Participation for Change

1. EDITORIAL
Sam Cook

In this edition of the PeaceWomen E-News we are highlighting the remarkable efforts of women around the world to bring about sustainable, positive and peaceful political change. The participation aspect of Resolution 1325 is in many ways its lynchpin. Unfortunately, this is also the area in which implementation of the resolution has been particularly ad hoc and limited. There is of course significant rhetorical support for increasing women's participation. But, substantive action on the part of governments and the UN has been less positive – the levels of women's participation in peace processes remains abysmal and the UN has made limited progress in leading by example. One of the other disturbing trends is that women's participation is often treated as a monolithic and abstract concept. It is vital that we look at what participation means in practical terms in relation to specific decision-making processes or in specific contexts. For example, in our Feature Resources section (Item 4) a new report focuses on women's political status in Sri Lanka within the context of that country's ongoing conflict.

Another challenging aspect of the prevailing discourse around women's participation is that it is often assumed that women's participation is centered on women participating in decision-making around “issues of gender equality.” There is not always discussion on what this means specifically. Furthermore, and aside from the obvious fact that attaining gender equality is not and should not be the sole responsibility of women, this assumption ignores one of the primary driving forces for women who advocated for a Security Council Resolution on women, peace and security. That is, women have a vital and significant role and a right to participate in decision-making on all matters of peace and security. That includes women taking a stand and having a say on disarmament and ending militarism. That includes women in Zimbabwe calling for an end to human rights abuses. That includes women standing up and having their voices heard to end military coups - such as that in Honduras. That includes women having a say in political processes in Afghanistan and elsewhere. We feature some of these voices for change in this edition and look forward to continuing to do so on our website and in future editions.

Of course these are the few amongst many peace and security issues vying for attention – as can be seen in our selection of news items for this newsletter (Item 2). However, most media and political attention over the last few months has been given to the protection aspect of the women, peace and security agenda and, in particular, addressing sexual violence in conflict. For the PeaceWomen Project, addressing sexual violence in conflict is of course important but we continue to encourage advocates to see protection and participation as integrally related. With this in mind, we continue to monitor policy developments in this arena. The Security Council considered the Secretary-General's Resolution 1820 report (which we analyzed in our last issue) with an Open Debate on 6 August 2009. The PeaceWomen team monitored this debate and links to our thematic index of statements and related resources can be found in our Security Council Monitor (Item 6). One of the key recommendations of the NGO Working Group on women, peace and security and others was the appointment by the Secretary-General of a Special Representative on women, peace and security – and for this person to be mandated to help drive UN efforts “to address the needs and interests of women in conflict, and particularly to prevent and respond to the use of sexual violence.” This recommendation received significant support during the debate and we look forward to positive developments on this as the Security Council continues its consideration of follow-up to Resolution 1820.

Another significant development on which we hope to see progress in the coming weeks is the establishment of a new women's entity at the UN. We hope that the General Assembly adopts a resolution to this effect in this 63rd Session (which ends on 14 September) and that urgently needed progress on this is not delayed for spurious reasons. We look forward to featuring information on this and other General Assembly activities in the next edition of the PeaceWomen E-News.
2. WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY NEWS

COLOMBIAN FEMALE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS ENDURE HARDSHIPS
August 26, 2009 - (Alertnet) -In Colombia, women who are heads of households are more likely to be vulnerable due to the increased level of discrimination they face in the workplace and their lack of access to education, skills training, and employment opportunities, says the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

SIERRA LEONE: CUSTOM SLOW TO YIELD TO NEW LAW ON INHERITANCE
August 25, 2009 - (IPS) They told her after the 40-day ceremony to mark the death of her husband. M'ballu Kamara's in-laws said she would be taken care of by her husband's younger brother. It took her a moment to realise the "care" she was to receive would require that she become his third wife.

SUDAN: WOMEN READY TO TAKE THEIR PLACE
August 24, 2009 - (allAfrica) When the women of South Sudan welcomed the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, they were cognizant of the fact that true democracy will be realised only when their human rights are realised.

AFRICAN UNION-UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION DONATES SUPPLIES TO WOMEN'S PRISON
August 24, 2009 – (UN News Centre) The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur today donated supplies to a women's prison in the western Sudanese region.

TAKING WOMEN'S RIGHTS SERIOUSLY
August 23, 2009 - (Huffington Post) The sustained degradation and subjugation of girls and women remains the world's most pervasive human rights violation.

THE WOMEN'S CRUSADE
August 23, 2009 (NYTIMES) In the 19th Century, the paramount moral challenge was slavery. In the 20th century, it was totalitarianism. In this century, it is the brutality inflicted on so many women and girls around the globe: sex trafficking, acid attacks, bride burnings and mass rape.

AFGHAN ELECTIONS SEEN AS A SETBACK FOR WOMEN
August 20, 2009 - (AP) For women, Afghanistan's recent elections appear to have been more of a setback than a step forward. Early reports strongly suggest that voter turnout fell more sharply for women than for men in Thursday's polls. Election observers blame Taliban attacks, a dearth of female election workers and hundreds of closed women's voting sites.

NIGERIA: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, HINDRANCE TO DEMOCRACY - ACTIVIST
August 20, 2009 (allAfrica) — Gender-based discrimination and violence against women have been identified as Achilles' heel for women's participation in public spheres hence limit their participation in democratic experiment.

SLOW GAINS FOR AFGHAN WOMEN
August 19, 2009 - (Philadelphia Inquirer) Last spring, I wrote from Kabul about the controversy over a law that would have restored Taliban-style restrictions on women and legalized marital rape. President Hamid Karzai remanded the law for further study after an international furor. But late last month, with an eye toward gaining conservative religious votes in tomorrow's presidential election, he quietly issued the law without resubmitting it to parliament.

FOR AFGHAN WOMEN, RIGHTS AGAIN AT RISK
August 18, 2009 - (Washington Post) When the United States and its allies went to war against the Taliban after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, "liberating the women of Afghanistan" was often cited as one of the reasons to seek "regime change." More than seven years later, however, the situation for Afghan women remains dire. There have been some bright spots: Women now hold seats in the Afghan parliament, and millions of girls have been able to attend primary school. But educational gains plummet when girls hit secondary school, with just 4 percent of female students reaching 10th grade. Violence against women is endemic; women in public life are regularly threatened, and several have been assassinated.

GUATEMALA: ONE ARREST IN GENDER-KILLING EPIDEMIC
August 18, 2009 - (IPS) "Femicide," or gender-based murder, has reached epidemic proportions in Guatemala. But at least for Rosmery González - one of the more than 700 Guatemalan victims of this crime in 2008 - justice is finally being done with the arrest of her alleged killer earlier this month.

KENYA: ELUSIVE JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
August 14, 2009 - (IPS) Florence Mukambi will always bear the brunt of the country's post-election violence.

HOW ARE WOMEN IN IRAQ FARING NOW?
August 14, 2009 - (AWID) On 30 June 2009, the United States withdrew a significant number of troops from Iraq as a part of a plan to end the war that has lasted more than six years there. Reactions to the withdrawal from Iraqis have been mixed, with some proudly proclaiming national sovereignty and confidence in the current Iraqi security forces and others worrying about more violence and instability in the coming days.

UN COUNCIL CALLS ON MYANMAR TO RELEASE OF SUU KYI
August 13, 2009 - (AP) The U.N. Security Council agreed after two days of talks to issue a statement Thursday calling on Myanmar's military government to immediately release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN WOMEN EMBODY HOPE FOR CHANGE
August 8, 2009 - (WOMENSENEWS) Two women in Southeast Asia are setting the stage for regional change by bravely standing up to ruling governments. Both have received negative court rulings in recent days.

CHINA CONDEMNS ALL ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
August 8, 2009 - (China Daily) A senior Chinese diplomat said here on Friday that China condemns all acts of violence against women in armed conflicts, including sexual violence, while urging all parties to conflicts to comply with the international humanitarian and human rights law.

UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS URGED TO BOLSTER NUMBER OF WOMEN POLICE OFFICERS
August 7, 2009- (UNNews) The ranks of female police officers serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world need an urgent boost to more effectively protect and assist women against the rampant use of sexual abuse as a weapon in armed conflict, the world body's top police advisors stressed today.

UN SECURITY COUNCIL: CREATE SENIOR POST ON WOMEN AND WAR
August 7, 2009 - (Alertnet) The UN Security Council should urgently establish a high-level post to fill a leadership gap relating to women and armed conflict, Human Rights Watch said today. A special representative of the secretary-general assigned to this issue would be able to push for protection against sexual violence and to promote equal participation by women in peace talks. The Security Council is to hold a discussion this morning on the issue of women, peace, and security.

TRIAL ADJOURNED FOR SUDANESE WOMAN WHO FACES FLOGGING FOR WEARING TROUSERS
August 4, 2009 - (Telegraph) Riot police fired tear gas and beat scores of women protesting outside the Khartoum court in support of Miss Hussein. Witnesses reported a short burst of gunfire as the authorities tried to disperse the crowd.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXPANDS CRITERIA OF VIOLATIONS AGAINST CHILDREN DURING CONFLICT
August 4, 2009 – (UN News Centre) The Security Council today called on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to expand his list of parties who recruit child soldiers to include those who kill, maim, rape or commit other forms of sexual violence against children in wartime.

POLITICS-NEPAL: WOMEN PUSH FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN NEW CONSTITUTION
August 3, 2009 - (IPS) A political crisis, which has dragged on for months, crippling progress in drafting a new constitution for Nepal by the Constituent Assembly (CA) has considerably dampened the euphoria of women's organisations here.

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3. FEATURE Statements

The Declaration of Five Million Afghan Women Campaign
August 3, 2009

According to the constitution of Afghanistan and national and international treaties, one of the important social rights of human beings is to determine their political future (the right to elect and to be elected), but unfortunately in Afghan society the women in are facing many problems in order to use their rights. Considering the time constraints of presidential and provincial councils' elections, among the society there are growing concerns over participation of women in the election process. Therefore, women rights activists and civil society representatives from all over the country gathered on 25th June, 2009 and held comprehensive talks on related issues. In this gathering decision has been taken to launch a campaign of 5 million Afghan eligible women to support women's political participation in order to ensure the rule of law and gender equality.

Taking into account that the active participation of women in elections is vital for resolving the current problems of the country; therefore, we (women) need a comprehensive support of people as well as national and international organizations. Hence, for increasing the level of women participation and in order to attain their legal rights, this campaign suggests the following:

*
This campaign asks the people and government of Afghanistan to support their commitments regarding women's political rights and transparency of election process, especially: o The MOI, governors, district governors and all relevant national and international organizations are asked to adopt measures to ensure the security of women during polling day.

* The Ministries of Culture & Information, Hajj and Religious Affairs and other religious and cultural organizations are asked to encourage eligible women to participate in elections by using religious courses through mass media, mosques and Shia mosques.

* The MOWA, and national and international organizations working for women rights, are asked to support the campaign.

* The IEC and national and international organizations working for election are asked to pave the way for women to participate in election and to use all sources and possibilities such as media, schools, mosques and free transportation, in order to motivate and guarantee their presence in the election.

* The campaign asks all presidential and provincial councils' candidates to acknowledge and include issues like women's political, social, cultural, civil and economical rights, ensure the opportunities of reaching justice for women, amend the laws which affect women life “"specifically Family Law"” and implement the Law of elimination of violence against women in accordance with the Constitution and national and international commitments.

* The Afghan Women Network as the implementer and supporter of this campaign believes that promoting democracy without women's independent and active participation is unattainable. Therefore, all Afghan women are asked to realize the value of their votes and by considering their social responsibility, they shall participate in election.

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Public Statement by Honduras Feminists in Resistance to the military coup of 28th June 2009 and the events that followed
July 25, 2009

To the national and international community:

* We reiterate our condemnation of the military-civil coup d'état of 28th June 2009, the day which has brought a setback to democracy and the institutional rule of law.

* We denounce the violation of human rights and the actions committed by the de facto government against freedom of expression, access to information and all the other unconstitutional measures adopted by the National Congress.
* We condemn the irresponsible intransigence and the arrogant and authoritarian attitude of the de facto government of Mr. Roberto Micheletti during the negotiation process being mediated by President Arias in Costa Rica.

* The de facto government is responsible for the economic, political and social consequences, and as a result of this decision the isolation, and increasing threats of a possible civil war, that these de facto spokesmen for the regime are encouraging, with repression and militarization in many parts of the country.

* We denounce and condemn any action by the Venezuelan, Cuban-American or any other country's ultra-right, and outside political actors who are advising the regime and helping to sharpen the ideological confrontation as a result of the failure of negotiations by peaceful means, who are implementing a continental right- wing strategy to weaken Honduran democracy and democracy throughout the continent.

* We condemn any entrance of foreign military forces to our national territory to suppress our people and to organize and execute military actions against the people and governments of the region.

* The Feminist in Resistance, made up of various sectors and organizations of democratic women from across the country, express our firm conviction to restore constitutional order in a peaceful manner, without threats or violence,. We affirm that the peaceful and democratic way is the only mechanism to resolve the conflict in public and private life.

We demand therefore:

1. The international solidarity of all democratic governments and multilateral agencies, as well as social organizations in which international women's organizations are included, to demand the immediate restoration of the rule of law in Honduras, constitutional order and the restitution of the elected president. Also that strong measures are taken to contribute to the solution of the conflict through peaceful and democratic means.

2. We demand the immediate demilitarization of state institutions, roads and territories of the country. To cease the repression of public protect actions undertaken by social movements; the repression and persecution of their leaders, activists, and organizations; and the respect for the life and human rights of Honduran women and men.

3.
We alert citizens and call on all Honduran people to demonstrate peacefully to defend our legally constituted democracy, to strengthen our links of solidarity and peace, and to stop any belligerent, militaristic actions and the use of violence in the country.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 23 July 2009
FEMINISTS IN RESISTANCE

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4. FEATURE Resources

Siyanda Update: Nepal and Sri Lanka
Issue No. 79, August 2009
In Nepal and Sri Lanka how are men and women's differing experiences of the impacts of development issues such as climate change, conflict, and poverty affected by gender inequalities? The following resources have been selected from 25 additions to the Siyanda database that explore this question...

Governance and Citizenship from Below: Views of Poor and Excluded Groups and their Vision for a New Nepal
Overseas Development Institute (ODI), April 2009
This report focuses on grassroots understandings, practices and experiences of governance and citizenship, and the implications for state building in post-conflict Nepal.

Oxfam Australia's Sri Lanka Gender Impact Study: Executive Summary
Oxfam Australia, March 2009
This study assesses the impact of Oxfam Australia's work in Sri Lanka on change towards gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Harmful Traditional Practices in Three Countries of South Asia: Culture, Human Rights and Violence against Women
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), January 2009This study documents and analyses the manner in which harmful traditional and cultural practices contribute to violence against women in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

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Jaffna Report (An Update On Women's Political Status in Jaffna)
Association of War Affected Women, Sri Lanka, August 2-7th, 2009

In Sri Lanka after the military victory of the GOSL in May 2009 which resulted in three hundred thousand new IDPs forced to live in over crowded camps, where fulfilling the basic needs of IDPs is a huge challenge for the government with its shaky economy. the human rights, law and order situation through out the country is getting worse day by day and the country faces not just a crisis of violence in the immediate aftermath of a thirty years of bloody conflict but also a crisis in democracy. As described in an article by the Asian Human Rights commission in reaction to the April 26, 2006 bombing in Colombo, the civil war in Sri Lanka is a direct result of a decay of its democratic institutions. More specifically, the article argued that violence in Sri Lanka is the result of the lack of democratic avenues of grievance expression and response, and that since the adoption of the 1978 constitution there is a shrinking space through out Sri Lankan society for the airing of alternative views. In this environment, all areas of work conducted by Association of War Affected Women(AWAW), is directed towards strengthening democratic values and creating space for finding a negotiated solution for the country's ethnic problem.

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5. FEATURE initiativeS

International Delegation Amplifies Honduran Women's Voices

A local and virtual Observatorio de la Transgresión Feminista/ Feminist Transformation Watch took place from August 17-21 to document the human rights violations against Honduran women that have occurred since the coup. The international delegation convened by JASS, Honduran Feminists in Resistance, Petateras, Radio Feminista, and the Consortium for Parliamentary Dialogue and Equality, included women's rights activists, researchers, legal experts and journalists from Central America, Mexico, the United States, and Canada. They interviewed women who have been involved in the resistance, collected testimonies from women and organizations, and discussed strategies of resistance and actions in response to the coup with feminists and other Honduran women.

What you can do:

1. Read the findings of the Honduras Observatorio (the international delegation) by clicking HERE

2. Contact President Obama by clicking HERE and urge him to ACT NOW to stand firm against human rights violations of the de facto regime and to push for the reinstatement of the democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya.

3. Join the Observatorio fan page on Facebook by clicking HERE

4. Read the Statements of Solidarity with the Honduran Women from Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Spanish) and the Nobel Women's Initiative (Spanish version)

5. Listen to the recorded broadcast at www.radiofeminista.net or rebroadcast the coverage on your radio show

6. Contact the State Department by clicking HERE and tell them to ACT NOW to stop the repression against citizens and social organizations and demand the respect for human rights.

7. Send messages of solidarity to: observatoriovirtual@radiofeminista.net

8. Urge U.S. companies in Honduras to speak up for democracy by clicking HERE

9. Send a letter to your elected representative HERE by using our sample letter HERE or write your own.

10. Pressure local, national and international media to bring awareness to the situation of violence in opposition to the coup in Honduras.

11. Review the updates on Twitter at http://search.twitter.com/search?q=obhn09;

12. Continue to spread awareness to anyone and everyone in creative ways, including art, to garner as much international support and attention as possible.

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Take Action: WITNESS and Zimbabwean Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU): “Hear Us – Stand with Us: Zimbabwe Women Rise Against Sexual Violence

In 2008, political violence erupted throughout Zimbabwe as a result of highly contested national elections. Between May and July alone, local organizations estimate that state-sanctioned groups abducted, raped, tortured, and beat over 2,000 women and girls due to their political affiliations. Hear Us - a video co-produced by Zimbabwean Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) and WITNESS - features four of these women who have come forward to demand justice from the Zimbabwean government andthe Southern African Development Community (SADC). Help collect 2,000 (or more!) messages of support to be delivered to SADC leaders at the SADC summit next month (September 2-8, 2009).

Add your voice to the call for justice for the Zimbabwean women - sign the petition, record a video message, tweet the campaign, or leave a comment.

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6. SECURITY COUNCIL MONITOR

UN SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY
United Nations Headquarters, New York, 7 August 2009

The Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom, which held the Security Council Presidency during the month of August, organized this debate that took place on 7 August 2009. The Secretary-General, all 15 members of the Security Council and over 30 Non-Security Council Member States, made interventions. Unfortunately no space was provided for inputs from the UN system or civil society.

Security Council Members: Austria, Burkina Faso, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Japan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mexico, Russian Federation, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam.

Non-Security Council Members:Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Nigeria, Netherlands, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Tanzania.

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THEMATIC COMPILATION OF STATEMENTS AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY

The PeaceWomen Project has compiled excerpts, arranged by theme, from statements made during the Security Council Open Debate held on 7 August 2009.

The compilation deals with the following themes:

* SRSG High-Level Appointment

* Gender Equality Architecture Reform

* Justice & Security Sector Reform

* Commission of Inquiry

* Services & Assistance for Victims

* Integration of Work on the Issue into the Security Council

* UN System Response & Coordination

* Information Gathering

* Participation of Women

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THEMES AND SAMPLES OF EXCERPTS FEATURED IN THE COMPILATION

Theme: SRSG / High-Level Representative

Austria

In order to effectively fight sexual violence, improved coordination throughout the system, as well as leadership and accountability, are needed. Austria fully supports the appointment of a senior person with responsibility to attend to the prevention of and response to sexual violence across the entire United Nations system.

Burkina Faso

My delegation welcomes United Nations activities on this issue, in particular the Secretary- General's global awareness-raising campaign. The gravity of the situation requires a comprehensive and sustainable response through a common strategy. The United Nations should continue to build its capacity for action and coordination in order to better assist actors in the field, with the involvement at all levels of all members of the United Nations family. The appointment of a senior official on this issue would help the process, and we also take note of other initiatives of the Secretary-General to strengthen the contribution of the United Nations system.

France

For our part, we believe that the implementation of the following proposals, referred to by the Secretary-General in his statement, is of special importance[: I] wish to highlight is that of appointing an official to lead the fight against sexual violence throughout the entire United Nations system. We strongly endorse that proposal. In conclusion, I reiterate France's full commitment to fighting sexual violence against women. The Council can rest assured of our full commitment to that issue within the Security Council in the months to come and of our resolve to pursue our efforts to strengthen the role of women in conflict prevention and settlement and in rebuilding peace in the context of the follow-up to resolution 1325 (2000).

United States

Next, we need specialized leadership and high-level attention at the United Nations, to focus on implementing the goals of resolution 1820 (2008). The United States believes that the appointment of a high level special representative on women and peace and security by the Secretary-General for a specified period of time would help focus the Secretariat's efforts. This time-limited mandate would be to review and streamline multisectoral responses to sexual violence in conflict situations, promote integrated and coordinated approaches, bolster the role of women in peace negotiations and peacekeeping operations, and promote accountability for the implementation of resolution 1820 (2008).

Australia
We welcome the Secretary-General's advice that he is considering the appointment of a senior person to address the prevention of and response to sexual violence across the United Nations system. We would support such an appointment. Australia considers an appointment with an operational mandate to be an appropriate way to build on the current work of the United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Belgium

Belgium appreciates the Secretary-General's idea of appointing a senior person responsible for the United Nations response to the issue of sexual violence. However, we believe that more should be done, and we call for the appointment of a female mediator for women, peace and security. The role of this mediator would be to ensure that women are systematically involved in peace negotiation processes and that a gender-based approach, including the issue of sexual violence, is taken into account in all United Nations peacekeeping and reconstruction activities.

Italy

Finally, we are convinced that it is now time to have a global advocate for the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), acting as a focal point both of the United Nations system and of Member States. We would therefore favour the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General for women and peace and security.

Norway

We therefore support the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General on women, peace and security to provide a strong and visible hand in the United Nations to drive and coordinate systemwide prevention of and response to sexual violence in conflict and to front the broader agenda of women's equal participation at all levels of peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

Republic of Korea

Fifthly, the United Nations system needs a driver dedicated to the issue of women in armed conflict, taking responsibility across the United Nations system to reinforce, support and help drive existing United Nations efforts forward to address the needs and interests of women in conflict-affected situations. This is particularly necessary to prevent and respond to the use of sexual violence, as well as to streamline organizational initiatives. _Of course, we will have a strong driver on women's issues that can play such a role once we establish a stronger gender architecture, such as the composite entity. We sincerely hope that such an agreement is made at the current session in order to honour our commitment to women throughout the world. However, even if we successfully reach a consensus on this issue, it will take time to move the agreement into full operational mode. We simply cannot wait until then to have a senior figure who can attend, with authority and focus across the United Nations system, to the urgent issue of sexual violence.

Sierra Leone

The Sierra Leone delegation accordingly supports the call for the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General for women and peace and security, a call that was made most recently during the March 2009 International Colloquium for Women's Empowerment, Leadership Development, Peace and Security, organized by the Presidents of our sister Republic of Liberia and Finland. This would drive the coordination of the system-wide response to sexual violence in armed conflict, especially in the areas of humanitarian assistance, data collection and reporting on sexual violence and information management.

Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste hopes that the Council will specifically consider the appointment of a special representative or special envoy for women and peace and security. Such a person would drive coordination of the system-wide efforts to respond to and prevent sexual violence in armed conflict, promote action and enhance effectiveness on the ground, and would reinforce, support and help drive existing United Nations efforts.

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Theme: Gender Architecture / GEAR

United States
Beyond the measures that the Security Council can take, important aspects of the problem of sexual violence must be pursued in other bodies, including in the General Assembly's discussion of a new gender architecture. We will work with other stakeholders within the United Nations system and non-government organizations to end impunity and assist the victims of rape and sexual assault.

Ecuador

Ecuador believes that a financially and operationally strengthened gender entity would help eradicate the scourge. We call upon States to continue to pursue the goals of United Nations system-wide coherence, which would enhance the Organization's effectiveness and efficiency in the field.

Germany

Germany hopes that the negotiations on the establishment of a new United Nations gender entity will soon create those necessary structures. In this context, we would like to point out that any new gender architecture must also be responsive to the special mandates under resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008).

Netherlands
Indeed, there is a need for structural attention on this issue. The prevention of and response to sexual violence should be an integral part of peacekeeping and peacebuilding. In this respect, we would like to underline the importance of a positive decision by Member States in September to establish a strong, coordinated and coherent United Nations gender entity headed by an under-secretary general.

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Theme: Justice & Security Sector Reform

Austria

Today, a clear body of rules outlawing sexual violence, including in armed conflict, is contained in international human rights, humanitarian and international criminal law. In spite of this, perpetrators who systematically commit serious violations against women and girls still go largely unpunished. Allegations of sexual violence need to be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators need to be brought to account, including not only through prosecution, but also through the vetting of armed and security forces.

This situation demands further action by the Security Council to strengthen the rule of law and to end impunity. Where necessary, the Council should consider appropriate measures encouraging and ensuring accountability for those responsible for international crimes, including through the establishment of commissions of inquiry, referrals to the International Criminal Court and the imposition of targeted measures.

Burkina Faso

Sexual violence is a pernicious evil that has a deep impact on the enduring restoration of stability and peace. It is therefore essential that peace agreements take sexual violence into account, in particular in the course of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes and security sector reform.

France

At the initiative of France, the fight against sexual violence was a high priority of the Security Council's annual visit to Africa in May. Because we believe in the value of deterrence in the struggle against impunity, we argued with the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for five officers accused of perpetrating sexual violence to be brought to justice. Earlier this week, the Council noted with satisfaction that judicial procedures had been launched against those individuals and that they had been removed from their command duties. That is an important message in the fight against sexual violence and impunity. The United Nations and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo played an important role in achieving that outcome. The Council will continue to monitor the matter closely.

Japan

We expect that serious crimes, such as crimes against humanity, will be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). At the same time, bearing in mind that the ICC prosecutes only those who bear the greatest responsibility, the Security Council must consider feasible and appropriate alternative mechanisms for ensuring the accountability of all perpetrators of sexual violence in any conflict situation. We anticipate that the Secretary-General will include a proposal for such mechanisms in his followup report.

United States

To succeed, we need to ensure that rapists and other perpetrators of sexual violence are identified and punished.
…Job one is to hold perpetrators accountable, and so the United States supports credible domestic or hybrid and international accountability mechanisms that investigate and prosecute these crimes, particularly in countries incapable of bringing such criminals to effective justice. We aim to build State capacity to enforce the rule of law through a range of measures, from technical assistance through training by international lawyers to assistance in drafting legislation.

…Fourthly, to curb rape and sexual violence by military officers, we must create a culture of awareness and accountability within national militaries, starting with the top commanders and marching all the way down the chain of command. Neither soldiers nor officers should be able to commit sexual violence, especially with impunity. Perpetrators must not be promoted. We must work to build up effective vetting mechanisms that will exclude persons who face credible allegations and evidence of crimes.

Viet Nam

The United Nations, particularly the Peacebuilding Commission, the United Nations Development Programme and donors, should further assist national Governments in building gender-related capacity and developing gender-sensitive programmes to help survivors of sexual violence with a wide range of services — from access to justice, relief from stigma and ostracism, and provision of mental and psychological health care to support for greater physical, economic and social security through employment and income generation, and involvement in decision-making.

Argentina

As to the punishment contemplated in the eventuality of an Argentine military personnel member deployed in a peacekeeping operation being involved in a case of sexual violence, disciplinary measures are applied immediately within the unit deployed in the theatre of operations. This results in the return to our country of the person in question and the continuation of disciplinary action in Argentina. This can involve very severe punishment, including discharge.

Belgium

International prosecution, however, is not enough. On the contrary, we must increase initiatives to strengthen the rule of law, judicial institutions and penal systems in countries that have the greatest need of such in order to enable them to dispense justice at the local level. These countries must be in a position to dispense impartial justice and to prosecute all perpetrators, even when they are agents of the State.

Brazil

Widespread or systematic sexual violence in armed conflict should not be fought only by means of vigorous law enforcement, prosecution, military discipline or sanctions. If these measures are to be effective in the long run, they should be accompanied by serious efforts to address some of the causes of the problem, such as discrimination, prejudice, poor education, institutional fragility and lack of resources. We trust that, together, national Governments, the competent parts of the United Nations system and donors can achieve a lot in this area.

Canada

Amnesty clauses within peace accords which can be interpreted as exempting perpetrators of sexual violence from being held accountable directly contravene resolution 1820 (2008) as well as many other previous international commitments. We are deeply dismayed by the failure to implement fully this essential element of 1820 (2008) during the year since its adoption.
We also emphasize the importance of the establishment by States of vetting mechanisms to exclude perpetrators of sexual violence from armed forces, where credible allegations supported by evidence have been brought against those perpetrators.

Netherlands

[W]e look forward to receiving the Secretary-General's proposal for an appropriate mechanism or procedure to consider and act on information concerning measures taken by parties to armed conflict to comply with their obligations and to prosecute perpetrators of sexual violence.

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Theme: Integration of the Issue into the Work of the Security Council

Austria

I would like to concentrate on a number of practical proposals on how the Council could further improve its action on this important matter [: S] ystematic attention needs to be paid to the prevention of and protection from sexual violence in the daily deliberations of the Council. We welcome the recent adoption of resolution 1882 (2009), extending the scope of the monitoring and reporting mechanism to parties who perpetrate grave sexual violence against children in situations of armed conflict. As women and girls represent the majority of victims of sexual violence, there is a need to ensure that reporting is not strictly limited to victims under the age of 18. In this context, we would welcome further information in a follow up report next year on an appropriate monitoring and accountability mechanism to be established by the Council.

Austria also welcomes the work of the Council's informal Expert Group on the Protection of Civilians, which we see as a useful forum for discussing important protection concerns, including those in the fight against sexual violence._ More consistent and comprehensive reporting on sexual violence in the Secretary-General's countryspecific reports would enable the Council to address the protection of civilians, particularly women and children, from sexual violence in a more systematic manner. To this end, the Council should include specific reporting requirements in resolutions establishing or renewing mandates.

…Sanctions committees need to receive relevant information to this end, including through exchanges with other subsidiary bodies.

Burkina Faso

The Security Council has an important role to play in this collective effort, as it demonstrated yet again this week with its adoption of resolution 1882 (2009), extending the criteria for triggering the reporting and monitoring mechanism to include sexual violence against children. Moreover, the Council should establish a participatory process for collecting information in order to better gauge the scale and consequences of the phenomenon.

China

As the primary organ responsible for maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council should address this issue in the context of relevant political situations and peace processes, focusing on effective conflict prevention, the maintenance of peace and post-conflict reconstruction, so as to create a political, security and legal environment conducive to alleviating and eliminating sexual violence.

Costa Rica

The Security Council has recognized that sexual violence in situations of armed conflict may, under some circumstances, constitute a threat to international peace and security. Therefore, we believe that the Security Council should include gender equality concerns as well as provisions to prevent and respond to sexual violence when establishing or renewing peacekeeping mandates. The Security Council should consider targeted and effective means to ensure compliance. In addition, the Council should improve the communication and exchange of information among its subsidiary bodies in order to ensure a more coherent approach to combating sexual violence.

Croatia

While we welcome measures already taken to date by the United Nations towards the implementation of resolution 1820 (2008), we see the need for a wider focus within the Council's own agenda on issues related to the resolution than has so far been the case. Furthermore, the establishment of a regular reporting cycle by the Secretary-General on resolution 1820 (2008) will be crucial to that process.

The monitoring of sexual violence can be further strengthened by closer synergies with other existing monitoring mechanisms. In this context, Croatia strongly welcomes the adoption this week of resolution 1882 (2009), on children and armed conflict, expanding the monitoring and reporting mechanism trigger to include rape and other forms of sexual violence. This will not only serve as an important milestone for the children-and-armed-conflict agenda, but also as a valuable complementary mechanism for monitoring implementation of resolution 1820 (2008), especially for young women up to the age of 18.

Croatia also believes that the revised aide mémoire (S/PRST/2009/1, annex) adopted in January on the protection of civilians, including women and girls, affected by armed conflict will also facilitate our future efforts towards achieving effective implementation of resolution 1820 (2008).

France

France also welcomes the significant institutional progress that was achieved two days ago with the adoption of resolution 1882 (2009), which, inter alia, extends the reporting and monitoring mechanism of resolution 1612 (2005) to sexual violence committed against children, regardless of whether or not child soldiers are involved. The extension will allow the Security Council and the international community to focus greater attention and response on this widespread phenomenon, which targets girls in particular.

… France welcomes the work undertaken by the sanctions committees on the matter under consideration today. Pursuant to the commitment it made in resolution 1820 (2008), the Security Council must systematically consider the relevance of including sexual violence among the triggers of sanctions during the establishment or revision of the committees' mandates. When the criteria are met, it will be up to the committees' experts to raise the matter.

… For our part, we believe that the implementation of the following proposals, referred to by the Secretary-General in his statement, is of special importance [The] Secretary-General should submit to the Council an annual report on the implementation of resolution 1820 (2008). We invite him to formulate proposals on the modalities for the Security Council's consideration of measures taken by parties to a conflict to meet their obligations, including in the fight against impunity, and its identification of appropriate steps in response.

Uganda

It is incumbent upon the Council to ensure that resolutions to establish or renew mandates or to impose enforcement measures under Chapter VII of the Charter contain provisions, as appropriate, on the prevention of and response to sexual violence, with corresponding requirements on reporting to the Council.

United States

Thirdly, we should use targeted measures to thwart sexual violence as a tactic of war. We fully support the report's recommendations on incorporating provisions on sexual violence in armed conflict into existing sanctions regimes, as appropriate. To best apply such targeted measures and give the Council the up-to-date information it needs, information-sharing among all Council-mandated bodies is essential.

United Kingdom

There is no shortage of will to take forward the Council's work in this area, as Tuesday's adoption of resolution 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict showed. There are still gaps that we need to bridge in information, capacity, coordination and imagination, and the Secretary-General's report draws these out clearly.

More effective monitoring of patterns of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict should allow the Council to identify and mandate the action necessary to prevent it._ We therefore welcome further reports from the Secretary-General. We support his recommendation that better use be made of commissions of inquiry, and the Council should ensure that conflict-related sexual violence gets the attention it deserves in the informal Expert Group on the Protection of Civilians and in the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.

Argentina

Argentina hopes that the decisions that the Council will adopt in this area will strongly incorporate two lines of thought: protection for the full human rights of victims and an end to impunity for the perpetrators. In that connection, we are grateful for the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the Secretary-General, which we support. We hope that the Council will take specific measures in a future resolution to ensure that in the renewal of every peacekeeping mandate these situations be considered and that effective mechanisms will be put in place to provide leadership and coherence in the response and ensure a solid basis for future Council action at all levels, including information gathering, awareness, technical analysis of options and best practices.

Belgium

Belgium supports the Secretary-General's proposal to improve the collection and coordination of data by involving all actors not only in the field, but also in Geneva and New York. Belgium also supports the creation of a follow-up mechanism within the Security Council so as to make the most of this information.

Canada

Canada would very much welcome an annual report on the implementation of resolution 1820 (2008). We also urge the Council to request that the next report include a proposal for a Security Council mechanism to consider and act on information concerning sexual violence. Monitoring and reporting mechanisms can provide the international community with the data it needs to effectively monitor and strengthen the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008).

… We would like to express our strong interest in two additional proposals contained in the report: the proposal to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate and report on sexual violence and the proposal that all data on sexual violence be reviewed by an existing working group or groups. We would submit, however, that the creation of a dedicated working group may be a more effective response, and we urge the Council to consider that option. At a minimum, we must ensure that sexual violence perpetrated against adults as well as children is included in the Council's considerations. Ultimately, we would like to see the Council adopt structural and lasting initiatives that will make a real difference to those targeted by sexual violence.

Netherlands

Let me highlight some concrete steps which we consider crucial to ensuring follow-up to the commitments of Security Council resolution 1820 (2008)...[W]e welcome the efforts of the United Nations system to ensure that peace negotiations and agreements contribute to preventing and responding to sexual violence. We would strongly encourage increasing efforts in this regard. We also would like to stress the role the Council and the Secretariat can play in ensuring the explicit integration of commitments made in resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) into the mandates of United Nations appointed mediators, special envoys and special representatives, and in monitoring the implementation of these commitments.

Norway

[W]e support the establishment of a mechanism of the Security Council to monitor how parties to armed conflict comply with obligations under international law, including addressing rape and other forms of sexual violence. –

Peru

Peru also believes that, as the Secretary-General stresses in his report, it is fundamentally important that resolutions adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, whether to establish or renew mandates or to impose sanctions, contain provisions to prevent and respond to acts of sexual violence. Furthermore, peacekeeping operations should have clear mandates for attaining this objective._ My delegation also believes that it is important to consider the Secretary- General's request to establish a Security Council follow-up mechanism regarding measures taken by parties involved in conflict so as to comply with their international obligations to prevent and combat sexual violence.

Republic of Korea
Finally, we support the suggestion that the Secretary-General request a follow-up report with a proposal for a mechanism to act against parties to armed conflict who do not comply with their obligations under international law and against the perpetrators of sexual violence.

Sweden

We would also welcome a follow-up mechanism on sexual violence, and we express our support for all efforts to create synergies among resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1612 (2005).

Switzerland

Switzerland supports the establishment of an appropriate mechanism within the Security Council. That would facilitate consideration and action in line with the measures taken by parties to armed conflict to comply with their obligations under international law. In order to ensure a consistent approach, that mechanism should provide for interaction with the Security Council's Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict and its informal expert group on the protection of civilians.

Timor-Leste

The Council should request that the Department of Political Affairs ensure that sexual violence dimensions are considered in all mediation processes in which the United Nations is involved.

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Theme: Participation of Women

United States

Efforts to combat sexual violence must also be placed squarely on the political agenda when countries are searching for lasting stability and peace. The United Nations and its Member States and future mediators should address sexual violence in today's peace processes and include them from the very start in future peace talks. In addition, we must include more women as mediators and members of negotiating teams.

United Kingdom

The proliferation of sexual violence against women and girls is in part aimed at marginalizing their contribution to society. It deliberately degrades the role that they can play in restoring the fabric of peaceful communities. The Arria formula meeting that the United Kingdom hosted in June highlighted the critical importance of enhancing women's contribution to peace processes. Short-term measures to improve protection and enhance women's participation in decision-making have to be accompanied by longer-term efforts to establish accountability and the rule of law.

Afghanistan

Without the equal involvement of half of our populations in our civil societies, economies and political systems, our nations are deeply incapacitated and our children, economies and even the stability of our countries suffer.

…Afghanistan supports the Secretary-General's analysis that a central step towards preventing violence against women is to combat gender discrimination and to give women a larger role in political and decision-making processes.

Afghanistan's experience shows that there are no better advocates for women's rights than women themselves, and so we must do everything we can to help them be heard.

Bangladesh

It is essential to make women's voices heard. Women's participation is necessary in the decision making process in any post-conflict country. Emphasis should be placed on the electoral process in post conflict environments in order to increase the participation of women as voters, candidates and electoral officials.

Belgium

Belgium appreciates the Secretary-General's idea of appointing a senior person responsible for the United Nations response to the issue of sexual violence. However, we believe that more should be done, and we call for the appointment of a female mediator for women, peace and security. The role of this mediator would be to ensure that women are systematically involved in peace negotiation processes and that a gender-based approach, including the issue of sexual violence, is taken into account in all United Nations peacekeeping and reconstruction activities.

Finland

We must also remember that women are not merely victims in conflicts; they are active agents in solving and ending conflicts and leading society through the healing process. We cannot afford to ignore their leadership, knowledge, capacities and commitment.
Opportunities for women's participation should be a part of the earliest stages of planning and preparing a peacekeeping mission. Furthermore, the number of female civilian and military personnel in United Nations peacekeeping and political missions should be increased, especially in leadership positions. Women's engagement in peacebuilding and reconstruction through non-governmental organizations should receive greater support.

Italy

Yet, it is clear to all of us that more needs to be done and that the measure of our success will be the difference that we can make on the ground by effectively protecting women and girls from sexual violence, holding accountable those responsible for those crimes, putting an end to impunity, helping the victims and empowering women within their societies.

South Africa

Sexual violence in conflict areas is inextricably linked to gender inequality, and it is imperative that we strongly advocate for the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. The equal and effective participation of women and their full involvement in decision-making and peace processes will contribute to the promotion and maintenance of peace and security.

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To view other analysis of Security Council work, please visit the PeaceWomen 1325 Monitor: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/sc/1325_Monitor/index.htm

To view other Security Council analysis, please visit PeaceWomen 1325 Monitoring, here.
7. WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY CALENDAR

Asia-Pacific Women's Conference on Peace & Security –- Visions for a New World
September 8-10, 2009
Manila, Philippines

Women are at the center of conflicts and wars, both overt and silent. They bear the brunt of violence in different forms, whether in their personal lives or from armed conflicts within their own communities or among nations of the world.

Yet women have not been mere victims or casualties of war. Women have always struggled and survived over experiences of violence. They continue to work for peace and build secure communities. Women have been mostly invisible, however, in peace negotiations and policy making in many countries.

The Conference aims to bring women of the world together to discuss critical issues on women's peace and security in Asia and the Pacific.

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‘'What Threatens? Building Bridges in Security and Conflict Studies'
September 22, 2009
University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

This conference will address the links between traditional and critical approaches to security, the relationship between theory and policy, and new developments in the fields of security and conflict studies. The conference is interdisciplinary in its approach and paper proposals are welcomed in the following broad areas: Critical Security Studies and beyond, Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Conflict Analysis, Conceptualising the War on Terror, American hegemony and the new security challenges.

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Building Local Capacity for Security and Rule of Law
September 22-25, 2009
Wilton Park, United Kingdom

The international community has been involved in attempts to strengthen the provision of security and justice in developing, conflict-affected and fragile states for many years; but there is still disagreement regarding the methodology and objectives of this work, and debate around the terminology which describes it. The term Security Sector Reform has become widely identified with donor-driven and controlled initiatives, and does not accommodate the crucial (for the citizen) connection between security and justice, including gender justice.

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International Conference Protecting people in conflict and crisis: responding to the challenges of a changing world
September 22 - 24, 2009
Oxford, United Kingdom

The Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford (RSC), in collaboration with the Humanitarian Policy Group at the Overseas Development Institute (HPG), is organizing an international conference on the theme of Protecting People in Conflict & Crisis: Responding to the Challenges of a Changing World. This conference aims to convene a broad range of academic researchers, humanitarian practitioners, policy makers and civil society representatives to review the state of policy and practice in the broad field of humanitarian protection as we look forward into a potentially turbulent 21st Century.

The conference will address the following indicative themes:

* Populations at risk: Surviving and responding to protection threats
* Concepts of Protection
* The Politics of Protection
* Protection, security and the roles of military and armed actors
* National and regional responsibilities to protect
* Protection in Practice

The conference will take place between 22nd and 24th of September 2009 and will feature a range of keynote lectures, plenary discussions and expert panel debates, paper sessions and practice updates.

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Women and Politics in Asia: A Springboard for Democracy?
September 30 –- October 2, 2009, University of Hildesheim, Germany

The conference is organized in cooperation with the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation and with the support of the University of Hildesheim, ZIF - Centre for Interdisciplinary Women and Gender Studies at the University of Hildesheim and the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony*.

The conference series “"Women and Politics in Asia"” started 2003 in Sweden, at Halmstad University, and was continued 2004 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and 2005 in Islamabad, Pakistan. In 2009, the fourth international conference of its kind will be convened by the Institute of Social Science at the University of Hildesheim, Germany.

Building upon “"Women and Politics in Asia 2005: Discovering the Gender Face of Politics"”, Women and Politics in Asia: A Springboard for Democracy? aims to reflect upon the links between

* Democracy and the feminisation of the halls of political power
* Gender and (power) politics
* Gender relations and gender ideologies and their impact on specific socio-political systems, modes of interaction / participation and citizenship discourses
* Gendered forms of political participation and agency within Greater Asia in an integrated comparative perspective.