Ideas for Advocacy and Implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security

1. NEWS FOR PEACEWOMEN

East Timor Women's Network demands Justice
August 28, 2002 -At the office of Fokupers, a women's organization based in Dili, approximately 50 East Timorese women met with Mary Robinson. The discussion focused on the inability of the Ad Hoc Human Rights Tribunal in Jakarta to bring justice to victims and the need for an international tribunal for East Timor. Ms Robinson promised to continue to advocate for an international tribunal.

Di bawah ini adalah surat yang diberi kepada Mary Robinson dari Jaringan Perempuan Timor Lorosae (Rede Feto). Kemarin kira-kira 50 perempuan bertemu dengan Ms. Robinson tentang ketidak-puasan dengan Pengadilan Ad Hoc dan kebutuhan untuk Pengadilan Internasional. Robinson bilang bahwa akan melanjutkan advokasi untuk pengadilan internasional.
For the entire article please see: http://peacewomen.org/news/august/etimor.html

Sudanese Civil Society give their Position On Sudan Peace Talks
August 26, 2002 - In a protest note addressed to General Lazarus Sumbeiyo, Secretary of IGAD Secretariat to Sudan Peace Talks last week, the civil society groups namely New Sudanese Indigenous NGOs Network (NESI-Network), Forum for Sudan Civil Society Organisation (FOSCO), New Sudan Youth Association (NSYA) and Sudan Women Association in Nairobi (SWAN) among others, said the interim period under the Protocol should not emphasise unity. They said rather "it should emphasise how the South should be decolonised." (African Church Information Service, Henry Neondo, Nairobi).
For the entire article on the Peace Talks please visit: http://allafrica.com/stories/200208230253.html. For the position paper please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/august/igad_secretariat.pdf

Israeli & Palestinian Women Call on the Quartet to Create an International Commission of Women Peace Activists.
August 22, 2000, New York - Equality Now, along with Ms. Abu-Dayyeh Shamas and Ms. Greenblatt, is urging the Quartet to rise to the challenge of creating a means through which women can contribute formally and integrally to the Middle East conflict resolution efforts underway in the international community. Equality Now believes that these women can help create a new path towards an effective resolution of the crisis in the Middle East and will continue to work to get the voices of Palestinian and Israeli women heard. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to bring meaning to Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security, adopted in October 2000. Resolution 1325 affirms the importance of equal participation and the full involvement of women in all efforts in the maintenance of peace. (Equality Now)
For the rest of the article please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/campaigns/featured/middle%20east/news/quartet.htm

Global: War - What Price Women Paying?
At the 8th International Women's World Conference in Uganda recently, delegates gathered to address the issues of violence against women in war and armed conflict. The Conference identified the need to raise the volume of women's voices in the peace movement, and build a critical mass of women to implement various UN resolutions at global, regional and national levels. Significantly, the UN Security Council-adopted resolution 1325 (October 2000) called for all actors negotiating and implementing peace agreements to adopt a gender perspective. Resolution 1325 has the potential to become a powerful tool in women's hands to crystallize the commitment of governments towards women during conflicts (Women's Feature Service (WFS), written by Pamela Bhagat). http://www.wfsnews.org/

For More News please see: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/newsindex.html

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2. ANALYSIS OF SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1325: Ideas for Advocacy and Implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security

NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security
Resolution 1325 urges for the inclusion of women in peace negotiations. It categorically calls for the consultation with women's and civil society groups in peace negotiations. It also calls upon member states, UN agencies, and other actors to ensure that gender mainstreaming issues are accounted for in all aspects of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacemaking and post conflict reconstruction. If implemented, these measures would place women firmly and equally at the centre of peace and security matters. Unless the moment is seized, the opportunity will pass.
We are all advocates of Resolution 1325 and we must ensure that rhetoric becomes reality. Here are some ideas for follow-up action with NGOs, governments, the United Nations, the public, and others. They are just the beginning; please add more of your own. This document can be found on-line at: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/ngo/ngopub/strategies.html

Educate and Inform
· Teach/take a course on conflict prevention and resolution for women or on 1325
· Bring together diverse women's groups to discuss security issues and how they might use 1325 as an advocacy tool
· Raise awareness of different avenues for ensuring justice and accountability for war-time violence against women, especially in regard to conflict resolution negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction efforts
· Monitor the protection and respect for human rights of women & girls in your region

Generate Awareness and Strategize
· Create media on women's roles and experiences in peacebuilding
· Press Releases
· Media Events
· Manual of Actions
· Posters and postcards
· Hand-outs, including brochures with graphics and cartoons as appropriate
· CD-ROM with graphics and audio appropriate for limited literacy skills
· Write letters to media to include gendered aspects of conflict
· Form a strategy group for your region to include women in peace & security
· Fund women's peace efforts in conflict zones

Impact Policy
· Send requests to the head of the Department of Peace Keeping Operations: Under Secretary General Jean-Marie Guehenno, Room S-3727B, United Nations, New York, NY 10017
· Contact decision makers at the United Nations (see http://www.peacewomen.org/un/basics/map.html)
· Contact your Representative to the UN (see http://www.peacewomen.org/contacts/conindex.html)
· Contact your government body that sends troops for UN Peacekeeping Operations
· Meet with UNHCR in refugee settings and review implementation of the UNHCR Guidelines on Protection of Refugee Women, UNHCR Guidelines on Protection and Care of Refugee Children with the UNHCR staff in country.
· Lobby your parliament for effective legislation on women, peace, and security

Spread the word
· Develop gender training materials appropriate to your region/culture
· Print & distribute copies of Resolution 1325 to relevant policy makers and decision makers
· Translate Resolution 1325 to your own language and send it to post at info@peacewomen.org
· Speak out about and document the violation of international law and the rights of women and girls
· Make women's efforts more visible by sending information to info@peacewomen.org

Network and share information
· Network and coordinate with other women's organizations (see http://www.peacewomen.org/contacts/conindex.html)
· Gather more information on women, peace, and security
· Share your experiences with others at the CSW and with women's groups and strategic partners

Produced by the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security during the Commission on the Status of Women 2002

For more information go to
http://www.peacewomen.org/un/ngo/wg.html
http://www.womenscommission.org
http://www.womenbuildingpeace.org
http://www.haguepeace.org
http://www.iwtc.org/
http://www.iccwomen.org/

Previous Analysis done on the 1325 PeaceWomen E-news can be found on-line at http://www.peacewomen.org/news/1325News/1325ENewsindex.html

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3. FEATURE REPORTS FOR PEACEWOMEN: UN Reports and Action about Peacekeeping and Peacekeeper Violations

In the past decade, increasing numbers of accounts have surfaced of violations committed by United Nations peacekeepers against civilians, during UN peacekeeping operations. This is a particularly important issue for those working toward the implementation of Resolution 1325 as much of the focus of 1325 is on the need for gender mainstreaming in peacekeeping operations, gender-sensitive training of peacekeepers, as well as the need for more women in peacekeeping operations. The Center for Strategic Initiatives for Women (CSIW), the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice (WCGJ) and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) have joined together to establish an information-sharing network, called Peacekeeping Watch, to facilitate the documentation and compilation of these human rights violations. The network is intended to facilitate the quick flow of information about violations by peacekeepers, to bring media and public attention to these actions and to seek appropriate responses from the UN as well as troop contributing countries.
While many individual articles are circulating on this issue, the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice produced a useful document in July 2002, „Compilation of Articles and Reports Concerning Violations by Peacekeepers. The articles and reports range in date from 1990 to 2002. This document includes a newspaper article on G.I. abuses in Kosovo, as well as the sexual exploitation, torture and murder of children by UN peacekeepers, a victim's testimony from Somalia, and a report by Amnesty International on violations by Indian peacekeepers in Sri Lanka.

Although this document is not online, it is available upon request from WCGJ. Call (718) 626-2681 or e-mail caucus@iccwomen.org.

As a member of Peacekeeping Watch, WILPF's PeaceWomen website has an in depth section on Peacekeeping Watch and peacekeeper violations, including a comprehensive bibliography, press articles, NGO reports, and an, upcoming section with links to victims‚ testimonies. However, this section and the larger Gender and Peacekeeping section of the website are currently being reorganized, expanded, and updated. Please visit Peacekeeping Watch soon at: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/pkwatch/pkwatch.html

For a comprehensive annotated bibliography of books, articles and analyses on women's peace theory and activities, as well as NGO position papers, reports, speeches, statements and tools for organisational building, please go to: http://www.peacewomen.org/resources/resindex.html

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4. CAMPAIGNS FOR PEACEWOMEN

Leadership and Campaign in Support of Dr. Mabel Bianco for the post of Special Rapporteur on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health

Acting Director, International Program
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy
120 Wall Street, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10005
USA
Phone: (917) 637-3618
Fax: (917) 637-3666
Email: kathy.martinez@crlp.org
Website: http://www.crlp.org

The Commission on Human Rights is currently considering candidates for the post of Special Rapporteur on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health. We are writing you to ask you to support the nomination of Dr. Mabel Biancofor this position.

Throughout her thirty-year career, Dr. Bianco, an Argentine national, has been a strong and committed advocate for women's reproductive and sexual health and rights. We believe that, as Special Rapporteur, Dr. Bianco will be particularly effective in ensuring that governments are held accountable for their obligations to protect the right to health and will also strengthen international recognition of and support for reproductive and sexual rights.

The Commission on Human Rights is expected to make a decision regarding the appointment of the Special Rapporteur early next week. As such, we are asking that you write to the Commission on Human Rights as soon as possible, to show your support for Dr. Bianco. For more information on the campaign please visit: http://peacewomen.org/campaigns/leadership/bianco.html

Ambassador Krzysztof Jakubowski
Chairman
Commission on Human Rights
Fax: +41 227109799

with a copy to:
Maria Francisca Iza-Charrin
Chief of the Support Services Branch
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Fax: +41 229179016
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5. CALENDAR EVENTS FOR PEACEWOMEN

UN DAW to Organize an Online Discussion and Expert Group Meeting on Women and Media
August 26- September 27, 2002

The United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (UNDAW) is organizing an online discussion on the topic "participation and access of women to the media as instruments for the advancement and empowerment of women" from 26 August to 27 September 2002.

The online discussion will focus on media as a tool for the promotion of women's advancement and gender equality. It hopes to gather examples of good practice and useful experiences that could be widely applied, and at the same time to underline some of the emerging issues. It also aims to identify the extent to which media policies, guidelines, or codes of conduct take account of gender perspectives, and to highlight any effective enforcement mechanisms. Ways of improving women's access to and employment in the media as well as the factors affecting media content and gender portrayal will likewise be discussed. The discussion will also tackle the impact of the growth of new communication and information technologies, including the Internet, on media professions and media content.

The outcomes of the online discussion will be presented at the Expert Group Meeting which is being organized by the UN DAW, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Public Information, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It will be held in Beirut, Lebanon from 12 to 15 November 2002. Consequently, the results of the Expert Group Meeting and the online discussion will serve as inputs to the 47th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in March 2003. The outcome of the Commission's deliberations will also be a contribution to the forthcoming World Summit on the Information Society.

Media practitioners, media advocacy groups, representatives of academia and research institutions, women's organizations and other NGOs working on the issue of media and ICT, and all other groups and individuals interested in media issues are invited to participate in the online discussion.

To register, send an e-mail to Arlene Sciancalepore at sciancalepore@un.org requesting to be registered. Please include your full name and country of origin.
For more information, contact Amina Adam, Chief, Coordination and Outreach Unit at adama@un.org at the Division for the Advancement of Women, Department for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.

Post Conflict Reconstruction: Lessons Learnt and Best Practices
September 30th- October 4th, 2002
What been learnt since the end of the Cold War about rebuilding societies after armed conflict? What determines whether such efforts succeed? Are women excluded in the reconstruction processes to the dis-benefit of successful reconstruction? · How long does it all take - is the international community realistic about the time-frame?What can and should be done by the international community and by the country itself? What is best done by civilians and what by Armed Forces? How can a functioning economy be developed? How can a broad-based inclusive form of reconstruction be achieved? In what sequence do the essential elements need to be put in place? How can root causes be addressed so that conflict does not break out again?

Enquiries about participation and local travel to: Mrs Jo Childs, Wilton Park, Wiston House, Steyning, West Sussex. BN44 3DZ. Telephone: +44 (0)1903 817755 Fax: +44 (0) 1903 815244. Email: jo.childs@wiltonpark.org.uk. Website: http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/web/welcome.html

International Training of Trainers Workshop / Bratislava, Slovakia
November 18-23, 2002.
* Taller Internacional Formacion de Formadores / Bratislava, Eslovaquia / 18 al 23 de noviembre de 2002. El objetivo principal del taller es el empoderamiento de las mujeres de areas en conflicto o post-conflicto para que puedan asumir un papel importante en la reconstruccion y el desarrollo de sus comunidades. Para mayores informes, conactese con Ketty Lazaris en: alazaris@hol.gr, o envie un correo electronico a kegme@hol.gr o a stamiris@hol.gr.

* Atelier International formation de formateurs / Bratislava, Slovaquie / 18 au 23 novembre, 2002. objectif principal de l'atelier est d'appuyer les femmes des regions en conflit ou post-conflit pour qu'elles puissent jouer un role important dans la reconstruction et le developpement de leurs communautes. Pour tous renseignements, veuillez contacter Ketty Lazaris alazaris@hol.gr, ou envoyer un courriel kegme@hol.gr ou stamiris@hol.gr.

The Mediterranean Women's Studies Centre (KEGME) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), are organizing a 5-day Workshop in Bratislava, Slovac Republic from November 18th to 23rd, 2002. The overall goal of the Workshop with women participants from conflict and post conflict areas, is to empower women, and to enable them to play a key role in community rebuilding and development.

More specifically the main objectives of the Workshop are:
- To strengthen the managerial capacity of women's grass-roots Groups and NGOs through expert training on organizational skills
- To provide participants with new communication tools, emerging problem solving and leadership skills
- To exchange experiences and ideas on the topics of the Workshop.

The Workshop will be conducted using a gender perspective and participatory methodology, including group work, short presentations, role play, case studies and exercises.

For additional information, please contact Ketty Lazaris at: alazaris@hol.gr, or write to kegme@hol.gr or to stamiris@hol.gr You may also visit the KEGME Website at: http://www.kegme.org.gr/newsviews.asp. For more calendar events please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/frame/calendar/calendar.html

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6. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PEACEWOMEN

Womennet
Canadian Web-based Women's Information Centre
886 Hare Avenue, Ottawa, ON K2A 3J2
Email: info@womennet.ca
Website: http://www.womennet.ca
For more information, Jackie Manthorne at: jmanthorne@womennet.ca.

Womennet provides the following features:
- The Directory of Canadian Women's Resources, a searchable database of over 2,500 women's groups in Canada. Groups are organized by topic within each province and territory (Centres/Groups, Women in the Law, Women's Shelters, for example).
- A Links Section, which contains hundreds of annotated links to international and Canadian women's sites. Canadian Links are organized by province and territory. International Links are categorized by topic, such as Feminist Publication and Journals; Violence against Women; Reproductive Rights
- News and Resources, including Bulletin Boards that are updated daily
- A free womennet.ca e-mail address

The site is still in evolution, and they would appreciate your help in ensuring that the information about each group in the Directory of Canadian Women's Resources is correct and complete. If you have changes to make, or if your group is not currently listed, please write to info@womennet.ca. If you know of other groups we should be listing, please send them information about them as well.

They will be publishing a print version of the Directory of Canadian Women's Resources in the late fall. They accepting pre-publication orders at a 10% discount ($37.95 per copy instead of the post publication price of $44.95). You can reserve your copy now by e-mailing directorypreorders@womennet.ca; they will send you the Directory hot off the press with an invoice.

For a comprehensive list of women's organizations working in Canada please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/contacts/europe/canada/can_index.html

For an extensive database of organizations worldwide working on women and peace issues, go to: http://www.peacewomen.org/contacts/conindex.html

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