Introduction to UNSCR 1325 ++Chris Coulter, PhD

Historical Overview

”We the peoples of the United Nations

determined to save succeeding

generations from the scourge of war

which twice in our lifetime has brought

untold sorrow to mankind, and to

reaffirm faith in fundamental human

rights, in the dignity and worth of the

human person, in the equal rights of

men and women and of nations large

and small..”

“… we call on the Governments of the

world to encourage women

everywhere to take a more active

part in national and international

affairs, and on women who are

conscious of their opportunities to

come forward and share in the work

of peace and reconstruction as they

did in war and resistance.” Eleanor Roosevelt 1946

• The Cold War

• The Commission

on the Status of

Women (CSW)

1946

UN Decade for Women 1975-1985

“Equality, Development and Peace” (declared by UN General Assembly)

From: Development served to

advance women

To: Development

not possible without women

Women’s World Conferences

• Mexico City 1975:

International Women’s year• Copenhagen 1980• Nairobi 1985:

All issues women’s issues,

Peace & UNIFEM• Beijing 1995:

The Beijing Platform for Action.

”Women’s rights as human rights”

• Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

(1967)

• Convention on the Elimination of all Discrimination Against

Women ‘CEDAW’ (1979)

• ’Declaration on the Elimination of Violence

against Women’ (1993)

• Beijing Platform for Action (1995)

• From ”women” to ”gender”

• ”Gender mainstreaming” (ECOSOC)

1990s-• Activism & women’s organizations for

peace• Violence against women in conflict (Bosnia

& Rwanda) and “women’s rights as human rights”

• Prostitution and trafficking of women during UN Peace operations

1995-2000• Beijing 1995 PFA, Chapter E: women and

armed conflict• Gender mainstreaming of policy and peace

operations• 1st Gender Advisors in UN operations• Arria Formula meetings (2000)• Windhoek Declaration and the Namibia Plan

of Action

UNSCR 1325 on ”Women, peace and security” October 31, 2000

• First time recognized as relevant in the context of international peace and security by the most powerful UN actor – the Security Council

UNSCR 1325• Relates to international law and ongoing developments

such as the UN Charter, Beijing conference, Geneva Conventions, Rome Statute & CEDAW

MAIN THEMES:• Participation (entire peace process)• Protection (incl. ‘prevention’ and ‘protection’)• Gender mainstreaming (both men and women’s needs have

to be addressed)

UNSCR 1325

• Peacekeeping • DDR

Broader security issues:• Transitional justice• Post-conflict governance • VAW

UNSCR 1325

• Participation in peace and security related decision making at all levels

• Protection addresses women's needs and the provision of assistance during and after conflicts

• Prevention is discussed broadly with regards to avoiding violence and transforming conflicts peacefully

PPP draws conceptually from and is also influenced by 4 key areas related to peace and security:

1. Human Security Framework

2. Conflict Transformation Discourse

3. Humanitarian Accountability

4. Women's Rights

Human Security:

Freedom from want and

Freedom from fearKofi Annan (2000)

Conflict Transformation

• includes traditional elements of conflict resolution: mediation, dialogue, negotiation.

• goes beyond tradition by drawing attention to issues of rights and justice, promoting inclusive decision-making and participation.

Humanitarian Accountability• Key element of the women, peace and security

discourse. • Arises from the basic protection needs in emergency

and civil war situations• Guidelines and codes of conduct• Increased understanding of the urgency and centrality

of women's basic needs

Women's RightsMany issues in Universal Declaration of Human Rights

remain unaddressed

During Cold War focus on civil and political issues

Public – private divide

Demand for specific attention to women’s rights in the 1970s

CEDAW: a bill of rights for women

Beijing 1995: Platform for Action

• Poverty• Education• Health care• Violence• Armed conflict• Unequal access to resources,

power and decisionmaking structures

• Lack of mechanisms to promote women effectively

• Inadequate respect for women’s human rights

• Stereotyping and inequality in media

• Environmental concerns• Discrimination against the

girl child

Beijing PFA – Chapter E: Women and Armed Conflict

Peace is inextricably linked with equality between women and men and development

UNSCR 1325 (2000) Then what?

• The role of women’s organizations

• UN system (gender advisers, gender mainstreaming and policy structures)

• Regional organizations - OSCE 2004, EU 2005, African Charter

• UNWOMEN: Violence against women campaign

• Start to address misbehavior, use and abuse by peace operations personnel of local women (SEA)

• 43 Action Plans

§ 1. Urges Member States to ensure increased representation of women …

§ 8. Calls on all actors involved, when negotiating and implementing peace agreements…

§13 Encourages all those involved in the planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration …

2008-2014• International debates on Protection of Civilians

• Increased understanding of the role of sexual violence in conflict (DRC, Timor-Leste, Kosovo) in combination with increased media attention

• New central players: France (EU presidency), the US (Rice and Clinton), Liberia etc, ‘Chatham house’, UK Initiative

• Sister resolutions: 1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 2106, 2122

• AU: African Union Gender Policy 2009 & NATO (SG, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, SHAPE): Bi SC Directive 40-1 (Sept 2009)

• CEDAW: General Recommendation no. 30

• Post MDGs 2015

”Women, Peace & Security Agenda” Resolutions:• 1325 (2000) Original resolution – participation, protection &

gender mainstreaming

• 1820 (2008) Protection – sexual violence

• 1888 (2009) Protection – sexual violence (implementation)

Reaffirms the importance of 1325(2000) and 1820 (2008)

• 1889 (2009) Peace building, 1325 anniversary & indicators

• 1960 (2010) Sexual violence (ending impunity)

• 2106 (2013) – Accountability, focus on perpetrators of sexual violence, women’s economic and political empowerment

• 2122 (2013) – More systematic approach to the implementation of women, peace and security

Women as actors or as victims?Whose security?

Peace is not the absence of war. It is the presence of justice and the absence of fear.Dr. Ursula Franklin

Gender Responsive Demilitarisation,

Demobilisation and Reintegration programmes

Gender Responsive DDR

Appropriate Service Delivery

Gender Training

Gender Specialist

s

Gender Responsive

Needs Assessment

& Programme

Design

Gender Responsive

M&E

Gender Responsive

Budget

Donor Support

Coordina-tion

Mechanism with CSOsCommitme

nt to UNSCR 1325

Gender Responsive Intervention – 7 Key Steps

1. Gender Mainstreaming

2. Female-Specific Eligibility Criteria

3. Gender-Responsive Need Assessment

4. Programme Design

5. Gender Training

6. Gender Responsive Budget

7. Gender Responsive M&E

Gender Mainstreaming – A Holistic Approach1. Understand how and why women & girls’ needs are different from men & boys

2. Creating an isolated women’s subcomponent is not Gender Mainstreaming

3. Favoring women over men is not Gender Mainstreaming

4. Female-specific intervention may still be necessary to reach target group

5. Women are not a homogenous group

6. Gender Mainstreaming is also for Men & Boys

Gender responsive DDR1. Does she possess any type of weapon?

Eligible for disarmament

2. Was the use of weapons an important part of her job?

3. Does she have any experiences of using weapons? / Did she undergo any weapons training

Eligible for demobilisatio

n

4. Did she perform essential support functions during the conflict?

5. Is she socially and financially dependent on a male ex-combatant?

Eligible for Reintegration

YESNO

Gender Responsive Needs Assessment

1. Collaborate with women’s groups

2. Ensure that at least 30% are women in any decision making body & transitional government

3. Use participatory methods to increase women’s participation

What to Assess:

1. Gender composition of armed groups

2. Socio-economic/political status

3. Gendered Division of Labor

4. Capacities of Local Women’s Groups

5. Level of Gender-Based Violence

6. Specific needs of Male and Female Ex-combatants, Supporters, Dependents

Programme Design• Information

Campaign to reach women and women’s NGOs – community mobilization

• Female Staff at the weapon collection sites

• Collect women’s knowledge of trading routes & hidden SALW

Programme Design - cont• Separate accommodation

& ablution areas for women and men

• Counseling by female staff

• Reproductive health care• Separate transportation

facilities• Gender Training (both

men and women)

Programme Design – Economic Reintegration

• Vocational & Literacy Trainings with Childcare Services

• Women’s Access to land & credit

• Sensitization of community and potential employers

• Coordination with development agencies ex. livelihood programmes

Programme Design – Social Reintegration

• Understand changed and unchanged gender roles and relations in post conflict societies

• Long-term psychological rehabilitation • Support women to cope with sick, injured,

traumatized and HIV positive combatants, especially in contexts with high numbers of children associated with fighting forces