General Women, Peace and Security

On the tenth anniversary of a groundbreaking U.N. resolution, a conference on "Women and War" opened here Wednesday to discuss the disproportionate impact violent conflict has on women and possible ways to prevent these atrocities.

Peru was elected as a member of the newly-created United Nations agency on gender equality and women's empowerment for the 2011-2013 period, Ambassador Gonzalo Gutierrez announced Thursday.

Women have long played a positive role in the building of peace and security in the Pacific.

D.C. was bustling last week with a series of events commemorating the 10th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security. It is hard these days to think of those words "women-peace-security" and not have your mind flash to the conflict in eastern Congo.

Mr. Stephen Lewis, a former United Nations Envoy on HIV and AIDS for Africa on Saturday challenged the membership of five countries on the UN Agency on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Executive Board.

He explained that he disapproved of the membership of Saudi Arabia, Libya, Bangladesh, Iran and Democratic Republic of Congo on the Executive Board because of their anti-gender laws and practices.

Liberia's Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., hailed Liberian women for the role they played in ending the country's 14 years conflict. He observed that notwithstanding the injustices and violations Liberian women suffered during the country's civil war, they emerged as key players in bringing an end to conflict in Liberia.

Speaking at 10th anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution on women, peace and security in New York last week, Mr Eriya Kategaya said Uganda is committed to strengthening collaboration on enhancing women's participation and empowerment in conflict prevention, mediation, and resolution.

Ghana has finalised the National Plan of Action for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in which women's participation in peace and security institutions and conflict prevention would be increased.

The adoption of the Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), ten years ago, was a landmark in our efforts to recognize the women's contribution to the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and their specific needs and concerns during and in the aftermath of armed conflicts.