INTERNATIONAL: Security: Role For Women in conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding

The UN Security Council has urged countries to implement a landmark resolution which seeks to strengthen women's participation in peacebuilding, peacekeeping, conflict prevention and mediation process.

The Council said in a statement, made available to PANA in New York on Monday, that, the 'charge became necessary because of concern over continuing gaps in implementing the resolution'. PANA reported that the statement followed last Friday's day-long debate on the role of women in peace and security issues, which attracted several senior UN officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Director of UN Women, and representatives more than 50 countries.

The Security Council had in 2000 unanimously adopted resolution 1325 to address the low number of women in conflict resolution and in the implementation of peace agreements. The resolution had called for action to reverse 'the egregious and inhumane treatment of women and girls during conflicts, the denial of their human rights and their exclusion from decision-making in situations of armed conflict, in peacemaking and peacebuilding'. In the statement, the 15-member Council commended the countries that have formulated or updated their national action plans and strategies to increase the participation of women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

'The Security Council, however, remains concerned about the persistence of gaps and challenges that seriously hinder the implementation of [the] resolution, including the continued low number of women in formal institutions of conflict prevention and resolution, particularly in preventive diplomacy and mediation efforts,” it said.

It also noted that the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes committed against women and girls has been strengthened through the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other tribunals. It also reiterated its intention to enhance efforts to fight impunity and uphold accountability for serious crimes against women.

'The Security Council continues to encourage Member States to deploy greater number of female military and police personnel to United Nations peacekeeping operations and reiterates that all military and police personnel should be provided with adequate training to carry out their responsibilities,” the statement noted.

PANA recalled that Ban had in his speech on Friday called for the greater involvement of women in conflict prevention and mediation, which he described as 'the essential building blocks in reinforcing democracy'.

'Women's participation remains low, both in official and observer roles. This has to change,” he said, pledging that the UN would lead by example, and noting that the number of women leading UN peacekeeping, political and peacebuilding missions had gone up over the past year to six out of 28 missions,' he stated.