Women, Peace and Security in Somalia: Implementation's of UN Security Council Resolution 1325

The paper presents an overview of the Somali conflict and peace process from the perspective of Somali women, considering especially the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (Resolution 1325) in Somalia. It gives a short introduction to Resolution 1325 and to the UNINSTRAW/ADEP project, followed by a context specific analysis of women's roles in Somali culture and society. Section three gives a historical background of the conflict and of the participation of women's organisations in ongoing peace and state-building processes. Section four looks at the roles of men and women in the Somali Diaspora, and the relations between Somali women of the Diaspora and women still living in Somalia, and concludes with a brief discussion of the International Conference.

The background paper focuses on the peace and State-building processes in Southern and Central Somalia, in addition to a gender-sensitive analysis of Somali Transitional Federal Institutions (TFI). The political development and gender policies of the authorities of Puntland and Somaliland will therefore be considered in less depth. The paper is based on a desk review and on the outcomes of two seminars held in Italy within the framework of the project, the first one in Milan on 23-24 February 2008 and the second in Bari on 3-4 May 2008.