Women, Peace & Security
The United Nations Security Council will hold an Open Debate to mark the 12th anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution 1325, with a focus on “the Role of Women’s Civil Society Organizations in Contributing to the Prevention and Resolution of Armed Conflict and Peacebuilding.” The debate (date to be announced) will be webcast live from 10:00 a.m. (New York time).
The Open Debate marks an opportunity to reflect on the progress made and to accelerate action on the implementation of the Security Council’s historic resolution 1325 (2000) and related commitments and guiding documents on women and peace and security, one of UN Women’s priority areas of work.
The ground-breaking Security Council Resolution 1325, which was passed in the year 2000, is the first to link women’s experiences of conflict to the international peace and security agenda, focusing attention on the disproportionate impact of conflict on women, and calling for women’s engagement in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. It recognized the under-valued and under-utilized contributions women make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and securing peace. It also stressed the importance of women’s equal and full participation as active agents in peace and security.
Twelve years on, changes in peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding are clear. The protection of women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence is recognized as a priority challenge. Women’s peace coalitions have grown in strength.
Transitional justice mechanisms are increasingly responding to war crimes against women with specific arrangements to protect women witnesses. Post-conflict needs assessments, post-conflict planning processes and financing frameworks have in some cases acknowledged the need to put women’s participation and concerns at the center of recovery. While these changes have been critical, much more remains to be done.
UN Women’s efforts
In collaboration with partners, UN Women is currently supporting implementation of women, peace and security commitments in at least 37 countries. This includes support for strengthening women’s peace coalitions and to help prepare them for engagement in peace processes; work with peacekeepers to help detect and prevent conflict-related sexual violence; support to build justice and security institutions that protect women and girls from violence and discrimination; and initiatives to promote public services that respond to women’s needs, ensure women’s access to economic opportunities, and build women’s engagement in public decision-making at national and local levels.
Speeches and statements
UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet’s remarks at the High Level Side Event on “Preventing Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes in Conflict and Securing Justice for Survivors.” New York, 25 September 2012. Read more»
Opening remarks by Ms. Lakshmi Puri, Deputy Executive Director, UN Women, at the panel discussion titled “Securing Justice for Women in Post-Conflict States,” held at UN Headquarters. New York, 2 May 2011. Read more»
In an address at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet announced a new initiative to boost women’s roles in conflict resolution with an international roster of gender experts who can be rapidly deployed. Pennsylvania, 5 April 2011. Read more»
Publications
Report of the Secretary-General on Women and Peace and Security (S/2012/732)
The new report of the UN Secretary-General provides an overview of progress since last year in implementing resolution 1325 (2000) across four action areas: prevention, participation, protection and relief and recovery. The report includes updates on measures taken to improve coordination and accountability for women, peace and security, and highlights best practice examples as well as obstacles and challenges to women’s participation and representation in efforts to prevent and resolve conflict. The report shows that across regions there are a growing number of inspiring examples of women, peace and security in action but overall progress remains slow and uneven.
Sourcebook on Women, Peace and Security
This is a collection of cutting-edge resources intended to raise awareness, provoke policy, support training, advocacy and share lessons learned on implementation of the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda, including the UN Security Council resolution 1325 and other women and peace and security resolutions (1820, 1888, 1889 and 1960). This collection is expected to strengthen the knowledge base on women and peace and security-related issues and to provide practitioners, advocates and policy-makers with practical guidance.
For resolutions and other guiding documents, click here »
Events
The Guatemalan Presidency of the Security Council will convene an Open Debate on women and peace and security (date TBA) with a focus on “the Role of Women’s Civil Society Organizations in Contributing to the Prevention and Resolution of Armed Conflict and Peacebuilding.”
The Open Debate will provide an opportunity to Security Council members to hear views from Member States, the United Nations system and civil society on progress in the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and related commitments on women and peace and security.
A range of side events and activities will be organized by Member States, regional organizations, civil society and United Nations entities in connection to the Open Debate to provide opportunities for stakeholders across regions to share experiences, good practices and lessons learned on the implementation of commitments on women and peace and security.
Zimbabwean women police officers make inroads as members of the ‘blue berets’
Zimbabwe is one of the few countries in Africa where the female contingent of peacekeepers from the police force is near 20 per cent. Four female peacekeepers there recount their success and challenges. Read more»
Young Palestinian activists carry out their role in bringing about peace
A journalist and political activist in the Occupied Palestinian Territories speak at an Open Day event on the duty of younger generations to step up and encourage change as active participants in the peace process. Read more »
Haiti: Efforts at the local level to improve Women’s Access to Justice and Security
Justice for girls and women survivors of gender-based violence can be found at a centre supported by UN Women in the Haitian village of Le Borgne. Survivors, once alone, are now taken for medical help and legal advice. Read more»
From conflict resolution to prevention: connecting Peace Huts to the police in Liberia
Women and girls across the West African country of Liberia, hit hard by a deadly civil war, come together in Peace Huts to mediate and resolve community disputes. Read more»
Truth, justice and reparation for women survivors of Colombia’s battles
Women in Colombia face a fairer future with a new law that delivers justice and compensation for crimes committed during armed conflict and representation from officials who are trained in dealing with sexual and gender-based violence. Read more»
Women come to the negotiating table for Mali’s peace and transition process
Following the crisis of a military coup d’état in March 2012, the Malian authorities have embarked upon a process of transition. With the help of UN Women, Malian women have made their voices heard at the negotiating table. Read more»
Q&A with peacekeeper Sahely Ferdous, Superintendent in the Bangladesh Formed Police Unit
The United Nations Bangladeshi peacekeeping contingent in Haiti is entirely composed of women. One of its officers explains how they are contributing to the fight against gender-based discrimination and violence in the country. Read more»
Kenya moves to increase women in its police force, and improve their work environments
Kenya’s security and legal system got a boost as a newly established National Women’s Police Association provides a forum for training women officers and increasing awareness about gender-sensitive issues. Read more»