General Women, Peace and Security

For the first time, women peace activists from South Asia came together to present a joint resolution to the United Nations Secretary-General. In it, they outlined measures to improve the participation of women in peace building and as peacemakers. The resolution was a result of a two-day open discussion organized by UN Women.

The Finance Division of the government of Pakistan and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a 5-year partnership to enhance institutionalisation of Gender Responsive Budgeting in policies and plans at the Federal and provincial levels.

Stakes are high for Afghanistan's women, who fear their rights could slip away in a quick-fix bargain for peace, according to aid agency Oxfam. There is a risk that the Kabul government may sacrifice women's rights in its efforts to broker a peace deal with the Taliban, Oxfam says. The two sides are in talks to reach a political settlement to the Afghan war before U.S. and NATO troops withdraw in 2014.

Nigeria will use its position as United Nations Security Council President this month to highlight importance of security sector reforms, particularly in African countries, once conflict has come to an end. Nigeria's envoy to the UN and Council President for the month, Professor Joy Ogwu, yesterday, unveiled the month-long programme to newsmen at the UN headquarters in New York.

In August of every year South Africa stages Gender Equality Month. Events are organised around National Women's Day on August 9. According to the ruling ANC, it "is a time to salute women for the role they have played and to reflect on challenges women continue to face".

Ritual killings and human sacrifice happen in many, if not all countries in Africa. Cases have been reported in such countries as Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Women in the country particularly those in Buipe in the Central Gonja District have been urged to use their natural endowments and resources to solve chieftaincy disputes to promote unity and development.

Women have also been identified as key actors in peace building and conflict resolution hence the need to give them full and equal access and participation in the peace activities and processes.

Violence against women is one of the most common abuses of human rights. Its scope includes forced marriages, rape, sexual harassment, intimidation at work and in educational institutions, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, trafficking and forced prostitution.

The tri-lateral women's group, consisting of Palestinian women, Israeli women and female political leaders from around the world, was founded in 2005 under the auspices of UNIFEM in New York. Its mission was to implement and strengthen U.N.

1. Facts:

Small arms:
Small Arms mean the weapons that a single and individual can carry and operate. For example revolvers, self loading pistols, rifles, carbines, assault rifles, sub machineguns, light machineguns and associated ammunitions[1]