General Women, Peace and Security

UNESCO is organizing an online discussion on Gender Equality, Education and Training as part of the 15-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action. Each week, the interactive forum will explore and analyze emerging developments, challenges and policy issues related to this important area of gender equality. Participation is welcome from all individuals, networks and organizations interested in this critical area of concern.

WOMEN in the Soloman Islands yesterday launched what is called the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women Peace and Security Policy Initiative.

This resolution, amongst others, calls for peace and security for women in all areas of life.
Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Seth Gukuna launched the document. Various women leaders spoke at the event.

The Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), and its secretariat, the Initiatives for International Dialogue, presented a statement calling both the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to stop the new war in Pikit. As official armed forces and tanks arrived in Pikit, the residents of up to 11 Pikit barangays started an exodus to safer areas. Now in Pikit, there are an estimated 4,000 evacuee families or 20,000 individuals.

The meeting will focus on the work of the Commission to promote multiculturalism as a basis for peace in Mindanao rather than the source of conflict in Mindanao. Organized for the first time in 2000, this is the second such meeting to be held for peace and development in Mindanao. This meeting will take place on August 31-September 1 at the Loleng's Mountain Resort.

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.

On a special report, the National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda, analyzed the evolution of the conflict and the role of women and children in the peace-building process. Among other initiatives, the report highlights the work of Mrs. Betty Bigombe in 1993-94, who tried her best and had gone very far in the peace building process to the extent of meeting some rebel commanders.

An English, Fijian and Hindustani radio campaign on the 5 stations of the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited and supported by the International Women's Development Agency will be the start of a public information campaign to promote the key aspects of this ground-breaking security council resolution.

From April 19 to 21, women's rights advocates, gender experts, legal practitioners and others will speak up--and speak out--for gender justice at the International Gender Justice Dialogue in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The Institute of Human Rights Communication Nepal (IHRICON) has established Community Women Peace Volunteers in 5 districts of Nepal among the 75 districts. In these groups there are 5 District Peace Volunteers (DPVs), 25 Community Peace Volunteers (CPVs) and 25 Community Peace Groups (CPGs) where 25-50 women are in one group.

Women's Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA) visited Jammu and Kashmir from 24th June to 3rd July 2000. The purpose of the visit was to support the creation of women's intervention for peace in the region. At Jammu they were welcomed by the local organization Akhil Bharat Rachmnatmak Samaj which expressed their solidarity with the mission. Together they organized a rally for peace from the station to the center of the city.