Author : ID4D guests
Date : October 19, 2009
Anders Nordström is Director General of SIDA since January 2008. Read more...
Almost ten years ago, the UN resolution 1325 marked a milestone in international efforts to address the marginalisation of women in conflict resolution and peace-building. But implementing this in practice remains a huge challenge to the international community.
It is obvious that we need to work harder with awareness raising, mobilising of resources and engaging a wider range of actors. And we can do more in terms of coordinating our efforts to promote gender equality and empowering women in post-conflict recovery and peace-building processes.
Approaching the ten year review of 1325, there has been progress in some respects. Implementing 1325 has provided a focus for efforts to address gender equality and women’s security in peace processes. By August 2009, some 20 states had published UNSC1325 National Action Plans (NAPS) or equivalent policy documents.
However, the progress is modest compared with what is needed. Wider engagement with women’s rights and security for women and girls, as well as major institutional and attitudinal changes, remains necessary for effective implementation.
For example analyses show that women’s rights in terms of participation and representation in accordance with article 7 of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) are ignored in post-conflict situations. The result is that they have been marginal actors in the 16 peace processes undertaken since 2000. In 5 cases - Somalia (2002), Cote D’Ivoire (2003), Nepal (2006), the Philippines (2007) and the Central African Republic (2008) – no women directly participated as signatories, mediators, witnesses or negotiators.
We development partners can increase our efforts to take on the three major challenges for improved implementation of 1325:
Support initiatives that enable women’s participation in peace processes
Women are chronically under-represented in the security, justice and public sectors. Even where initiatives have been taken (such as ‘quota’ systems or establishing Ministries of Women’s Affairs), senior female representation remains low in important institutions and sectors for peace processes.
To stimulate change, we donors must support effective strategies for enabling women and men to advocate for and directly contribute to 1325. Such strategies need to operate at several levels. For example, groups of elite or well-organised women – often in partnership with male human rights defenders and with some access to decision-makers or international arenas – can manage to overcome the many obstacles, and seek to participate in peace process development and implementation.
In some countries (for example Liberia) awareness of commitments to develop and implement 1325 NAPs has helped concerned groups to mobilise and secure important improvements in laws and programmes. However, the major structural challenges remain.
Supporting public awareness and knowledge of 1325 remains important. The lack of dissemination and awareness raising around 1325, its limited availability in local dialects and the lack of examples and concrete suggestions on how to use the text in advocacy in real situations has been an obstacle. Recently action has been taken to address these problems. For example, the 1325 resolution is now available in over 100 languages and dialects; and there is increasingly wide use of community radio programmes in countries emerging from conflict to raise awareness of 1325 commitments and issues.
Integrate resolution 1325 in the work of relevant international institutions
UNSCR 1325 has been adopted and used by several international and bilateral institutions, but most action remains centred on institutions whose mandates are focused on women or children. 1325 is still inadequately understood and prioritised by most external bilateral and multilateral institutions engaged in peace support processes, including much of the UN itself.
These international institutional weaknesses are partly explained by weak commitment of high-level leadership on the issue, as well as a lack of policy coherence and coordination of actions. Most bilateral agencies and multilateral organisations have yet to seriously mainstream 1325 commitments, or even to provide internal training and monitoring of 1325.
One step forward would be to establish a formal UN mechanism for reviewing and promoting accountability for 1325 implementation.
More coherent strategies are needed. There has been limited mainstreaming of NAPs and 1325 concerns in reform processes in post-conflict situations. There has been progress towards providing GBV and UNSCR 1325-related training for such traditionally male dominated national institutions (the police, the military and other security forces, the judiciary, and also to a large extent social protection structures where these exist). But these still tend to be discrete, limited packages that have not produced sustainable institutional change. Such external efforts can also be undermined when external agencies have yet to address profound gender imbalances in their own staff.
Nevertheless, it is important to recognise that progress has been achieved in some respects. A decade ago, gender equality and women’s empowerment were generally marginalised in post-conflict security-promotion policies and programmes. By 2009, key international policies and guidelines for DDR (Disarmament, Demobilisation and Re-integration of ex-combatants); SSR (Security Sector/System Reform), SALW (Small Arms and Light Weapons) control, and community safety and security programmes generally strive to integrate and highlight gender equality issues.
Although these guidelines need further development, these developments have been associated with substantial practical changes in some countries, such as major funded programme elements to address the special needs of women, children and ‘camp followers’ in several recent DDR programmes (such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, and DRC). Overall, however, there remains a big gap between international policy rhetoric and guidelines on the one hand, and actual practice on the other, including or not least at country level.
Coordinate efforts and initiatives
The multiplicity of internal and external actors engaged in post conflict initiatives has raised problems of co-ordination on 1325 and on gender equality issues. Domestic and international instruments and policies often address partly overlapping concerns. Lack of coordination also applies to different organisations working across 1325-related areas. This undermines delivery of coordinated, effective and coherent technical assistance, and it creates operational gaps.
There are some examples of sustained efforts to mainstream and co-ordinate on 1325 issues (for example in Liberia). But monitoring and evaluation mechanisms remain a challenge. There are no standardised indicators across NAPs and this has reduced the opportunities for sharing best practice and lessons learned.
Overall, the challenges of realising 1325 remain much more impressive than the results so far. We can see some progress, but there is much left to do. Let’s work together, even harder, to promote gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s security in post-conflict recovery and peace-building processes.
It is not only a matter of human rights it is the most effective and most sustainable way forward.
Anders Nordström, Director-General
Sida - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
Sida is the implementing agency for Swedish bilateral development cooperation
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Date : April 8, 2010 15:00
It always takes time to fully integrate new gender policies into societies such as the UNSCR 1325, due to the cultural characteristics of society, both in countries experiencing conflict or during a peace process. Sometimes it is not even necessary to be a country in conflict to recognize that women are still being mistreated or excluded due to religious and ethnic rules or patriarchal societies. It not only takes time to digest gender equality for the society in general but also for women themselves since the process of becoming aware of their rights may take them long time and also be dependent upon their family and social environment. And indeed, in this respect government action nation-wide is crucial and the starting point for change.
Yet, I think that education is the key for women’s personal and societal development and thus for the development of the societies and the countries they belong to. If women are not aware of their abilities, they would never take a step further or become aware of their importance in society. Hence, if there is more investment in education and jobs for women they not only will be able to play a role in post-conflict reconstruction programs but also in the further development of the country by serving the society since this would move them away from returning to violent situations or extreme poverty. If they take part in education programs especially directed to them and aimed at their moral reinforcement on their role in society, they will be able to form bottom up civil groups for more representation and more inclusion, not only in political but also in the economic system. Further, they should not only receive but also be able to share education with other societal groups by engaging in social work activities.
For this aims, and especially in cases where the government is still reluctant to give relevance to the role of women in society, the private sector should become engaged in pro-women development projects, not only in education but also in other areas. A good example of how women can be assisted takes place in Colombia, in a restaurant chain called Crepes and Waffles. Colombia is a country that has been experiencing a long lasting internal conflict worsened by drug trafficking and high poverty rates. Women have been particular victims of these scourges. One of the most important characteristics of Crepes and Waffles is that the majority of its employees are women from humble sectors of society, who carry out production, administration and service functions. The mission is to support women in their personal, professional and family lives. Most of them are single mothers and household heads that are supported in their effort to achieve wellbeing for their families. Thus, they not only have a work place but also take part in health, family planning, socio-familial guidance, educational and training programs. Today, this restaurant chain is one of the most popular in the country since its female employees are the added value of the enterprise as they assure product quality.
I think this is a concept that could be exported to other countries facing a similar of worse internal social and security situation in order to make further steps to the development, not only of women, but of society as a whole. In sum, development is not only about conflict resolution but also about providing right awareness and educational opportunities to women, in order to better serve the society.
Aude ANTOINETTE et Aurore MITTELBERGER - étudiantes en Master 2 Coopération internationale, action humanitaire et politiques de développement
Date : December 8, 2009 09:45
Impliquer la participation des femmes dans les situations post-conflit ne devrait pas être une source d’interrogations. Les femmes ont un rôle déterminant à jouer dans ces processus, de part leur rôle éducatif des jeunes populations notamment. Hélas, ce n’est pas une évidence pour tous. La résolution 1325 a fait l’objet d’une avancée déterminante à ce sujet en visant une participation égalitaire entre hommes et femmes dans la gestion de ce type de conflits, cependant, ces progrès demeurent timides.
Pourtant, la résolution 1325 invite à de nouveaux défis. Encourager les initiatives permettant d’intégrer la participation et la représentation de la femme dans les processus de paix est essentiel, et ce à tous les niveaux de prise de décisions. A ce sujet, la prévention des conflits, leur gestion et leur règlement, semblent de mise.
Intégrer davantage la résolution au sein des programmes des institutions internationales concernées parait déterminant. Les questions sexo-spécifiques doivent être plus présentes dans les rapports de l’ONU ou des Missions du Conseil de Sécurité notamment.
Toutes ces initiatives doivent enfin être coordonnées et ainsi permettre d’accorder une protection particulière aux femmes et aux populations réfugiées lors des conflits. Il nous parait essentiel de mettre fin à toute impunité pour crimes sexuels ou violences sexo-spécifiques, et ce par une meilleure coordination, aboutissant à une meilleure efficience.
Comme le dit justement Anders Nordström, il ne faut pas oublier les efforts et initiatives réalisées depuis une décennie. La société civile, les gouvernements, les Nations Unies ont réalisé des avancées. Un exemple, comme l’explique Mabiala MANTUBA-NGOMA (Ethnologue, Département des Sciences Historiques, Université de Kinshasa) des femmes se sont mobilisées en République Démocratique du Congo et ont participé activement à la reconstruction post-conflit en promouvant le leadership politique féminin et diverses actions sociales et culturelles (envers des enfants de la rue, des filles-mères, des réfugiées, des déplacées de guerre et des enfants soldats…), ainsi que dans le secteur sanitaire (viols, grossesses non désirées, malnutrition, personnes atteintes du SIDA, avortements...) Cette participation aboutit même à diverses stratégies d’autonomisation pour ces femmes.
L’engagement des femmes dans la période post conflit dépend largement du rôle qu’elles ont joué pendant le conflit, dans le processus de recherche de la paix, de négociation, dans les différentes parties du conflit y compris dans les mouvements rebelles. En effet, il existe toujours une connexion entre présence et influence. Au Burundi par exemple, pays sortant d’une guerre qui a duré plus de 15 ans, les femmes se sont fortement mobilisées. Ce type de participation des femmes dans la prise de décision dans les pays post conflit a plusieurs impacts, notamment un changement de mentalité sur le leadership des femmes, un discours masculin qui évolue, des efforts faits pour voter des lois qui prennent en compte autant que possible des besoins spécifiques des femmes, comme le nouveau code pénal révisé renforçant des mesures de répression des violences faites aux femmes et aux enfants.
Ces exemples nous montrent que dans certains pays, des femmes ont pu trouver leur place dans la gestion des situations post-conflit. Aussi, nous pensons que ces actions doivent motiver la société civile à continuer à prendre des initiatives.
Tout d’abord elle doit créer un réseau de sensibilisation et de partage d’information. Elle peut se lancer dans l’organisation d’ateliers, de séminaires et de conférences pour les journalistes locaux, les politiciens, les organisations communautaires, les écoles secondaires ou encore les universités. Pour cela il est possible de se baser sur les versions traduites de la résolution 1325. Une autre possibilité d’avancer consisterait à traduire la résolution 1325 dans des langues ou dialectes où cela n’a pas encore été réalisé. Entre groupes utilisant la résolution 1325, il est possible d’entrer en contact pour échanger ses stratégies et bonnes pratiques afin de permettre à chacun de profiter des expériences des autres. Il est aussi envisageable de mettre en place un groupe qui écrive de façon régulière aux médias pour mettre en exergue le rôle des femmes dans les processus de paix et de sécurité.
Il est également possible pour la société civile d’essayer d’influer sur la politique, en écrivant notamment aux membres du Conseil de Sécurité des Nations Unies. Il s’agirait alors de leur rappeler les engagements pris dans le cadre de la résolution 1325, et de leur demander d’établir un rapport expliquant la manière dont ils mettent en œuvre la résolution en tant que membre du Conseil de Sécurité. De façon plus locale, une organisation de la société civile peut également contacter les représentants de son gouvernement et lui demander des informations sur la manière dont la résolution 1325 est abordée à tous les niveaux de l'administration, par exemple, à travers le développement de plans d'actions nationaux.
Ainsi, nous pouvons constater une évolution. Des actions se mettent en place, mais il reste encore beaucoup à faire. Cependant ce genre de processus nécessite forcément du temps, et l’évolution des mentalités. Aussi, il est fort probable que la nouvelle génération amène progressivement à ces changements. De plus, nous pouvons remarquer que l’ensemble des initiatives liées à cette résolution évoluent dans un cadre législatif favorable. En effet d’autres mécanismes internationaux sur les droits des femmes, tels que la Convention sur l'Elimination de Toutes Formes de Discrimination à l’égard des femmes (CEDAW), la Déclaration et la Plate-forme d'Action de Pékin vont dans le sens de la résolution 1325. Dernière avancée, le 5 octobre 2009, à New York, les 15 membres du Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU ont adopté à l’unanimité et à l’initiative du Vietnam, la résolution 1889 qui permet d’accroître le rôle des femmes dans les phases de reconstruction post-conflit. Ce texte vient renforcer le volet participation de la résolution 1325, dont l’ONU célébrera le dixième anniversaire l’année prochaine.
Date : October 26, 2009 06:37
Thank you, Anders, for this post. It is great to hear of something positive in developing countries, particularly pertaining to women, which seems to be very underreported in the U.S. news and media. Although it has been ten years since UN Resolution 1325, like many new policies implemented into societies, it often takes a long time for policies to become fully integrated into societies. Particularly in nations of South Asia and Africa, the impact of partiarchial societies have certainly made an impact upon the women currently residing in these nations. Hence, I believe that it will take time for women to believe that their participation in their societies is "acceptable," since it is contrary to their own upbringing and culture. However, future generations of women, who grow up with a culture that stresses that it IS acceptable for women to partake in leadership in government, are likely to reap the benefits of UN Resolution 1325. Like many things in history, including women's suffrage (in the US and other nations), it often takes a few generations to really see the impact of policy changes in society. Thanks again for the post.
Date : October 26, 2009 05:04
Soy de Chile, uno de los paises en donde el presidente es una mujer (Michelle Bachelet), hasta unos meses antes de su eleccion era impensable que fuese viable la eleccion de una mujer como cabeza de gobierno, ya que la politica interna era ampliamente dominada por hombres, sin embargo, el grueso de la poblacion si estaba mas que dispuesto a nombrar a una mujer en el poder, es por eso que en cuanto a la designacion de una mujer como mediadora el principal conflicto es la falta de confianza que los lideres hombres tienen en sus pares femeninos, y no precisamente la desconfianza que generan en las partes en conflicto, sin embargo, en mi pais, que no ha entrado en guerra por muchos años, se mantienen conflictos internos con etnias aborigenes, en donde para la solucion de los conflictos jamas intervienen a nivel superior mujeres, dandose una cierta paradoja que indica que las mujeres aun son en cierta medida discriminadas a la hora de las grandes decisiones, y en cuanto a la solucion y aporte en situaciones de post guerra, deberia enfocarse a la educacion y continuacion de los estudios de las niñas y mujeres involucradas en el conflicto, ya que solo asi podrian ayudar a la superacion futura de la pobreza, en una perspectiva mas macro, y al mismo tiempo desarrollando de mejor manera sus propias capacidades, sin olvidar al mismo tiempo a los niños que tambien resultan victimas de estos conflictos, podrian intentarse por parte de la ONU programas de estudio y desarrollo internacionales que enfoquen a los niños y niñas en un desarrollo pacifico y conciliador dentro de su sociedad al mismo tiempo que de educacion de excelencia, para conseguir una paz desde los cimientos mismos de la nueva sociedad que se forma post-guerra, evitando de este mismo modo conflictos futuros.
Date : October 23, 2009 20:23
La question des femmes est devenue depuis un certain temps un aspect incontournable dans la consolidation de la paix et surtout de la reconstruction. Il est désormais logique et très rationnel de bien s'y pencher, vu le rôle de la femme dans la construction et la consolidation de l'état-nation. La résolution des Nations Unies est une étape dans la reconnaissance de cette problématique. La femme est d'une part actrice mais aussi d'une autre part, elle est surtout victime des enjeux négatifs de la société. La femme participe directement ou indirectement dans beaucoup de conflits armés. Mais la plupart du temps, la femme est la grande perdante car, étant au centre de la fondation même de la famille, si elle est épargnée, elle se retrouve veuve du fait que les hommes sont au champ de bataille et qu'ils y perdent souvent la vie. La femme reste alors seule en charge des enfants et cela devient une tâche trop lourde pour elle dans la mesure où la condition sociale d'avant la guerre ne l'avait pas préparée à affronter tous ces défis d'après-guerre. La seule chose qui me tient à cœur est que nous ne pouvons pas juste prendre la condition de la femme dans un angle d'après-guerre mais il faut surtout développer des mécanismes préventifs dans le contexte du développement de la femme dans tous les aspects que ce soit social, politique, économique, afin que la femme soit préparée au même titre que les hommes aux réalités d'après l'imprévisible. Comble de malheur, force est de constater que malgré le rôle actif de la femme, celle-ci n'est même pas associée au processus de résolution des conflits et de ces conséquences. La femme n'ayant traditionnellement pas bénéficié de l'éducation comme c'est le cas dans beaucoup de pays africains, ainsi, elle est injustement écartée suite à l'égoïsme des hommes, lors du partage du pouvoir, des postes de responsabilité. Elle ne peut donc faire partie des preneurs de décision. D'où l'enjeu ici, est de penser à l'avant-conflit plutôt qu'à l'après-conflit . C'est pourquoi naturellement, à travers cette résolution, l'objectif premier est de réveiller les esprits de ceux qui participent à la résolution des conflits pour qu'il y ait une prise de conscience que la femme a aussi un rôle très important à jouer. Elle est mère de la famille, et donc la base de la société, et logiquement le pilier même de l'état-nation; la mère devient donc au centre de la construction de ce même état-nation. D'où la résolution en soi vaut le coup mais elle nécessite d'après moi une étude plus approfondie pour affronter les réalités de l'évolution compréhensive du bien fondé de l'intégration de la femme dans développement et la consolidation de la paix avec tous les facteurs qui y sont associés. Ma proposition serait d'abord de donner la place à ce qu'on a appelé la consolidation du "bottom-up approach" en partant des besoins de la femme, pilier de la société, plutôt que de se soucier des résolutions qui souvent tombent à l'eau.
Innocent Bano
Doctorant en Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques
International University-Vienna
Date : October 23, 2009 11:33
Democratization, the global economical situation and the climate changes will be the 3 topics for discussion into this meeting. As i am a young-over 30 years old-woman and i'm permanently interfering in the diplomatical exchanges by my internet own communications(see my www.Amycommunications.com) from many years, i'll always be the one to give you sollutions for reaching all our nation's goals by providing the peace, all over. Until now, there is nobody from the Romanian government or from the privates to keep on paying me for my public diplomacy by the media, in spite of my regardings are best known and wellcomed, mostly.
As i have heard 2 opinions of your representatives until now, let me note you seem to do nothing but talking and proposing general points for discussion, while the private individuals do provide you the information for supporting your actions to the nations. In these conditions, let me state for you should propose the governments the support of the efficient intellectuals as me for e.g. and start providing individual help for attaining the peace and stop the conflicts, not only by the ONGes, the privates and the governamental institutions only. Of course this will signify there always be persons like the one from 'Good Will Hunting' and their 'purpose' as you regard it only, will be to break your clichees and institutionalized sollutions. But you've been the only to have been proposing eliminating the beaurocracy for eg. . Why does it appear for you to be so complicated to reach this theory by the practice, like the Americans have done it, by example!?
In my opinion, the only sollution for reaching both your individual and common goals will be the import of practical intelligence to be located everywhere . And, starting dressing this intelligence into an individual and strong and complete status..Translate my former sollutions from my web-site..
Date : October 23, 2009 03:53
To Mr. Anders Nordström, Director-General
Sida - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
Sida is the implementing agency for Swedish bilateral development cooperation
This is hot theme in Vietnam society. The government have just delivery the guide for advocacy the gender equality to community
Recently the Pri-minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed the decision ND55CP – signed date 10/6/2009, active since 1/8/2009.about punishment in action do not follow the Gender equality by money.
This morning in television they inform about the budget support short training courses about gender equality : part from government budget , part mobilization from community and donors .So If International fund for this theme necessary request document ensure the transparency of money domestic and international funds .Others way can be destroy working system .
What I want to say about UN resolution 1325.This is first time I hear about it .This mind many women do not know. Even it is expanding nearly 10 years.
In Vietnam every day government delivery many decision. And this entire active in community level .I know many decision do not reach to communal levels. The reason is the transition economy, many problems have conflict inside .And the decision is not live long time in the life. Officials at communal levels know the complains of people, they afraid, they do not implement.
Other thing: limited of foreign language .So if mass media do not inform, this message do not reach to people.
I hope the decision about Gender equality will going to the life and support women in society
Thank you
Date : October 22, 2009 14:31
Where do we find the jobs not only for the top politicans and the society as
they reduce taxes for the riches here in Sweden and make us middle incomes,
we get bankrupcy. That´s the truth today as you don´t have the right to live
with your child, we are in the new century right..............as we got funds for the weapon industry, how come?????? the capitalsim turns out a bad way the richer will be even richer............
by Maria
Date : October 21, 2009 13:32
Na sociedade contemporânea, a mulher tem um marco mais importante do que outrora, isto é desenvolvimento humano e contribui com a sua capacidade para o bem-estar das funções que desempenha por exemplo a saúde, a sanidade das crianças e a educação.
Assim acredito que o trabalho em grupo dignifica o ambiente social e dá mais confiança tanto para
mulhres como para homens pois é um ponto chave nas relações humanas.
Thank You
Date : October 21, 2009 05:16
I am from Somalia and it is true as the writer says women were marginal actors in the Somali peace process. The reason for this is there are Islamist groups that are fighting to make sure women do not hold leadership position in government and that is not right.The adaption of article 7 is very important not only because woman deserve the right to not be discriminated but women I beleive play a significat role in the peace building process and can make huge contribution to the development of their countries.
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