General Women, Peace and Security

A women's group says the military in Myanmar is still using rape as a weapon of war, with more than 100 women and girls raped by the army since a 2010 election brought about a nominally civilian government that has pursued rapprochement with the West.

Amidst a rise in sexual violence in the world's war zones, the United Nations has begun appointing women to head some of the key political and peacekeeping missions in conflict areas – and also created Gender Advisers as a second line of defence.

Still, there is growing scepticism among non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and activist groups that much of the progress is scarcely more than window dressing.

Giving women access to and control of natural resources such as land, water, forests and minerals is essential to ensure war-torn countries can achieve long-term peace, according to a United Nations report released today.

A coalition of 30 Israeli feminist groups released "A Comprehensive Action Plan for the Application of United Security Council (UNSCR) Resolution 1325" at a public conference in Jaffa on Thursday. They called on the government to include women from all sectors of Israeli society in peace-negotiation teams and other decision- and policy-making bodies.

WIPSEN-AFRICA is a leading women-focused pan African Non-government Organization with the mandate to promote women's strategic participation and leadership in peace and security in Africa.

It visited several high schools in Barclayville and Greenville cities, conducted field assessments and Inter-generational dialogue with girls in various high schools within the two cities.

A searching independent review finds that NATO and its operational partners have made ‘significant progress' in implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo – but says there is ‘ample room for improvement'.

A new UN resolution to reiterate the importance of women's involvement in conflict prevention, resolution and peace-building has been passed by the security council.

The Women Peace and Security Network-Africa (WIPSEN) has provided leadership training for dozens of young girls in Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties.

The training was held under the project named "Young Girls Transformative Leadership project Inter-generational Dialogue."

BY GITURA MWAURA, 10 OCTOBER 2013

ANALYSIS

Towards the end of last month, the UN General Assembly passed what was touted as "a landmark declaration to stop rape in conflict."

A record 113 countries - more than half of the UN member states in one sitting - agreed to support the Declaration. The countries expressed support for strengthened efforts to end rape in war.

By: Kaci Racelma for Al-Monitor Posted on October 10.