zande (Sudan)

Zulu (S. Africa)

If you know of existing translations of 1325 which are not among the 80 on the PeaceWomen website, or would like to volunteer as a translator, suggest potential translators or add languages to the list for priority translation, please contact sam@peacewomen.org

To view the 80 translations, click HERE

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USING 1325 IN TRANSLATION

As part of its 1325 Translation Initiative, PeaceWomen is soliciting information on how translations of Resolution 1325 are being used and the impact of these translations on the work of women peace and security advocates.

We invite anyone who has used translations of 1325 for outreach, advocacy or other purposes, or who may know how translations of the resolution are being used, to provide us with information detailing among other things:• Which particular translation(s) of 1325 you have used or know are being used
• Who carried out the translation (if known) or how the translation(s) was accessed

• The types of activities for which this translation(s) has been used (e.g. workshops, radio programs) and your views about the impact of such activities in promoting resolution 1325

• What you believe to be the importance of translating Resolution 1325 into local languagesKindly contribute to the “Using 1325 in Translation” effort by responding to these questions or submitting any other information on translating UNSCR 1325 to info@peacewomen.org

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For more information on the “using 1325 in translation” initiative, please click HERE

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7. ngowg update

The Year Ahead

More than seven years after the adoption of SCR 1325, the need for its full implementation is more urgent than ever. Continued violence threatens the future of millions of women and their communities; women remain marginalized from formal decision-making processes and from security issues; and gender considerations too rarely inform the policy and practice of the international community in conflict-affected regions. At the same time, there is growing recognition of the valuable contribution women can make to conflict prevention and the building of sustainable peace, and the skills and resources they bring to these processes.

As a key catalyst in advocacy for the integration of gender perspectives in all peace and security, conflict prevention, conflict management and peacebuilding initiatives of the United Nations, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security (NGOWG), via its strategic positioning at UN headquarters, has played an important global role in raising awareness of the principles and provisions of SCR 1325.

Together with its growing network of gender and security experts, the NGOWG has built a constituency of women, peace and security advocates among UN Member States, high-level UN decision makers, and civil society internationally working on peacebuilding initiatives at the national and local levels. Through its members networks, the NGOWG acts as connectors at the international level, linking UN policy processes/actors with the work of grassroots women peacebuilders.

In 2008, the NGOWG, building on the work of its member organizations, will strive to unpack and advance key women, peace and security issues, moving them forward to concretely address and target specific gaps, key issues and actors. The coalition will focus on addressing some of the key implementation challenges and will seek to build new partnerships and generate more substantive knowledge around the implementation of SCR 1325 including:

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Addressing targeted country-specific situations and gender-related concerns, ensuring that women, their recommendations, and gender perspectives are included in policy processes at United Nations headquarters. At the same time, strengthening partnerships and collaboration through NGOWG networks and the NGOWG member organizations to ensure women, their constituencies and local peacebuilding processes are directly benefiting from engagement in policy processes at UN headquarters.
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Addressing institutional and structural gaps and mechanisms to ensure better accountability by the United Nations entities and its Member States to the women, peace and security agenda;
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Advocating for thorough and accurate reporting in the Security Council on grave violations of women's human rights and their participation in peace and reconstruction processes and more effective oversight of the implementation of SCR 1325;
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Advocating for more specific SCR 1325 language in Security Council resolutions renewing UN Mission mandates, towards greater protection and participation of women;
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Advocating for a stronger UN women's entity to support implementation of SCR 1325.

Among the advocacy initiatives in 2008, the NGOWG will release a report on Accountability and SCR 1325. For more information on the work of the NGOWG, visit www.womenpeacesecurity.org . The full website will be available February 2008.

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8. WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY CALENDAR

At What Cost?: Women, Wars, Weapons and Conflict Prevention
2008 International Women's Day Seminar, Geneva, Switzerland
March 5, 2008: NGO conference at International Conference Centre
March 6 2008: Dialogue among NGOs, governments and UN officials at U.N., Geneva

Since 1984, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has worked with other NGOs to organise a seminar linking 8 March – International Women's Day – with disarmament, peace and security issues. Each year, a report and statement from the NGO conference has been read into the record of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), the only official oral statement from NGOs to this body. This year the seminar will be in two parts.

The deadline to register is February 25, 2008.

For more information, please click HERE

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Third African Conference on Sexual Health and Rights, Sexuality, Poverty and Accountability in Africa
February 4-7, 2008, Abuja, Nigeria

The goal of the conference is to examine the interrelationships between poverty and sexuality and also how the issue of accountability affects sexual health and social well-being in Africa.

For more information, please click HERE

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Mainstreaming gender equality in the World of Work (distance learning course)
February 4-July 31, 2008, Turin, Italy
International Training Center, Gender Coordination Unit

The overall purpose of this course is to help advancing the ILO Decent Work agenda by supporting ILO constituents and staff, member countries' representatives and other development agents in developing skills to integrate gender equality concerns into their programmes and actions.

For more information, please click HERE

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Gender, poverty and employment (distance learning course)
February 4-July 31, 2008, Turin, Italy
International Training Center, Gender Coordination Unit

The GPE programme is meant to contribute to the local, national and international endeavours to fight poverty through the promotion of Decent Work for women and men; by strengthening capacities to examine the inter-linkages between gender, poverty and employment; design, implement and assess gender-sensitive anti-poverty and employment policies and programmes; integrate the gender and decent work perspective into national and international policy agendas on poverty reduction; stimulating effective debate and action at the international, national and regional level; strengthening the ability of development agents (from international organizations, national institutions and NGOs and to provide assistance in this area.

For more information, please click HERE

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Public Trial to celebrate Women Against Rape's 30th anniversary: The rape of justice: Who's guilty?
Saturday February 16, 2008 2-5 pm (Doors open 1.30pm)
Trinity United Reformed Church, Buck St, London NW1 8NJ, UK (1 min Camden Town tube)

Come and testify – or be the jury! All welcome. Women will testify about experiences of dealing with sexual, domestic and other violence - and with police, prosecutors, courts, asylum/immigration officers or other authorities responsible for justice and protection. Male survivors also welcome. Anonymity respected. Accessible entrance, accessible toilet nearby.

For more information, please click HERE

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"Sex slaves"-Film Screening and Discussion
Wednesday February 20, 2008 6:30pm -8:30pm,
The Sister Fund, 79 5th Avenue #4, New York, NY
GS Justice Peace Team

For more information, please click HERE

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52nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women
February 25 - March 7, 2008, UN Headquarters, New York, USA
UN Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW)

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. It is the principal global policy-making body. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.

CSW will consider the theme: “Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women” at its 52nd session.

For more information, please click HERE

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Call For Papers: WOMEN'S WORLDS 2008
July 3-9, 2008 Madrid, Spain
Women's Worlds / Mundos de Mujeres

The 10th International Interdisciplinary Congress on Women, Women's Worlds / Mundos de Mujeres 2008, will be held in Madrid, Spain, at the Complutense University. The motto of the Congress is “Equality: no Utopia” and the general theme “New Frontiers: Dares, Challenges and Changes”. Violence and migrations will be part of the central themes. Individuals and/or groups, as well as public and private organizations interested in the Congress themes are invited to submit their proposals.

The deadline for participation grants is February 4, 2008, and proposals will be accepted until February 28, 2008.

For more information, please click HERE

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Engendering Leadership Through Research & Practice, Gender, Work & Organization
July 22-24, 2008, University of Western Australia (UWA) Business School, Perth, Western Australia

The overall aim of this international conference is to generate new thinking about gender and leadership by providing a creative forum for interaction between leadership scholars, researchers, practitioners and policy makers from across the world.

Registration will open early in February 2008. Abstracts of 500 words are due by February 15, 2008;
papers of 3000-5000 words are due by May 30, 2008