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

(States in comb. with Civil society): •

Mexico City 1975:

International Women’s year •

Copenhagen 1980

•

Nairobi 1985:

All issues women’s issues, Peace & UNIFEM • Follow-up 4th conference in

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

The most powerful division of the UN is the Security Council, which all member states are bound by the UN Charter to obey

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 fear

Kofi 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 Rights

Many 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 • Lack of mechanisms to • Education • Health care promote women effectively • Inadequate respect for women’s human rights • Violence • Stereotyping and inequality • Armed conflict in media • Unequal access to resources, • Environmental concerns power and decisionmaking structures • 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 • 36 Action Plans • UN system (gender advisers, gender mainstreaming and policy structures) • Regional organizations - OSCE 2004, EU 2005, African Charter • UNIFEM: Violence against women campaign • Start to address misbehavior, use and abuse by peace operations personnel of local women (SEA)

2008-

• •

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’

Resolution 1820

(2008) focus on addressing systematic sexual violence in conflict

AU

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

Women as actors or as victims?

• •

SUMMING UP

•

”Women, Peace & Security” Resolutions: 1325

(2000) Original resolution – participation, protection & gender mainstreaming

1820 (2008) 1888 (2009)

Protection – sexual violence 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)

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

Dr. Ursula Franklin