Getting Women's Voices Heard in the Security Council

Friday, June 28, 2002

Issue:

1. CURRENT 1325 PEACEWOMEN E-NEWS

Women and War Violence, Refugees, Migration, Minorities
July 5th, 2002 - Women's collectives and organisations from the Balkans, European countries, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine, are attending a workshop entitled "Women and War: violence, refugees, migration and minorities", to taking place in Thessaloniki on Friday 12 of July,in the framework of the third preparatory meeting for the formation of the European Social Forum, that will take place in Thessaloniki (Greece) on 13-14 July 2002. For more information please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/july/invitation.html

Integrating Gender perspectives into the WSIS:
July 1st, 2002 - The formation group of the WSIS-Gender Caucus invites you to join the twenty-two organisations that began work in Bamako to ensure that preparations for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the outcomes of the Summit include a gender perspective. The formation group of the gender caucus consists of representatives of organisations that responded to an invitation by UNIFEM to begin this work in the African Regional Preparatory Meeting - Bamako 2002, May 25-30, 2002. For more information please visit: http://www.wougnet.org/WSIS/globalpartnership.html

Workshop on Resolution 1325 at the US National Congress of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
June 26-30th,2002 - At the Triennial Congress of WILPF-US at Goddard College, VT Sara Poehlman-Doumbouya (WILPF-UN Office) and Gillian Gilhool (WILPF-US Legislative Organizer) held an interactive workshop on Security Council Resolution 1325. Participants recognized the unique opportunity and tool that Resolution 1325 offers to promote women and peace from local to international levels. They examined the role of WILPF, whose memberships and staff have been working for peace and justice for 87 years, and other NGOs in the passing of the Resolution. Participants mapped out strategies and actions to effectively implement 1325 in their own activities and ways to harmonize US national policy with the Resolution. To get involved involved in WILPF-US efforts to promote women and peace go to: http://www.wilpf.org

Kenya: 'Don't Ignore Gender Issues'
June 22, 2002 - Local governments have been urged to ensure integration of gender concerns into their budgeting and planning, for effective utilisation of the Local Government Development Program (LGDP) funds. For the full article please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/June/kenya.html

For More News please go to: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/newsindex.html

Follow the Children: What Advocates for Resolution 1325 Can Learn from the Security Council Resolutions on Children and Armed Conflict

Advocates for children's rights have been very successful in passing Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict. There have been three resolutions to date on the subject: Resolution 1261 (1999), Resolution 1314 (2000) and Resolution 1379 (2001). Each new resolution has grown to include new ways of dealing with the problems of children in armed conflict. Activists on women, peace, and security issues are now considering what move to make to get a resolution passed to follow Resolution 1325. What lessons can activists for women, peace, and security learn from the progress in resolutions on children and armed conflict?

Expanding Numbers of Actors
In each successive resolution on children, more and more actors are addressed specifically. The first resolution addresses "all parties to conflict", mentions some UN agencies, and requests that the Secretary-General do some reporting. By the third resolution, however, many more parties are addressed specifically, including member states, UN agencies, international financial and development organizations, regional bodies, and the Secretary-General, in addition to "all parties to conflict." Resolution 1325 mentions "all actors" 5 times, member states 4 times, the Secretary-General 5 times, the Security Council twice, and UN organizations once. While this is already a good number of actors mentioned, there are still others to be included. NGOs and UN organizations can be called on to contribute more, and regional bodies and international financial and development organizations should be added. Furthermore, states should be called on more often, as they are some of the primary actors in women, peace, and security issues.

More Issues, in More Depth
In each subsequent resolution on children more issues have been addressed. For instance, the second resolution was the first to mention natural resources; in the third resolution, this category was extended explicitly to include precious minerals. Similarly, the second resolution introduced illegal arms trading as an element in the problems of children and armed conflict; in the third, terrorism was mentioned jointly with illegal arms trading. In these ways, the third resolution drew from the second to broaden the topics addressed. In the third resolution, issues such as HIV/AIDS and the role of corporate actors were introduced, and will probably be expanded upon in future resolutions. Similarly, there are many topics that are mentioned briefly in resolution 1325 that could be developed further. Some topics are mentioned only in the preambulatory clauses to the resolution, which are given significantly less weight by most governments. Moving these topics into the operative clauses would make them more substantial. These topics include landmine awareness, the consolidation of data on women and girls in armed conflict, and the need for "effective institutional arrangements to guarantee [women's] protection and full participation in the peace process."

Some topics are also mentioned briefly in the operative clauses that could be the basis of major points in a future resolution. For instance, the needs of female ex-combatants and of women and girls in post-conflict situations, support for women's and indigenous peace initiatives, and women's involvement in the implementation of peace agreements, are each mentioned only once. These topics should be addressed in a more expanded way in a future resolution. Several topics are addressed often in 1325; a future resolution could contain very specific ideas on these. Representation of women in international decision making is emphasized in the first four operative clauses, calling for member states to appoint more women to decision-making levels and urging the Secretary-General both to appoint more women as envoys and representatives of his office and to "expand the role and contribution of women in United Nations field-based operations." Specific plans, such as quotas for women in peacekeeping operations, could be put into the next resolution. In addition, 1325 mentions a willingness to incorporate a gender perspective into peacekeeping operations and other UN field operations in three different clauses, but gives only a few specific ideas of how to do so. Mainstreaming a gender perspective is another topic that can be greatly expanded with specific plans in the next resolution on women, peace, and security.

Concrete Programs: Staffing, Monitoring, Training, and Resources
Throughout the three resolutions on children and armed conflict, there has been an increase in discussion of staffing, monitoring, training, and resource allocation. For instance, the second resolution emphasizes the importance of child protection officers, and the third expands upon the need for them. 1325 already mentions incorporating women into operations several times, but no reference is made for staff specifically to work on gender issues, or the creation of women protection officers. This is an aspect another resolution could develop. There is little or no mention of monitoring in 1325. This is a major area that another resolution must address. There must be staff in the field committed to monitoring violations and to advise the operation on incorporating a gendered perspective into their work.

In the resolutions on children, there has been a progression in specificity regarding training programs. In the first resolution, appropriate training on the protection, rights and welfare of children was encouraged for UN personnel involved in UN peacemaking, keeping and building activities. By the third resolution, however, the Security Council is calling for all peacekeeping operations personnel to receive training on HIV, human rights, and humanitarian and refugee law relevant to children. Resolution 1325 asks " the Secretary-General to provide to Member States training guidelines and materials on the protection, rights and the particular needs of women, as well as on the importance of involving women in all peacekeeping and peace-building measures," and requests that member states incorporate this training into their peacekeeping operations training, as well as supporting UNIFEM and other UN trainings on the subject. In subsequent resolutions, these statements can be broadened to include more specifics on what trainings should include and more requirements on who should take them.

Finally, there is little reference to resources being allocated toward women, peace, and security issues in 1325. The second and third resolutions on children and armed conflict request that regional organizations, UN bodies, and international financial and development organizations devote more resources to children. 1325 asks for member states to allocate more resources toward UNIFEM and UN training programs, but makes no other reference to resources. A subsequent resolution should concentrate on concrete issues of resource allocation towards women, peace, and security training and programming.

Conclusion
The progress of the resolutions on children and armed conflict is a worthy model for learning how to get the Security Council to broaden its views on security issues. Studying the pattern and procedure of the children's resolutions can give women, peace, and security activists ideas on how to proceed. Expanding the number of actors and topics mentioned to include more specifics on training, monitoring, staffing, and resources, are all tactics that should be pursued. In this way, the model of children's resolutions is extremely useful. However, women, peace, and security activists will have to come up with innovative ways to work with the Security Council to write more thorough resolutions on women, peace, and security.

Previous Analysis done on the 1325 PeaceWomen E-news can be found online at http://www.peacewomen.org/news/1325News/1325ENewsindex.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. National Day of Dialogue on Including Women at the Peace Table: Focus on UN Security Council Resolution 1325

Thursday, May 9th, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) hosted a gathering of women Noble laureates, international peace activists, leaders and public officials for a National Day of Dialogue on Capitol Hill to call for an end to war and violence and mobilize women to become more involved in the peace process. The National Day of Dialogue was part of her new initiative, A World of Women for World Peace, focusing attention on the unique role of women as peacemakers. In December, 2001 Johnson introduced House Concurrent Resolution 290, calling for more women to take part in peace-building activities. The resolution designated the month of May as an appropriate time to hold peace dialogues and events in conjunction with Mother's Day, originally founded to promote international peace.

Johnson called for women to move beyond politics, race, class and geographical boundaries to work together to build a culture of peace. She cited conflicts around the world where women are mobilizing to end conflict and challenged participants to formulate policy recommendations that would empower women and fight violence around the globe. WILPF US-President Phyllis Yingling chaired one of four roundtable breakout sessions reporting recommendations at the end of the day.

Jody Williams, founding coordinator of the International Committee to Ban Landmines (ICBM) keynoted, recounting experiences of women in peace and disarmament work, and shared her thoughts on the power of civil society to contribute to peace efforts. She called for courage and leadership from the women's community to promote peace in the work of the post-September 11th surge in militarism around the world. "We must work harder to make peace a 'sexy' concept. As we all know, violence is glorified, and people who work for peace are seen as somehow lacking. We must work harder to make people understand the tremendous courage shown by people working for peace."

Terry Greenblatt, from Bat Shalom and the Jerusalem Link, and Abu Dayyeh-Shamas, of the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling in East Jerusalem, receiving a standing ovation together, spoke powerfully, Israeli and Palestinian, about the Middle East conflict, its impact on women and children, and the leadership for peace greater women's partcipation would bring. The day before Greenblatt and Dayyeh-Shamas deivered the same message before the United Nations Security Council.

"It is scary to me that, as bad as the current situation is, no one is asking what we - the women - think or have to offer. No one has yet realized how critical our contribution is to the [Middle East peace] process," Greenblatt said. The roundtable breakouts focused on women's partcipation in government, the role of women in civil society, promoting peace and security and better addressing the human rights of women and children. Greenblatt, Dayyeh-Shamas, Gillian Gilhool from WILPF and the peace and security group shaped recommendations to insist to all governments involved that UN Security Council Resolution 1325 be invoked and implemented immediately in the Middle East negotiations.

Other members of Congress who spoke during the day were Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI), Donal Payne (D_NJ), Corinne Brown (D_FL), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Julia Crason (D-IN). South African Ambassador Shelia Sisulu was inspirational in the closing plenary.

Congresswoman Johnson plans to incorporate the recommendations from breakout sessions of the National Day of Dialogue into a comprehensive peace agenda in the coming months. Serving her fifth term, she is Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and was named by Ebony Magazine as one of the ten most powerful African-American women of 2001.

WILPF provided UN Security Council Resolution 1325 to Johnson's office during the planning of the conference. A copy was in every packet. At the end of the program we were proud to thank and present her with a poster-sized text available through the WILPF UN Office and refer those gathered to the WILPF-maintained website http;//www.peacewomen.org

For more information contact the Gillian Gilhool, Legislative Organizer
110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 102
Washington, DC 20002
ggilhool@ix.netcom.com

4. PEACEWOMEN AND THE UNITED NATIONS
For references to Women and Peace in United Nations Documents please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/basics/unpeawdocs.html
For more information on women and the UN please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/unindex.html

5. PEACEWOMEN CAMPAIGN
Action Alert: Colombia Women's Peace March
Thousands of women from all corners of Colombia joined by international delegates will converge in the capital Bogotá to attend the mass demonstrations for peace and social justice. Others will march from Bogota to Cartagena.
We are asking women from around the world to respond in international solidarity and write governmental officials in Colombia to request protection for women during this march. Send requests to President Pastrana Arango pastrana@presidencia.gov.co, Director of the National Police at Fax: +57 1 428 7634, and Commander of Military Forces Fax: +57 1 2222 935. The contact information for the national officials and NGOs can be found at: http://www.peacewomen.org/contacts/americas/colombia/col_index.html. Please 'hold them in the light' as they take to the streets of Bogota this July 25. For more information: http://peacewomen.org/campaigns/regions/samericarib/peacemarch.html

For more PeaceWomen campaigns please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/campaigns/outreachindex.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. 1325 PEACEWOMEN RESOURCE
Gender and Conflict Early Warning: A Framework for Action, was produced in collaboration with the Swiss Peace Foundation and International Alert. For this report please visit: http://www.international-alert.org/women/Ewgender.pdf. The pdf file does not include a cover (due to size) so for a paper copy to be sent to you please contact bcobley@international-alert.org with your full contact details. For more reports on Women and Conflict Zones please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/resources/NGO%20reports/inconflict/inconflicti...

For a comprehensive annotated bibliography of books, articles and analyses on women's peace theory and activities, as well as NGO position papers, reports, speeches, statements and tools for organisational building. Please go to: http://www.peacewomen.org/resources/resindex.html

7. PEACEWOMEN CALENDAR

July 25, 2002: Bring 1325 to Life: Roundtable Discussion on Security Council Resolution on Women, Peace and Security
The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security (Hague Appeal for Peace, International Alert International Women's Tribune Center, Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom) is organizing a lunchtime discussion and strategy meeting for key NGOs on the implementation of Resolution 1325 on Thursday, July 25th. This event seizes the occassion offered by the UK Presidency of the Security Council and the open meeting the UK Mission has planned on gender, conflict and peacekeeping. If your NGO is interested in attending please contact the NGO Working Group coordinator at: sara@peacewomen.org or 212 682 1265.

Saturday 20 July 2002: Women, War, and Peace
A one-day Seminar in Geneva,Switzerland organized by the task force of the NGO Working Group on Women and Peace within the context of the World Civil Society Forum. The conference is being held at the Centre International De Conferences, Rue De Varembe (bus 5 or 8 from Cornavin train station) The seminar with be in both English/French. Contact: WILPF, Edith Ballantyne, PH/Fax +41 22 732 50 19, e-mail: edibal@iprolink.ch

July 2002: Open Security Council Meetings
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland holds the Presidency of the Security Council during the month of July 2002.
Under the United Kingdom Presidency, the following open sessions will be held:

Wednesday, July 10 - open briefing on Bosnia & Herzegovina
Monday, July 15 - open meeting on UNMOP (Croatia)
Thursday, July 18 - open meeting on Sierra Leone/Mano River union
Friday, July 19 - open meeting on Afghanistan
Thursday, July 25- open meeting on Conflict, Peacekeeping and Gender
Tuesday, July 30 - open briefing on UNMIK (Kosovo)
Wednesday, July 31 - open meeting on UNIFIL (Lebanon)
UNOMIG (Georgia)
MINURSO (Western Sahara)

All sessions are around 10:00AM.
The website for the UK Mission can be found at http://www.ukun.org/

For more calendar events please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/frame/calendar/calendar.html

8. PEACEWOMEN FEATURED CONTACT
Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)
Founded in 1977, RAWA is a political/social organization of Afghan women
struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in Afghanistan.
They have been active in resistance to the Soviets, the mujahideen, and the
Taliban. RAWA distributes humanitarian assistance in Afghan refugee camps
and, during Taliban rule, ran underground schools for girls.
P.O.Box 374, Quetta, Pakistan
Ph#: 92-300-8551638 or 44-870-1394051 (UK)
#: 760-281-9855 (USA)
Email: rawa@rawa.org
Website: http://www.rawa.org or http://www.rawa.fancymarketing.net/ or http://www.rawa.org

For an extensive database of organizations worldwide working on women and peace issues, go to: http://www.peacewomen.org/contacts/conindex.html

The PeaceWomen is a project of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Please visit us at http://www.peacewomen.org.
Previous 1325 PeaceWomen E-news can be found on-line at http://www.peacewomen.org/news/1325News/1325ENewsindex.html

At this time the Newsletter is only available in English. The PeaceWomen Team hopes to translate the Newsletter into French and Spanish in the future, however, if you would not like to receive the English News Letter but would like to be placed on a list when translation is possible please write to 1325news@peacewomen.org.
To unsubscribe from the 1325 PeaceWomen News, reply to this email with "unsubscribe" as subject heading.
Questions, concerns and comments can be sent to 1325news@peacewomen.org
1325 news and other submissions should be directed to 1325news@peacewomen.org

Best Wishes,
PeaceWomen Team
******* ******* ******* *******
PeaceWomen Team
Program Associates, Peace Women Project
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
United Nations Office
777 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
Ph: 1 212 682 1265 Fax: 1 212 286 8211
email: info@peacewomen.org

Editorial:

This Edition of PeaceWomen E-News features:

1. Current 1325 E-News
2. Analysis of 1325: Getting Women's Voices Heard in the Security Council
3. Feature 1325 Organization: Friends of Women, Peace and Security
4. PeaceWomen and the United Nations
5. PeaceWomen Campaign: Women are Organising themselves in Australia
6. Resources on Women, Peace and Security: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
7. PeaceWomen Calendar Events
8. Featured PeaceWomen Contact