CONFERENCE: Peace, Progress for All Women Sought at IPJ Conference

Monica McWilliams and Luz Méndez stood side by side at the center of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Theatre stage and, quite appropriately, the bright lights shined on them.

McWilliams, chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and one of two women to sign the 1998 Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, delivered the keynote address Sept. 29 as part of a three-day international working conference, “Precarious Progress: U.N. Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security,” taking place on the University of San Diego campus.

Méndez, a 2004 participant in IPJ's Women PeaceMakers Program, offered a brief reflection on her work with gender equity commitments in Guatemalan peace negotiations. Méndez was one of only two women to put her signature on the country's 1996 peace accords.

Shortly after the program's conclusion, McWilliams noted that when she was working on the Belfast Agreement the 1996 peace pact in Guatemala was a reference point for her.

It's rare to have two women who share the experience of signing peace legislation in the same room, but to the 175 U.S. and international delegates here to empower themselves, gain more perspective and continue working so that all women have an equal role in the peace process, McWilliams and Mendez are “indicators” of what has happened and a reminder that more women like them are necessary going forward.

“Women make up less than 2½ percent of those who've signed peace agreements (1992-2008),” said IPJ Deputy Director Dee Aker (pictured, far right, with McWilliams and Méndez).

One of the rallying points of this conference is recognizing the 10th anniversary of the U.N. Security Council's Resolution 1325, which was unanimously approved (15-0) on Oct. 31, 2000.

UNSCR 1325 sought to enforce that those “involved in negotiating and implementing peace agreements adopt a gender perspective that included the special needs of women and girls during repatriation and resettlement, rehabilitation, reintegration and post-conflict reconstruction.” It also clearly stated that women are to be involved in all peacekeeping and peacebuilding measures.

Since the passage of 1325, however, there have been many setbacks in moving the process forward. Horrific violence against women remains a major issue, funding support and the low numbers of women represented in the peace process continues. Since June 2008, three more UNSC resolutions, 1820, 1888 and 1889 have been approved, but a disconnect remains.
On Thursday, a morning panel discussion featured a group of female peace builders, officials and leaders who examined what has been learned in the last 10 years from the resolutions, what steps have been taken and the need for more data-specific “indicators” according to Malika Bhandarkar, who works with the U.N. Development Fund for Women, that have a “powerful way of making sure people pay attention.”

Sarah Taylor of NGO Work Group on Women, Peace and Security, said that in the 10 years since 1325's approval, it's been challenging, but it has given women the chance to build its support base so much so that “it's now standard operating procedure.” She expressed confidence that being amongst other dedicated women this week and the links that exist to communicate their message can be a catalyst for women everywhere.

Or, perhaps, she was merely following the inspirational tone set by the final words of McWilliams' speech: “When women awake, mountains will move.”