Resolution 1820, Participation & Protection

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Issue:

102

1. EDITORIAL
Sam Cook

As many of our readers may be aware, on June 19, the Security Council held an Open Debate on women, peace and security – with a focus on the theme of ending sexual violence in conflict. The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security engaged in concerted advocacy prior to this debate and around the drafting of the resolution. The NGOWG Update (Item 10) features our letter to Ambassadors encouraging them to participate and putting forward what we saw as the minimum requirements that should be covered in any resolution adopted. Also featured is the response of the NGOWG to the Council's unanimous adoption at the close of that Debate, of Resolution 1820 on sexual violence in conflict.

As usual, the PeaceWomen Project monitored the Open Debate and our Focus on the Security Council section (Item 4) provides links to our web pages with all the statements from that debate. Also included in this section are links to, and examples from, the PeaceWomen online thematic index of the debate that provides extracts from statements by Member States on selected themes. As reflected in earlier editions of this newsletter, the PeaceWomen Project has, for some time, been concerned by the fact that the Security Council has not fulfilled its role in addressing the issue of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict as part of its mandate to maintain international peace and security. Several Council members have argued that it is not within their purview to do so. The adoption of Resolution 1820 firmly puts to rest that debate and recognizes that the Security Council's role in maintaining international peace and security includes considering and responding to sexual violence. It also begins to address concerns about the poor flow of information to the Council on this violence. The lack of information on this violence and broader women, peace and security concerns in Secretary-Generals reports to the Council on country-specific situations has hampered our advocacy efforts to ensure that peacekeeping mandates properly address women's issues and concerns. The role of peacekeepers is an important one and this topic was, in fact, the subject of a conference in the time leading up to the Open Debate. The summary of the discussions at this conference at Wilton Park can be found in our Gender and Peacekeeping Update (Item 9). The outcomes of that conference were very much part of the Open Debate in the Council and are, to some extent, reflected in the resolution that was adopted. A fuller discussion of the Resolution, controversies around its adoption, and some of its implications is presented in our Feature Analysis section (Item 3).

One of the crucial aspects of our analysis and advocacy on this issue is that sexual violence is integrally connected to the issue of women's participation in decision-making. For this reason, in our analysis of the resolution and in including resources and content for this newsletter, we have endeavored to include this perspective. The resources in our Feature Resource Section (Item 6) by the ICRC and UNIFEM both recognize this link and the importance of designing responses that take this into account. Also included are specific initiatives around participation. Our Feature Events (Item 7) includes the launch of a book on a coaching program for women's political participation conducted through the gender unit in the Haitian mission MINUSTAH. An interview with one of the participants and the local coach reveals some of the powerful opportunities provided by the program. Another strategy that is often raised is that of quotas for women's political participation. An online discussion conducted by iknow Politics is this month's Feature Initiative (Item 8) and provides useful insights into this particular tool.

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As always, we welcome your contributions to the newsletter's content. We will have a combined July & August edition that will be published in mid-August and will focus on Gender, Small Arms and DDR. Contributions for that edition should be sent to enewssubmissions@peacewomen.org by Thursday 7 August 2008.

2. WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY NEWS

UN: FINALLY, A STEP TOWARD CONFRONTING RAPE IN WAR
June 19, 2008 – (Human Rights Watch) The UN Security Council's new resolution on sexual violence is a historic achievement for a body that has all too often ignored the plight of women and girls in conflict, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch applauds the council for setting out in the resolution a clear path to systematic information-gathering on sexual violence. Until now, the Security Council has asked for information on such violence only in selected cases.

NEPAL: A SMALL VICTORY FOR NEPALI WOMEN
June 24, 2008 - (IPS) Representatives from the Madhesis, Janajatis, Dalits and other indigenous groups were present when Nepal's newly elected constituent assembly sat for its very first meeting late last month, and 191 of the 601-member assembly were women.

SIERRA LEONE: FEMALE CANDIDATE FACE HARASSMENT
June 16, 2008 – (Concord Times) A local non government organisation Friday confirmed that female independent candidates for the local council elections are facing harassment from their opponents in their wards.

DRC: OUTCRY OVER ICC'S SCRAPPING OF RAPE CHARGES, VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN DRC ANGERED BY COURT'S CONTROVERSIAL MOVE
June 3, 2008 - (IWPR) Congolese women who've fallen victim to rape and related crimes say they feel badly let down by the decision of the International Criminal Court, ICC, to drop all sexual violence charges relating to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.

BOUGAINVILLE: URGENT ACTION- BOUGAINVILLE WOMEN'S MINISTER SACKED FOR TRYING TO PREVENT CONFLICT
June 3, 2008 – (LNWDA) PRESS RELEASE: The Leitana Nehan Women's Development Agency (LNWDA) deeply concerned about the tension brewing in Bougainville, urges the President to reinstate sacked Women's Minister.

DRC: UN MISSION BEGINS SENSITIZATION TRAINING FOR GOVERNMENT TROOPS
June 20, 2008 (UN News Center) – Government forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are being given a week-long training course in child protection, human rights, sexual violence and military justice by the United Nations mission in the country (MONUC).

BURMA: IN THE WAKE OF RESOLUTION ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE THE SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD REFER THE SITUATION IN BURMA TO THE ICC
June 20, 2008 – (Global Justice Center) PRESS RELEASE: The United Nation's Security Council took a historic step with the passage of Resolution 1820 on Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict. Resolution 1820 recognizes the importance of full implementation of Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security and reaffirms the Security Council's commitment to end sexual violence as a weapon of war and a means to terrorize populations and destroy communities. For this commitment to be meaningful, the Security Council must provide justice for victims of sexual violence in armed conflict even when it is not politically convenient.

SIERRA LEONE: SEX CRIMES CONTINUE IN PEACETIME
June 20, 2008 - (IRIN) Eight years after a civil war in Sierra Leone that became notorious for the extent of rape and violence committed against civilians, social workers fear that rape is more of a problem in post-conflict, democratic society than it was during the war.

SUDAN: RAPE IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR DARFUR'S WOMEN
June 19, 2008 - (CNN) Sudan's Darfur crisis has exploded on many fronts -- violence, hunger, displacement and looting -- but United Nations peacekeepers say the biggest issue now affecting the region is the systematic rape of women and children. Thousands of women as young as 4 caught in the middle of the struggle between rebel forces and government-backed militias have become victims of rape, they say, with some aid groups claiming that it is being used as a weapon of ethnic cleansing.

GLR: HIGH-LEVEL CONSULTATION IN GOMA CALLS FOR ERADICATION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ENDING IMPUNITY IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION
June 18, 2008 (UNIFEM) - “Rape as a weapon of war has become a defining characteristic of the armed conflicts in the Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of Congo in particular,” said Ambassador Liberata Mulamula at the opening of a high level consultation on Eradicating Sexual Violence and Ending Impunity in the Great Lakes region in Goma, DRC.

AUSTRALIA: $2M BOOST FOR WOMEN ACTIVISTS
June 15, 2008 – (The Sydney Morning Herald) A FEMALE anti-war body and Christian and Muslim groups will share in $2 million in grants to be announced today.

UGANDA: WOMEN ACTIVISTS HOLD DEMO
June 10, 2008 – (New Vision) Women activists have petitioned Parliament demanding that the Government passes all pending Bills that address violence against women and girls. Activists assert that violence against women and girls should be addressed as a community issue, warning that if left unattended, it would create a public health and human rights crisis. The Domestic Violence, Sexual Offences, Domestic Relations and Women Trafficking Bills would help curb the increasing cases of rape and defilement.

KURDISTAN/IRAQ: WOMEN CLAIM NEW LAW ERODES THEIR RIGHTS
June 10, 2008 - (IWPR) Secular women's groups and religious leaders are battling over how much influence Islamic law should have over Iraqi Kurdistan's new personal status legislation. The Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, is drafting a new personal status law to govern matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance, replacing the current Iraqi law that was originally drafted in 1959.

IRAQI KIDNAP VICTIMS' WIVES FACE FINANCIAL STRUGGLE
June 10, 2008 - (IWPR) Women whose husbands go missing in Iraq receive little financial support and get lost in a welfare system that does not assist the families of kidnap victims, critics said. Wives of the victims are emotionally and financially devastated by the loss, say women's advocates, and their suffering is heightened because often they cannot access benefits intended for Iraq's most vulnerable.

COLOMBIA: DEFENDING WOMEN'S DEFENDERS
June 9, 2008 - (IPS) After nearly six years of the "democratic security" policy of the government of rightwing President Álvaro Uribe, women activists in Colombia are as vulnerable to human rights abuses as ever, said female rights defenders who met recently in the Colombian capital.

SERBIA: ONE IN FIVE MPS WOMEN
June 9, 2008 – (OneWorld) The Center of Modern Skills (CMS) warns the public that the new Skupstina (Serbian Parliament) again doesn't provide for adequate representation of women. In spite of campaign claims by political parties that they will promote gender equality, very few have actually taken any concrete action towards that goal.

FORMER NUN HELPS MEXICO 'FEMICIDE' VICTIMS RECOVER
June 5, 2008 - (CSMonitor) Life in Anapra has never been easy. Many of the hundreds of local women murdered in the past 15 years hail from this border town, one of the most violent and marginalized communities in Mexico. And while international attention on the "femicides" abates, the psychology of fear, the cycle of poverty, and a stubborn macho culture are now stirred by a wave of drug-trafficking violence in nearby Ciudad Juárez.

TREATY IN UGANDA SNAGS ON 'AFRICAN VALUES'
June 2, 2008 - (Women E-News) Uganda signed the Maputo Protocol - a key women's rights treaty in Africa - in 2003. Since then the landmark treaty has run into religious arguments against Western influence and abortion.

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3. feature analysis

Security Council Resolution 1820: A move to End Sexual Violence in Conflict

On June 19, the Security Council under the Presidency of the United States held an Open Debate on women, peace and security. An Open Debate – in which non-Council members have an opportunity to address the Council – is not unusual in relation to this theme on their agenda. Each October for the last seven years there has been such a debate to mark the anniversary of the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325. This debate was different however. For one this was June – and it was quite heartening that the Security Council was taking up this theme outside of what has become an almost habitual anniversary occasion. Another difference was that the outcome of the debate was not another Presidential Statement but a rather more binding document – a resolution that builds on SCR 1325 of October 2000 (some 7 1/2 years and 495 Security Council resolutions later). At the conclusion of the Open Debate, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1820 on sexual violence in conflict, which was, through a procedural provision also co-sponsored by some 32 other UN member states.

This Resolution and advocacy for its adoption was not without controversy – a situation not helped by the fact that there was not broad and open consultation with women's groups on its drafting. In addition, the fact that the US was leading the debate was itself politically fraught. While this latter point was a difficult one for women peace activists, it was alleviated by the fact that the US was taking up an initiative driven by many women's groups and governments over a longer period of time than the US presidency of the Council in June. On the Resolution itself, there were several substantive debates. One important question was: why the focus on sexual violence? For one, Resolution 1325 provides a broad and fairly comprehensive framework for a range of issues. It was felt that selecting this issue was somewhat arbitrary and dangerous. It was argued that this focus would take away from the powerful breadth of SCR 1325 and reduce its importance by reducing the focus of the women, peace and security agenda to issues of sexual violence.

For many, focusing on sexual violence in conflict is seen as reducing the issues of women and conflict to the mere victimhood of women. As many rightly argue, Resolution 1325 represented an important recognition of women as agents in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding. It should not simply be seen as a way to make war safe for women. On other occasions where advocacy was done to have the Council address the issue, there was opposition from some NGOs on this very ground. For many the more important issue is women's participation in decision-making at all levels – recognizing women as agents. It is undeniable that the larger goal is to ensure women's effective and full participation in peace and security issues. However, the reality is that women are not either victims or agents. This is a false dichotomy. Many women who are powerful agents of change have also been affected by sexual violence and have been victims of violence. That does not itself define them as mere victims. The issues of participation and violence are inextricably linked – sexual violence is both a cause and consequence of low levels of women's participation in all decision making and, in fact, participation in day-to-day life. Sexual violence does more than discourage political engagement, as a women's rights activist from the DRC explained, sexual violence holds communities hostage and prevents access to markets, water-points and schools. Getting women and gender equality concerns into the highest levels of decision-making is critical if we are to eliminate such violence. But, this is not an easy sequential or separable exercise. First, women's participation is not just a high level concept. Women must be included in discussions and decisions about their security needs and concerns and strategies and programs for protection. It is also necessary urgently and immediately to act to prevent and respond to sexual violence as it is happening.

It is undeniable that sexual violence is being used as a method of war and being perpetrated at levels that defy belief and with impunity. And as many studies, including the 2006 Secretary-General's Study on violence against women, have shown, ending such violence requires a multi-dimensional and integrated response from many different actors. The Security Council is one such actor. As the body whose mandate is to maintain international peace and security and as the body that through its resolutions sets the mandates of UN peacekeeping missions and which has the power to act against countries waging war through illegal methods, its role is vital. Women affected by violence in the DRC and elsewhere have called on the Security Council to fulfill this role. Many may agree with this assessment and still argue that what is needed is to fully implement Resolution 1325. Indeed 1325 does address the issue of sexual violence and the implementation of its commitments must continue. Indeed, a new resolution was not needed to recognize that sexual violence can constitute a war crime or crime against humanity. International law's recognition of this has outpaced the response of the Security Council. The Security Council has done little to prevent such violence or to sanction the use of sexual violence as a method of war.

As WILPF and other NGOs have seen as we monitor the work of the Security Council, peacekeeping missions are not given explicit mandates to provide protection from sexual violence; high rates of violence are not considered in discussions on arms embargoes or sanctions; and the rates and patterns of such violence are not reported in the Secretary-General's reports to the Council on countries on its agenda. Where there is no information in country-specific reports, the Security Council, claiming a lack of credible information (the reports of human rights and humanitarian NGOs on the ground aren't counted) then does not include an explicit mandate to peacekeepers to prevent, protect and respond to sexual violence. Time and again members of the Security Council argue that the issue of sexual violence is not within their purview. It is not, they argue, a matter of international peace and security. While this argument may seem somewhat absurd, Resolution 1820 puts this debate to rest – as the US Secretary of State, chairing the debate, noted, on the question of whether systematic sexual violence belongs on the Council's agenda – the answer is a resounding yes.

Much work remains to be done to implement 1325 and now Resolution 1820 and 1820 is itself not a perfect response. As with most negotiated texts, provisos, passive language and sovereignty concerns make commitments weaker than they might have been. Certainly there are vital issues like the provision of comprehensive services to survivors and commitment of resources that are not comprehensively covered. In part this is because some of these issues must be taken up elsewhere in the UN system and by national governments. Also, because of the work done to link the issue to the protection of civilians – an explicit theme on the Council's agenda, Resolution 1820 at times conveys the idea that it is only sexual violence against civilians that is of concern. These various issues must be addressed but it is important at the same time to recognize this resolution is an important step forward:

1) The Resolution clearly establishes that sexual violence in conflict situations is a matter for the Security Council to consider and act upon. The Security Council in the resolution's first operative paragraph,

Stresses that sexual violence, when used or commissioned as a tactic of war in order to deliberately target civilians or as part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilian populations, can significantly exacerbate situations of armed conflict and may impede the restoration of international peace and security, affirms in this regard that effective steps to prevent and respond to such acts of sexual violence can significantly contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, and expresses its readiness, when considering situations on the agenda of the Council, to, where necessary, adopt appropriate steps to address widespread or systematic sexual violence.

In terms of actions to be taken, the Council affirms its intention when renewing sanctions regimes to consider taking measures against parties who commit rape and other forms of sexual violence in armed conflict (see OP 4) It also provides explicit examples of possible measures to provide protection from sexual violence (see OP3) – including vetting armed and security forces to take into account past abuses, evacuation of those under imminent threat of sexual violence and, in a first in terms of language and concepts for a resolution from this body – “debunking myths that fuel sexual violence.”

2) While this Security Council Resolution does not itself make rape and other forms of sexual violence a war crime, crime against humanity or constitutive act with respect to genocide, it does note that such violence can constitute such (see OP 4). It essentially explicitly notes existing international law, although it does not include explicit references to torture or to the inclusion of crimes of sexual violence in the statute for the International Criminal Court – no doubt an omission driven by the sponsoring US government's attitude to these two issues. It does, however, emphasize and reiterate previous calls to end impunity – both at the international and national level – and, in language that is somewhat stronger than Resolution 1325, “stresses the need for the exclusion of sexual violence crimes from amnesty provisions in the context of conflict resolution processes” (see OP 4).

3) The Resolution explicitly requests the Secretary-General to include information and recommendations on the protection of women and girls in his country-specific reports to the Council. It also requests the Secretary-General to provide an extensive report on the implementation of Resolution 1820, information on the use of sexual violence (including prevalence and trends), strategies to prevent such violence and benchmarks for measuring progress in this. A significant request here, and one which goes to the root of the problem of the Council's inattention to the issue, is for the Secretary-General to report on his plans for improving the flow of information on sexual violence. This will hopefully then contribute to a significantly improved response.

4) The Resolution recognizes the importance of women's participation and reaffirms their role in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in post-conflict peacebuilding as well as the importance of their full participation in peace and security matters. Significantly these paragraphs also recognize the link between sexual violence and women's participation where the Security Council notes that it is:

Deeply concerned also about the persistent obstacles and challenges to women's participation and full involvement in the prevention and resolution of conflict as a result of violence, intimidation and discrimination, which erode women's capacity and legitimacy to participate in post-conflict public life, and acknowledging the negative impact this has on durable peace, security and reconciliation, including post-conflict peacebuilding.

The inclusion of participation is also included to some extent in the operative parts of the resolution. In demanding that parties to armed conflict take appropriate protection measures and that the Secretary-General facilitate dialogue to address the issue in the context of conflict resolution, it requires “taking into account, inter alia, the views expressed by women of affected local communities” (see OP3). The Secretary-General and UN entities to are requested to develop protection mechanisms in relation to refugee and IDP camps and in DDR, justice and security sector reform processes. The development of these is to be “through consultation with women and women-led organizations” (albeit with the weakening proviso that this be done where appropriate) (see OP10). The role the Peacebuilding Commission can play is also stressed through “ensuring consultation and effective representation of women's civil society in its country-specific configurations” (see OP11). More broadly the Secretary-General and his envoys are urged to include women in peace processes and encourages parties to such talks to facilitate women's full and equal participation (see OP12). Finally, in developing his “global” report, the Secretary-General is requested to include “appropriate input from United Nations implementing partners in the field” – which could include women's groups and other NGOs (see OP15).

Other important provisions include explicit requests for training of personnel including pre-deployment training and urging the development and strengthening of the response capacity of national institutions (including judicial and health systems) and local civil society networks.

While this resolution is not perfect and while it alone does not constitute effective action to end sexual violence, it is an important and welcome step. It is another tool to bolster our broader work on Resolution 1325. We must remain vigilant in ensuring that implementation of Resolution 1325 continues and that Resolution 1820 is implemented in ways that include women and that place the well-being of survivors at the centre of all efforts. We look forward to the Security Council, in particular, putting into practice the words and notions of Resolution 1820.

For a printer friendly version of this analysis please visit:For the full text of Resolution 1820, please click here
4. Security Council Focus

Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace And Security
19 June, 2008, UN HQ

The Security Council, under the Presidency of the United States, held an Open Debate on women, peace and security with a focus on ending sexual violence in conflict.

Open Debate Governmental, UN & other Statements:

Security Council Members:
Belgium, Burkina Faso, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Indonesia, Italy, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Panama, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States, Viet Nam.

Non-Security Council Members:
Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, El Salvador, Germany, Iceland (on behalf of Nordic Countries), Ireland, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Mauritania, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovenia (EU), Spain, Switzerland, Tonga, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, African Union.

UN & Other:

* UN Secretary-General
* UN Deputy Secretary General
* Major General (rtd) Cammaert
* African Union

To access the Member States and speaker statements index, please click here

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Thematic Compilation Of Statements At UN Security Council Open Debate On Women, Peace And Security
The PeaceWomen Team

The PeaceWomen Project has compiled excerpts, arranged by theme, from statements made during the Security Council Open Debate held on 19 June 2008. The compilation deals with the following themes:

- Link with International Peace & Security/ Rape as a - Weapon” of War
- Monitoring and Reporting
- Peacekeeping
- Ending Impunity
- Protection & Victim Response
- Prevention of Conflict and Violence
- Participation of Women
- Resolution 1325 Implementation

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Themes And Samples Of Excerpts Featured In The Compilation:

Link with International Peace & Security/ Rape as a “weapon” of War

Belgium
It is a question of peace and security, Madam President, as you yourself rightly said at the outset. It is our conviction that this issue also involves our concept both of the human being and of humanity; our joint responsibility through a debate of this kind is to conduct our fight at the highest political level to deal with the unacceptable phenomenon of sexual violence in armed conflict.

Canada
The Security Council must demonstrate its resolute commitment to defending and maintaining international peace and security by stepping up and taking action against sexual violence. It should now be abundantly clear to all: The systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war demands an effective, timely and proportionate response by the Security Council.

Costa Rica
We should not trivialize this phenomenon, since doing so would mean that we would continue failing to prevent it and to respond effectively. It is indisputable that sexual violence, when it is carried out in a systematic, generalized mannered and as part of an attack against innocent populations, exacerbates armed conflicts and becomes an enormous obstacle to their resolution and to the consolidation of peace.

Democratic Republic of the Congo
This current meeting, indeed, once again places the question of sexual violence against women at the heart of the concerns of the Security Council.

Korea
My delegation would like to make clear its position on key issues for today's deliberation. Firstly, with respect to the link between sexual violence and peace and security, the Republic of Korea fully recognizes that sexual violence is a security issue as well as a fundamental human rights issue. Given this connection, the Republic of Korea supports every effort to end sexual violence in armed conflict not only for the sake of human rights but also for sustainable peace and security.

Netherlands
The Netherlands very much welcomes this open debate and commends the US Presidency for its effort to put this heinous crime so prominently on the agenda of the Council. Sexual violence is linked to peace and security. The adoption of a resolution will be an important step in recognizing this link.

United Kingdom
Madam President, in conflict women and children suffer disproportionately. Sexual violence is among the very worst atrocities that they face, and it is increasingly being used as a deliberate method of warfare.
…….And that is the point. The trauma and injuries caused by sexual violence are designed to cripple communities, trigger revenge attacks, and cause lasting bitterness. In this way gender-based violence feeds the fires of conflicts that this Council is dedicated to extinguishing.

United States
As many of you know, for years, there's been a debate about whether or not sexual violence against women is a security issue for this forum to address. I am proud that today, we respond to that lingering question with a resounding yes. This world body now acknowledges that sexual violence in conflict zones is indeed a security concern. We affirm that sexual violence profoundly affects not only the health and safety of women, but the economic and social stability of their nations.

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Monitoring and Reporting

Security Council Focal Point and/or Working Group

Liberia
The resolution needs accountability or measurement mechanisms; it needs benchmarks and targets for implementation, with institutional structures and focal points identified within the United Nations system dedicated specifically to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

Netherlands
Finally, we hope that this process also includes the monitoring of actions taken by parties to implement their responsibilities.

Switzerland
Thirdly, the Security Council should consider establishing a monitoring mechanism to increase accountability and to ensure the integration of Resolution 1 325 into the country-specific and related thematic work. To this end, the Council should also set up a structure for obtaining timely, accurate and reliable information on sexual violence committed in situations of armed conflict and beyond. UN field missions could be entrusted with this task and thus serve as an "early warning system".

Inclusion of information in country-specific reporting to Council

Belgium
This perhaps complements the Secretary-General's initiative to designate a messenger for peace, of which he spoke earlier — relates to documenting the magnitude of this phenomenon, its roots, its evolution and the preparations for the work that must be done by the courts, whether national or international. Here, I would like to suggest that the Secretary-General might appoint a woman special investigator on sexual violence in armed conflict to carry out the systematic collection of information and to gather all the material that is already available in the field, whether from peacekeeping operations, the United Nations agencies or others operating in the field. All of this should lead us towards zero impunity, and we must clearly affirm the United Nations commitment to peace and security. That must be translated into efforts to tirelessly and determinedly hunt down the perpetrators of these crimes so that those monsters will never again be able to sleep in peace.

Burkina Faso
If conflict does erupt, several actions must follow. In particular, the Council must have at its disposal precise, relevant and credible information about the nature of the violence in all its aspects, including information about those who planned and carried it out.

Canada
Through rigorous data collection and monitoring, the Council would increase its capacity to develop effective peace support mandates that better address this violence, including by way of prevention in the first instance.

Panama
In order to improve the ability of the Security Council to react effectively to this challenge, we need credible and relevant information about sexual violence. It is therefore imperative that the Secretary- General provide the Council with periodic reports highlighting the deep-rooted causes of the phenomenon, as well as the most effective strategies to combat it. In relevant cases, the Secretary-General should also include more detailed information about the issue in his reports on specific conflict situations.

United States
Today's resolution establishes a mechanism for bringing these atrocities to light. Specifically, the resolution requests that the Secretary General prepare an action plan for collecting information on the use of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict and then reporting that information periodically to the Council.

Global Report from Secretary-General

Argentina
In order to ensure effective measures are adopted, we consider it will be particularly useful to have a Report by the Secretary General, systematizing and analyzing the information available to the UN system, with a specific focus in the shocking phenomenon of sexual violence as a political and military tool.

Canada
Canada strongly believes that a report by the Secretary General to the Council which includes recommendations to improve the UN's response, both within the Security Council and beyond, to eliminate sexual violence in conflict situations, would be valuable. The report should draw on the full breadth of expertise including from UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict and relevant non-governmental organizations and women's groups at the local and global levels. An independent expert could be appointed to lead this study.

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Peacekeeping

Gender Training

Australia
The role of police in peacekeeping operations is also of fundamental importance. The specific function of police in times of crisis will differ for example, they may be responsible for responding directly to incidents, or they may provide a mentoring role for local police. Regardless of their role, effective training is always essential.

Bangladesh
Peacekeeping operations are no longer limited to military activities. They now have broader mandates to assist in elections, monitor human rights and carry out police functions. Multifaceted peacekeeping operations thus have large potential in addressing the security of women. These operations now have greater impact on people's lives particularly of women and girls who can largely benefit from the increased security.

Ghana
Troop-contributing countries must take responsibility for deploying well trained peacekeepers. The term “well-trained” must be redefined to include having gender awareness. Gender training should also take place in national staff colleges; it should be realistic and based on exercises, case studies and split-second decision-making.

Netherlands
Gender training is mandatory and is included in the curriculum of the School for Peace Operations. We believe that all peace keeping troops and police contingents should follow comprehensive gender training before deployment. Moreover, gender awareness training should be mandatory for all persons in leadership positions in conflict and peace building situations, including civil, military and diplomatic representatives.

Tanzania
In the same vein, the national defense policies of troop contributing countries need to be explicit and emphatic on protection of civilians, including women and girls, in training their troops for peacekeeping missions.

Vietnam
As far as peacekeeping missions are concerned, we support the recommendation contained in the draft resolution presented for adoption today by the Council that the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Security Council, the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and its Working Group and relevant States to develop aid implement appropriate training programs for all peacekeeping and humanitarian personnel deployed by the United Nations in the context of missions as mandated by the Council to help them better prevent, recognize and respond to sexual violence and other forms of violence against civilians.

Mandates

Austria
UN presence on the ground can make a difference for women in armed conflict. Regrettably the Security Council has often missed the chance to peacekeeping missions with mandates allowing them to effectively prevent sexual violence against women and girls. The credibility of peacekeeping operations is at stake if they are not able to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence. MONUC which is mandated to strengthen prevention, protection and response to sexual violence can serve as a positive example. As a logic consequence, the issue of widespread sexual violence should be included in the regular reporting to the Security Council.

Canada
Canada welcomes the most recent renewal of the peacekeeping mandate of the UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) in Security Council resolution 1794, which provides the mission with a more explicit mandate for action to eliminate sexual violence. It should serve as the basis for future mandates by the Council. Unfortunately, the notable absence of equally strong provisions regarding sexual violence in Security Council resolutions 1795 on Cote d'lvoire and 1812 on Sudan, both adopted after 1794, demonstrated that inconsistency in the Council's approach to sexual violence in mission mandates continues.

Liechtenstein
Protection of civilians must be an inherent task for all peacekeeping missions. This applies in particular to acts of sexual violence. Peacekeepers are currently providing protection, including against sexual violence, only on an ad-hoc basis and under a flexible interpretation of their vague mandates. Future mandates must provide clear guidance, in particular to commanders, on how to protect civilians, including girls and women from sexual violence.

Spain
The Government of Spain supports the creation of special units, within the peacekeeping operations, to pay individual attention to women and girls who have been targets of sexual violence. These units should be composed of specialized personnel, with the aim to become centers of coordination of the activities of the UN system and the donor community as a whole. The implementation of those measures could serve a double objective: on the one hand, It will improve the protection of victims, serving at the same time as a privileged means to gather information on the gravity of the situation on the ground.

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN Personnel

Australia
Any act of sexual violence or exploitation by UN personnel undermines the credibility of the UN in times of crisis and impedes a UN mission from implementing its mandate. More than that, it is a gross breach of trust. Any act by UN personnel which impedes its most fundamental role - responding to threats to international peace and security - is unacceptable.

Australia strongly supports the Secretary-General's zero tolerance policy, and we welcome the significant progress made to eliminate and address sexual exploitation .and abuse by UN personnel, including revision of the Model MOU and the adoption of a Victim Assistance Strategy.

The absence of an effective system to prosecute UN personnel who, while a member of a peacekeeping mission, perpetrate sexual crimes, should not lead to impunity. Where this is the case, the state of nationality should take action to hold their own nationals to account.

Liechtenstein
Most importantly, those who are supposed to provide protection must not themselves become perpetrators: All acts of sexual violence committed by peacekeepers, including sexual exploitation of local woman and child prostitution, are unacceptable. Such acts heavily undermine the credibility and effectiveness of any given peace operation, but also of the organization as a whole. Zero tolerance can be the only answer to such incidents. Indeed, the ultimate goal must be that the attitude and behavior of peacekeepers towards women can serve as a model for local communities.

Gender Balance and Recruiting in Peackeeping

Benin
It nearly goes without saying that the deployment of women in the contingents would make the fight against sexual violence more effective because it could facilitate contact and the gathering of sensitive information. But the absence of women in these contingents should not impede the development of effective strategies to counter this phenomenon.

Ghana
We wish to emphasize that women peacekeepers serve as role models and encourage girl soldiers and victims to embrace programmes to disarm former combatants and generally have a salutary and positive impact on security sector reform, electoral support and gender mainstreaming in broken societies where women are even more marginalized.

Mauritania
Women must also play an active role in peacekeeping operations. Such participation is currently limited; this is especially linked to language issues. To work for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur as a military adviser, it is not enough to speak two official languages of the United Nations. This linguistic obstacle must be overcome to allow women who have the qualifications and who speak at least two United Nations languages to apply for a post in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations if they wish.

Netherlands
Additionally, the UN should make an extra effort to appoint more women in senior leadership positions in peacekeeping missions.

Philippines
Finally Mr. President, the Philippines, as one of the largest, if not the largest, contributors of individual police officers to UN peacekeeping operations, could also support calls for the deployment of more female police officers, especially those experienced in handling gender violence cases. We hope that such contribution would help bring about better monitoring, reporting and response to cases of gender violence in conflict areas.

South Africa
Gender-sensitive training, the deployment of more women peacekeepers and appointment of more women Special Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General should be implemented. There is practical evidence that the deployment of women enhances the impact of peacekeeping, especially for women and children in conflict areas. The deployment of women facilitates engagement with local women through the setting up of women's desks in IDP and refugee camps that assists women to talk about their needs and trauma, including information sharing on sexual harassment, abuse and rape.

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Ending Impunity

International Law & ICC

Argentina
Finally, Argentina considers that any effective response to this question must include two pillars: the defense of full respect for the human rights of the victim:; and an end to impunity for the perpetrators. In this regard, we believe that the draft resolution before us today would have benefited from a strengthened reference to the legal framework, and particularly with a firm reaffirmation of the Rome Statue and the International Criminal Court, the main tool available today to the international community to make sure nobody can commit with impunity heinous crimes such as the ones we are considering today.

Austria
This situation demands further action of the Security Council to strengthen the rule of law to end impunity. Some of the existing mechanisms and tools of the Council have unfortunately been underutilized. We therefore call on the Council to make full use of the range of measures and tools available, including the imposition of targeted measures and referrals to the International Criminal Court. We also call on Member States to strengthen the rule of law and fully utilize accountability mechanisms to bring to justice perpetrators of violations against women and girls.

Belgium
We also need to support an international response in the judicial sphere…First of all, we have to mobilize our efforts to make the International Criminal Court more accessible to victims. I would like to draw attention to the strengthened role that could and should be played by the Trust Fund for Victims. It must be effective and must meet the needs of victims where other initiatives are lacking. In that context, I would like to encourage the Executive Director and the Board of Directors of the Fund not to hesitate to appeal for specific contributions where the situation so justifies.

Benin
While amnesty for warlords is often the price to pay in concluding peace accords, it is important to ensure that serious crimes not be covered up, as long as they are properly documented.

Canada
Canada calls on States to cooperate in the four conflict and post-conflict situations in which the International Criminal Court is active: the region of Darfur in Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, to ensure perpetrators of serious international crimes are held responsible. The rule of law, justice and accountability are essential to durable peace.

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Prevention — by no means the least important issue — chiefly concerns the fight against impunity, including the fight against ignorance by disseminating the relevant international legal instruments available and the laws on sexual violence, so that women victims know their rights and so that the judges know what their powers are.

Slovenia (on behalf of the European Union)
Durable peace and reconciliation are heavily compromised if the perpetrators of such acts are not prosecuted. Impunity for perpetrators and insufficient response to the needs of survivors are unacceptable. The grave violations of women's human rights, through massive rape and other sexual violence require the immediate attention of organizations like the International Criminal Court and other relevant tribunals. Furthermore, international and national courts should have adequate resources, access to gender expertise, gender training for all staff, including judges, and gender-sensitive programs in order to more effectively prosecute those responsible for such crimes.

Spain
International Law does have appropriate mechanisms, especially the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which categorizes systematic rape as a war crime, crime against humanity and it could even constitute an act of genocide. The universal accession to this Statute would well constitute a crucial step forward in the fight against impunity.

National Systems: Rule of Law, SSR, Justice

Democratic Republic of the Congo
We wish also to provide more legal aid, to encourage victims to bring their cases to court by paying their legal fees, and protecting them from their rapists, who are often extremely threatening.

The judicial and penal infrastructure, which has been ravaged by years of war and pillaging, should be improved and better equipped in order to prevent breakouts of the rapists who have been sentenced or are in detention. Another element is strengthening the capacity of judges in this area and training women judges in order to provide legal assistance to victims. Prevention also involves increasing the number of female military, police and civilian officers in order to enhance the collection of information on violence against women. This list is not exhaustive, but it also includes a procedure to prevent rapists from being able to hold positions of responsibility and, if necessary, to relieve them of their functions.

Liberia
With the support from the United Nation, the government will soon have a special court in the Temple of Justice that meets the international standards, dedicated to the prosecution of sexual offenses including rape, the first country in Africa to establish such court. This special court will undoubtedly contribute to responding to backlog of sexual offense cases including rape while ensuring the protection of the identity of the witnesses using for the first time in-camera trials.

South Africa
The security sector of conflict and post-conflict countries must be reformed to prevent and better respond to sexual violence. In order to build effective, non-discriminatory and representative security institutions, it is essential to provide personnel with effective and sustainable gender training and capacity building. Women's access to justice and participation in the legal system would also contribute meaningfully to a well-functioning and gender-sensitive security framework.

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Protection & Victim Response

Belgium
Behind the statistics printed on glossy paper, there are tens of thousands of women, tens of thousands of young girls, whose lives have been affected in their very flesh and in their minds for the rest of their lives. There are families who have been dismantled, torn apart, torn to pieces by those horrific events. We have the responsibility to act to meet the medical needs, the social and psychological needs and the need for legal assistance, and to provide assistance to families and others to those near them. We must commit ourselves to reintegrating them into society, into economic life. Reports from the field lead me to believe that the extreme urgency of radically improving the coordination of international aid is a determining factor. We have to get closer to the victims in the field. We cannot simply content ourselves with a humanitarian presence in a few major centres. I believe that this is a very specific and important issue.

Benin
At the same time, we must put an end to the stigmatization of women who are victims of rape and give them back their dignity by organizing awareness-raising campaigns and by establishing structures for psychological rehabilitation. This type of assistance to victims and to communities affected by armed conflict should be taken into account in the mandates of peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
There have been two years since the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted Five Year Gender Action Plan. This Plan incorporates the main provisions of the Resolution 1325. Much has been achieved in the field of adopting the appropriate legislation on protection of civil victims of war. This law gives women victims a status of civil victims of war, and helps them on their path to full recovery into the community, giving them a chance for professional improvement, monthly allowances as well as medical and psychosocial assistance. According to the Plan certain expert teams have been formed, providing analyses and legal assistance to the victims, conducting workshops on the basis learned and shared" etc.

Slovenia (on behalf of the European Union)
There is a strong need to develop and promote innovative approaches that turn women as victims of rape into rape-"survivors”. Such approaches should ensure their safety and support their access to justice as well as actively support their economic empowerment through income-generating activities. Furthermore, they should also ensure adequate care, recognizing their sexual and reproductive health needs including for obstetric and gynaecological care, for the physical and psychological damage caused by the violence.

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Prevention of Conflict and Violence

Burkina Faso
First of all, we must work to prevent conflict. We must make every effort to ensure that democracy and the rule of law take root, as well as to promote good governance and effective development policies. We must also devote resources to educating women and young girls. Education and training are the primary tools we must give them to help them empower themselves and participate in every aspect of the social, political and economic arenas, including even the military.

Myanmar
The need to prevent armed conflict and to bring to a speedy conclusion in situations of armed conflict cannot be overemphasized . . . Therefore, we firmly believe that tackling the root causes of conflict which include disunity, poverty, socio-economic and gender inequality and underdevelopment are extremely important.

Netherlands
Firstly, we need to target men. Gender equality and women's empowerment cannot be achieved without the involvement of men. Men need to talk to men. And they have to speak openly to militia leader, gang leaders and sometimes the generals to be better role models. If we want sexual violence to end, we need to raise awareness among men about the consequences of their actions. In situations of conflict, boys and men are constantly confronted with models of violent masculinity. Discussions should take place between men and women, with boys and girls, within communities, also to start the healing process and break the cycle of sexual violence.

Russia
Ensuring the social and economic development of States is a main factor in preventing conflict and violence.

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Participation of Women

Consultation in Security Assessments, Strategies & Programs

Ghana
There is a need for greater recognition of the roles women play in peace consolidation, and they should must be consulted in all activities undertaken on their behalf and be equitably represented in strategic responses to violations.

Better liaison with women's constituencies can improve access to operational intelligence and can serve as force multipliers in the achievement of mission objectives. Increasing women's voice in security and governance structures can help weed out the root causes of violence and discrimination.

Netherlands
Finally, Mr. President, women are not only victims. It cannot be repeated enough that women and women's organizations have to be included in peace and reconciliation processes. They also need to be involved in formulating justice and reparation programmes, including post rape care.

Switzerland
Additionally, the Security Council might wish to ask the Secretary-General to submit reports on "lessons learned based on the expertise of UN specialised agencies or programmes, such as UNIFEM and UNICEF, and take into account the security assessments of local and international women's groups.

Conflict Resolution, Prevention & Peacebuilding

Bangladesh
The true measure of women's participation in peace negotiations is not, through numbers, but through power in decision making. In the consolidation of peace the role of women remains vital but often ignored.

Philippines
Because the roles that women play are critical to addressing the issues that affect them, the Philippines remains convinced that women must be harnessed as active agents in confronting gender/based violence.

Russia
Women's full participation in peace negotiations and post-conflict recovery efforts is an important precondition for the elimination of violence against women.

South Africa
Sexual violence in conflict situations is inextricably linked to gender inequality and we therefore need to advocate more strongly for the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.

United Kingdom
My government believes that the Security Council should show leadership on the issue of sexual violence by:
… Ensuring that that we provide for women's participation in all processes relevant to conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The proliferation of sexual violence against women is in part aimed at excluding and marginalising women's roles in society and in rebuilding communities. We have to correct that.

Appointments

Austria
We are encouraged by the Secretary General's recent appointments of women as Special Representatives and Envoys as well as to leading positions in the Secretariat. We hope to see more female appointments in the near future and thus reiterate our call on all Member States to support, encourage and nominate women for such positions.

China
Recent years have witnessed a great number of positive measures taken by the Secretariat to increase the ratio of women in senior positions and at the head of peacekeeping missions. More efforts are needed in this direction in the future.

Liechtenstein
In particular, the United Nations must appoint more women to senior positions with regard to preventive diplomacy, mediation and peace operations. This would have a clear impact on the topic under discussion today: Appointing more women to leading positions would have a catalytic effect and empower women affected by armed conflict. It would strengthen the perception that women are stakeholders – as opposed to mere victims or aid recipients. A few years ago, during my time as Permanent Representative in New York, I headed a group of like-minded Ambassadors aiming to increase the presence of women in such positions. The success of our cooperation with the Secretary-General in this regard was very modest indeed – and several years later, it is sad to note that almost no progress has been made, in spite of repeated expressions of good intent from all sides.

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Resolution 1325 Implementation

Canada
At the same time, Security Council resolution 1325 requires systematic implementation and monitoring if we are to respond adequately to conflicts. Last October, Canada called on the Security Council to establish a mechanism to monitor its own actions in the integration of resolution 1325 into its daily work. Canada again calls on the Council to establish such a monitoring mechanism with a mandate to regularly and actively monitor progress in 1325 implementation in the Council's work.

Korea
Five fundamental challenges have to be met if Security Council Resolution 1325 is to be translated into effective actions worldwide:

1. Review the progress under UNSCR 1325, including a field-based research of what has and has not worked in key situations
2. Identify the constraints within the United Nations in particular, but also within governments, civil society and regional organizations, to implementing UNSC 1325 and identify mechanisms to ensure accountability and metrics for progress, including time-bound goals for specific UNSCR 1325 provisions.
3. Form partnerships among like-minded governments, UN departments, NGOs and others committed to implementing UNSCR 1325 to identify and implement the programs noted above
4. Establish systematic funding implementing this resolution in particular to address GBV
5. Draw together the advocates of forceful implementation of UNSCR 1325 to serve as a de facto lobby on its behalf.

A serious commitment to the objectives, of SCR1325 requires adequate funding as well.

Nigeria
The Nigerian delegation…. welcomes this new milestone resolution as a follow up to resolution 1325. But like resolution 1325, the critical challenge is how to ensure its steady and widespread implementation, particularly in conflict and post conflict areas.

In addition, the political will necessary for implementing Resolution 1325 at the national and regional levels is not evident in many cases. The fact that there is no requirement in place to ensure universal observance of relevant Conventions and principles has created further room for inconsistency among States.

Rwanda
We also strongly believe, that in order for the United Nations System to respond in a more coordinated, coherent and effective manner, urgent attention needs to be placed on strengthening the UN System's work on gender.

United Kingdom
Security Council resolutions 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and 1674 on Protection of Civilians have provided an important foundation.

We are realistic. Sexual violence will sadly not go away overnight. But SCR 1325 is a crucial building block to tackling this growing problem.

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Women, Peace and Security: Sexual Violence in Situations of Armed Conflict
Security Council Report, June 11, 2008

An independent organization, Security Council Report monitors and provides with an analysis of the Security Council's monthly activities. Prior to June 19 Open Debate, a special report on Women, Peace and Security was published. It includes areas of focus for the debate, elements included in the first draft resolution on sexual violence, key recent developments leading up to the debate, and background information on the issue of sexual violence.

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5. Feature Statement

Congolese Women Appeal to the UN Security Council to Help End Sexual Violence
A Coalition of 71 Congolese NGOs, representing the women of DRC, June 12, 2008

Your Excellencies,

In the name of Congolese women, we thank you for the attention you are giving to the scourge of sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations. We believe the Security Council has an essential role to play in ending the abuses that we, and our sisters elsewhere, continue to suffer. Indeed, thousands of girls and women in conflict zones around the world are victims of rape and sexual violence committed by members of armed groups. We are heartened that the Council is set to discuss this issue on June 19, and we urge you to fulfill your obligations as guardians of international peace and security.

We, the 71 Congolese organizations representing the women of DRC, would like to take this opportunity to express our grave concerns about the tragedy sexual violence has inflicted on women and young girls in our country, particularly in the east. We have suffered greatly during the years of war. Despite efforts at the international, regional, national and local levels to bring peace to DRC, the war against women rages on.

We fear the extermination of our society due to acts of sexual violence which, once committed against one woman, has consequences for her children and the entire community. All the armed groups and even our own Congolese army brought sexual violence to our country, and now, after several years of destruction, this menace has unfortunately become a part of our culture.

It is difficult to imagine the number of people, men and women alike, who have died due to sexual violence. In the province of North Kivu, just in the month of April 2008, over 880 cases of rape were documented by NGOs and United Nations agencies. Yet this represents only a tenth of the cases that are left unreported because of widespread fear, shame, stigmatization, isolation and impunity.

We are vulnerable in our fields, in the streets, and even in our own homes. Even our daughters as young as 3 years old are vulnerable when they are playing with their friends or are on the way to school. The nuclear family, the base of our society, no longer exists. Today in Congo, the woman has become an object. We are not protected. We have no justice. There is a crisis of authority and a culture of impunity.

We constitute over 52% of the Congolese population, but we occupy fewer than 10% of the positions of authority, in violation of our own constitution, while the war against us continues.

Convinced that sexual violence constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity, this scourge must be clearly perceived as a threat to peace and security in Africa and in the entire world. We welcome the Security Council's intention to adopt a special resolution in relation to sexual violence. We hope that this resolution, which will be of the utmost importance for us and for women around the world, will at least take into account our pressing concerns and the following recommendations:

- First, we urge you to include the strengthening of national judicial systems as an integral element of the mandate of UN missions in conflict zones. The mandates should also include a call to guarantee international justice where national justice is not operational. It is also paramount that you insist that laws of amnesty after conflicts do not apply to perpetrators of sexual violence, and that the countries concerned are urged to provide adequate protection to victims and witnesses. Sexual violence is not taken seriously by the judicial system here in Congo, which has neither the will nor the resources to act. We hope that you can help us to ensure that all suspected perpetrators of sexual violence are brought before justice and judged – and not compensated with political and military promotions.

- Secondly, we urge you to make service provision a key part of your response to conflicts. Women and girls who have been victims of sexual violence need urgent healthcare to treat their physical and mental wounds. Our society cannot heal so long as the wounds of our women and girls are not healed. We believe the provision of health services to victims of sexual violence is crucial not only to their achieving some peace as individuals, but to our society moving toward a lesser degree of conflict altogether.

- Thirdly, while we applaud your recent condemnation of the sexual violence we suffer, and your actions in that regard, we remind you that we have suffered for decades without any notable action on your part. You must ensure that this situation will never repeat itself in Congo or elsewhere. The Security Council cannot keep silent while thousands of women suffer indescribable sexual violence. We urge you to insist that the Secretary General provides you with information on the levels and patterns of sexual violence in all situations before the Council, to allow your analysis and action when required.

- Finally, we hope that you will put in place mechanisms to follow-up locally on how member states adhere to relevant resolutions concerning women, notably Resolution 1325 which specifically addresses the impact of war on women, and women's contributions to conflict resolution and sustainable peace.

Given the catastrophic scale of the war on women in our country, we hope the Security Council will grant our concerns and recommendations the serious attention they require.

Yours sincerely,

A Coalition of 71 Congolese NGOs representing the women of DRC, June 12, 2008

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6. FEATURE RESOURCES

Women and War
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), May 2008

War and violence today spare no one, but they affect men, women, boys and girls in different ways. More conflicts are now fought internally between rival ethnic, religious or political groups over the control of resources, territories or populations. But whether the violence is internal or cross-border, civilians are all too often caught in the firing line, directly targeted or endangered by the proximity of the fighting. Women and girls in war-torn countries are therefore faced with unimaginable risks, threats and challenges.

Women are not a homogeneous group, and they experience war in a multitude of ways – as victims, combatants or promoters of peace. War can mean violence, fear, loss of loved ones, deprivation of livelihood, sexual violence, abandonment, increased responsibility for family members, detention, displacement, physical injury, and sometimes death. It forces women and girls into unfamiliar roles and requires them to strengthen existing coping skills and develop new ones.

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Women Building Peace and Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict-Affected Contexts
UNIFEM, October 2007

UNIFEM is directly tackling the challenge of implementing SCR 1325 at the community level in order to build women's' engagement in peace-building and public decision-making, and to protect women and children in communities around the world. This paper is a background review of community-based peace-building initiatives. It is intended to inform UNIFEM's program “Supporting Women's Engagement in Peace-Building and Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict: Community-Led Approaches.” The paper examines the barriers women face, and highlights examples of women's successful engagement in peace-building that were selected on the basis of being simple yet innovative and explicitly community-based.

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7. Feature Events

Human Rights Council and the Human Rights of Women
Human Rights Council's 8th Regular Session, June 5, 2008
Extracts from Report by WILPF Interns: Kirsty Mckay with contributions from Ashley Farnan

On June 5, 2008, during its 8th Regular Session, the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva hosted two interactive panels with experts on the human rights of women. The first panel, “Addressing Violence Against Women: Setting Priorities”, convened with a view toward setting priorities for the HRC's work on this issue. The second panel addressed maternal mortality and women's human rights. The discussion of the first panel aimed at addressing how to integrate the issue of violence against women (VAW) into the full agenda of the HRC, in both regular and special sessions, as well as into the work of Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and finally as a criteria for membership on the Council.

The speakers on the first panel included Louise Arbour, the High Commissioner on Human Rights; Pauline Veloso, former Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency and former Deputy Head of the National Women's Agency of Chile; Kathleen Cravero, Assistant Administrator and Director, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery UNDP; Isabel Martinez Lazaro, Secretary General for Equalities Policies, Spain; and Alejandra Sardá of the Network Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defence of Women‘ s Rights. The discussion was moderated by the permanent representative of Latvia to the Council of Europe and thematic coordinator on gender equality of the Committee of the Council of Europe, Peteris Larlis Elferts.

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“A city in the Sand. Women in Politics for the Transformation of Haiti: The Story of a Coaching Program for a New Leadership”
Nadine Puechguirbal and Nava Almog
New York, May 2008

On May 29, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) organized a panel discussion on “The political involvement of women in post conflict-societies: the experience of Haiti”. This event celebrated the launch of “A city in the Sand,” a book written by Nadine Puechguirbal and Nava Almog, on an innovative approach to women's political empowerment.

“A city in the Sand” describes the coaching program implemented in 2006-2007 by the MINUSTAH Gender Unit to support the participation of Haitian women in politics. Directed by Nadine Puechguirbal, the Gender Unit designed this program after taking into account the complex social, economic and cultural factors that hinder women's access to the political realm. The adopted coaching method is unique since it focused on giving exclusive attention to every participant. Nava Almog, an international consultant, coached 19 women* who learned to identify their personal/organizational strengths and weaknesses, manage their work teams, and set achievable political goals and priorities.

While most training programs usually involve groups passively attending workshops, each participant in the MINUSTAH coaching program worked with the coach in one–on-one activities. This approach fostered women's creativity and full participation in both collective and individual training sessions.

WILPF had the opportunity to interview Sylvia Fabien Moise and Coty Beauséjour in New York after the book launch. Sylvia is one of the 19 participants: she ran for the 2006 legislative elections in Haiti and presently coordinates FEPOCHAH, a Haitian platform for women engaged in politics. Coty Beauséjour, a man working for women's rights, is the national coach of the Gender Unit's training program. The following is an interview in which they shared their experiences with PeaceWomen Project intern Karine Jeannet:

8. Feature Initiative

Summary from the E-Discussion on Gender Quotas as a Mechanism Promoting Women in Politics
iKNOW Politics E-Discussion Forum

The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOW Politics) held its second E-Discussion Forum on Gender Quotas as a Mechanism to Promote Women's Political Participation from June 4-11, 2008. The E-Discussion Forum focused on strengthening the knowledge base about gender quotas, the implementation of gender quotas around the world, and their impact on women's political representation.

During the seven days of the E-Discussion, iKNOW Politics received sixty-seven comments from its members and experts worldwide. The participants shared their practical experiences from Argentina, Burkina Faso, Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Kosovo, Niger, Panama, the Pacific region, Paraguay, Sri-Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. Participants generally favored quotas and provided specific examples of cases where women's representation has improved because of quotas. For instance, Aminata Faye Kasse pointed out that in Burkina Faso, the representation of women increased from 8.95% in 1995 to 30% in 2006 during the local elections as a result of the adoption of internal quotas by the ruling party.

At the same time, a number of commentators cautioned that quotas alone are not enough, and that women also need essential training and financing, socio-political reforms and public engagement (including a sense of gender solidarity) in order to be successful. There were suggestions that without additional support structures there could be a backlash against quotas and women could face red tape and tokenism. Erika Brockmann highlighted that in Bolivia quotas did not have the intended impact on the political culture of the country and suggested using other measures such as the formation of Women Parliamentary Caucuses, training programs, and funding for women in politics.

Participants emphasized the importance of sanctions and a strong regulatory system in order to make quotas effective. Some suggestions for enforcement included penalizing political parties for not adhering to quota requirements and closely monitoring candidate nomination processes. However, several participants also cautioned that failing to register parties that do not meet the quotas without giving them the time to make the transition can have unintended negative consequences. As an example, Nurgul Djanaeva noted that during the 2007 Parliamentary Elections in Kyrgyzstan some major political parties were denied registration because they were not ready for quotas.

In general, there was a consensus that the type of electoral system, such as proportional representation, can have a large impact on the effectiveness of quotas. For instance, Charmaine Rodrigues mentioned that the French territories of the Pacific had much higher numbers of women MPs (often around 30%), which may be explained by the proportional representation systems enabling the use of party and/or list quotas to improve women's representation in these countries.

Interestingly, most respondents agreed that there is significant resistance to quotas, some of it from women politicians themselves. Participants recommended that one way to overcome such resistance is to put emphasis on democracy, rather than gender, and to explore the fact that quotas are often only temporary measures. To overcome such resistance and to inform citizens about the use of quotas, the participants suggested holding public awareness campaigns, creating alliances between women's organizations and women's movements, staying abreast of legislation and discussions around this subject, and using diverse and innovative means to reach out to the public. For instance, “Women without fear of power” was the slogan used a few years ago by women legislators in Brazil who launched a public campaign to increase the number of women in political office, as Lilian Celiberti recalls. Additionally, Alessandra Pellizzeri from Mauritania recommends basing advocacy campaigns on economic arguments, showing how a country can benefit and develop as a whole from women's participation.

While acknowledging the limitations of quotas as a stand-alone measure to promote women's political participation, the iKNOW Politics E-Discussion Forum revealed tangible results of implementing gender quotas in politics, and provided solid advice for those who champion them.

9. Peacekeeping and Gender Update

Women Targeted or Affected by Armed Conflict: What Role for Military Peacekeepers?
Wilton Park Conference, May 27 – 29 2008

The scale and brutality of sexual violence is “the monstrosity of our century.” – Dr. Mukwege, Panzi Hospital, Bukavu, Eastern DRC

Contemporary armed conflicts raise new challenges for the effective protection of civilians. Not only are civilians often the primary targets of armed conflict, but in some cases, large-scale abuses of international humanitarian and human rights law persist even after the formal cessation of hostilities. This is particularly the case with the use of sexual violence and other forms of violent intimidation against women, employed as a means of prosecuting warfare and perpetuating profound insecurity beyond the formal end of conflict.

The conference convened at Wilton Park brought together former Force Commanders, army personnel, and staff of defence ministries, UN personnel, peace activists and academics, in order to discuss and review current peacekeeping practices in the prevention of widespread and systematic sexual violence in conflict, post-conflict contexts.

The aim of the conference was two fold: to identify existing efforts to prevent the targeting of women and children for sexual violence within current peacekeeping approaches to civilian protection; and to build policy consensus on sexual violence as a security issue backed by mandates, training and incentives for effective response.

The following issues were discussed:

*
Sexual violence is a security issue, however it has not yet been recognized as a security problem requiring a systematic security response. It was noted that sexual violence by armed groups requires a response commensurate with its scale and magnitude.
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Effective responses to sexual violence are required, including political will, gender-sensitive conflict assessments, the deterrent effect of prosecution, clear guidance to peacekeeping mission including the protection of women and girls from sexual violence and the involvement of women in decision making.
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It was noted that immediate and longer-term actions include practical support to peacekeepers such as pre-deployment training, coupled with sustained political engagement especially by the Security Council, and efforts to develop policy frameworks conducive to an effective response.

10. NGO Working Group Update

Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones at Last Recognized as a Matter of International Peace and Security
New York, 19 June 2008
NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security

Reacting to [today's] timely decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen UN action against sexual violence in conflict, Gina Torry of the NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security said “we are glad that the UN's most powerful body has now recognized what many women worldwide have argued for so long: stopping sexual violence in conflict zones is important to the maintenance of international peace and security.”

Security Council Resolution 1820 (2008) paves the way for improving the UN's response to the high levels of sexual violence in conflict-affected situations. The NGO Working Group welcomes the Council's renewed emphasis on the need for women's equal and full participation in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding. Also important is that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN agencies ensure that women and women-led organizations actively participate in developing mechanisms to protect women and girls from sexual violence. This has not been consistent UN practice to date.

The NGO Working Group welcomes also the Council's decision to ask the Secretary-General to provide an in-depth report by 30 June 2009 on ways to reduce sexual violence against women and girls. This could be an important tool towards reducing the use of such violence. The requested study will allow for input from the UN's NGO partners. Crucial is that the resolution requires improved UN coordination in the field and at headquarters to effectively monitor the use of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict. The Council also reinforced its request to the Secretary-General to systematically include recommendations on the protection of women and girls in his reports to the Council on country-specific situations.

Despite these positive aspects however, the resolution could have been stronger. “The Council should have implemented the Secretary-General's earlier recommendation that it establish a dedicated mechanism to monitor violence against women within the framework of the landmark Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security, adopted in 2000”, said Gina Torry.

The quality of the UN's monitoring and reporting as now required by the Security Council will be critical to combating sexual violence against women and girls. “Adequate resources and expertise, as well as necessary support from UN leadership in the field will be important factors to improve the quality of UN reporting and response to violations of women's human rights in country situations on the Council's agenda,” said Gina Torry. “We will keep a close eye on the implementation of today's resolution to ensure that this latest UN commitment results in real change on the ground for women and girls at risk of sexual violence”.

Background:

Security Council Resolution 1820 was adopted unanimously on 19 June 2008 at the Open Debate on Women Peace and Security, presided by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The resolution was co-sponsored by Security Council members: Belgium, Burkina Faso, Croatia, Costa Rica, France, Italy, Panama, South Africa, UK and USA, as well as some 32 other UN member states.

The NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security advocates for the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and for their protection in conflict situations. The adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security in 2000 was historic in requiring UN member states and the UN system to better protect and promote women's human rights in such situations.

Many gaps and challenges to the full and effective implementation of Resolution 1325 remain however, including the lack of prevention and protection of women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence, and the need to end impunity for such acts of violence.

The NGO Working Group comprises: Amnesty International, Boston Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights, Femmes Africa Solidarité, Global Action to Prevent War, Global Justice Center, Hague Appeal for Peace, Human Rights Watch, International Action Network on Small Arms, International Alert, Internal Women's Tribune Center, Women's Action for New Directions, United Methodists Women's Division and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

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11. Women, Peace and Security Calendar

Women's Worlds 2008: 10th International Interdisciplinary Congress On Women, Equality: No Utopia, New Frontiers: Dares And Advancements
July 3-9, 2008, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain

Mundos de Mujeres / Women's Worlds 2008 is open to proposals in ALL fields and themes related to women, gender and sexuality in contemporary societies, as well as historical approaches. The special emphasis on two central themes: violence and migrations, but these themes are by no means the only ones to be addressed at the conference. MMWW08 organizers would like to receive a wide variety of proposals in ALL fields of knowledge and working areas.

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5th Women Take Back The Night In South Korea!
July 4, 2008, 6:30pm, Naminsa madang, Seoul, South Korea (and many other cities in Korea)

Women Take Back the Night is an international event, with marches and rallies occurring around the world since 1976. In that year, in Belgium, women attending the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women walked together holding candles to protest the ways in which violence permeates the lives of women worldwide. In South Korea, we had a first national protest in 2004. At that time the consecutive murder incident against women was occurred. So through the catchphrase of “Under the moon light, Women Take Back the Night” we raised a question about sexual violence against women and the attitudes of mass media.

2008, this year, we will have 5th Women Take Back the Night. In this time we hope to make solidarity with Asia women. We invite you gladly. If you want to be with us, please send your supportive message. And show your brave and wisdom. We will deliver your message in the event and share your support with women in South Korea. We will be waiting for your response. Thank you very much.

Contact information: Niya (Korea University Girls Students Association Committee), E-mail: murffy@hanmail.net

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Imow "Extraordinary Voices, Extraordinary Change" Speaker Series: A Provocative Evening With The "Bravest Woman In Afghanistan": Malalai Joya
July 16, International Museum of Women (I.M.O.W.), San Francisco, CA

Malalai Joya sprang to fame in 2003 at age 25 for speaking out against the ex-Mujahideen leaders who dominated Afghanistan's historic constitutional assembly, of which she was an elected delegate. She was called a "prostitute" and an "infidel" for having the courage to speak her mind. In 2005, Joya was elected to Afghanistan's national parliament, where as the youngest person elected, and one of the most popular, she continued to press her case for democracy and women's rights. However, in May of 2007 she was suspended for challenging her fellow representatives. Her suspension, currently being appealed, triggered international protest.

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Women Leaders For The World-Leadership Training Program
July 19-27, 2008, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, United States at 09:00-10:35
Global Women's Leadership Network Leavey School of Business

The Women Leaders' for the World program is designed for global transformational leaders, those with a vision to generate a change in the world. The program offers rigorous learning and training with like-minded visionary leaders. One focus is generating breakthroughs to shift the results of a project beyond the imagined. Breakthroughs make it possible for a leader to strategize and innovate in ways she never thought possible. Breakthroughs invite the leader to engage in the practice of anticipating the world and perceiving it in a fresh perspective.

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Engendering Leadership Through Research & Practice, Gender, Work & Organization
July 22-24, 2008, University of Western Australia (UWA) Business School, Perth, Western Australia

The overall aim of this international conference is to generate new thinking about gender and leadership by providing a creative forum for interaction between leadership scholars, researchers, practitioners and policy makers from across the world.

Registration will open early in February 2008. Abstracts of 500 words are due by February 15, 2008; papers of 3000-5000 words are due by May 30, 2008

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Rotary Peace And Conflict Studies Program
Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand

Session I: Early July – mid-September; application deadline: 1 December
Session II: Mid-January – mid-April; application deadline: 1 July

Rotary is accepting applications for a fellowship that teaches peace-making and conflict resolution to professionals committed to international understanding. This three-month program provides an intensive English-language study opportunity and includes gender related topics (Women in Peacebuilding and Gender and Peacebuilding).

Editorial:

This June edition of the 1325 PeaceWomen E-news is a hefty one – not only is there a good deal of content (for which we sincerely thank our many contributors) but it also covers a significant development in the women, peace and security sphere. The issue of sexual violence is one that has gained significant media attention in recent times and the issue of violence against women is one under discussion in many parts of the UN system (see Item 7 for the Human Rights Council discussion of this). As reflected in our News section (Item 2), sexual violence is of concern in conflict and so-called post-conflict environments. It is of concern not only because of the direct physical effect on victims, but also because it hampers women's full and effective participation in decision making. As these stories show, sexual violence and harassment are used to threaten female candidates in post-conflict environments such as Sierra Leone and as a weapon against women human rights defenders in Columbia. While these news items reveal that training efforts and other initiatives to end violence and impunity are being undertaken, much remains to be done and there are many actors who have a role to play. Our Feature Statement section (Item 5) features the call from 71 women's organizations in the DRC for the Security Council to act decisively and urgently to end this violence. This month the Council took an important step towards answering that call.

As many of our readers may be aware, on June 19, the Security Council held an Open Debate on women, peace and security – with a focus on the theme of ending sexual violence in conflict. The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security engaged in concerted advocacy prior to this debate and around the drafting of the resolution. The NGOWG Update (Item 10) features our letter to Ambassadors encouraging them to participate and putting forward what we saw as the minimum requirements that should be covered in any resolution adopted. Also featured is the response of the NGOWG to the Council's unanimous adoption at the close of that Debate, of Resolution 1820 on sexual violence in conflict.

As usual, the PeaceWomen Project monitored the Open Debate and our Focus on the Security Council section (Item 4) provides links to our web pages with all the statements from that debate. Also included in this section are links to, and examples from, the PeaceWomen online thematic index of the debate that provides extracts from statements by Member States on selected themes. As reflected in earlier editions of this newsletter, the PeaceWomen Project has, for some time, been concerned by the fact that the Security Council has not fulfilled its role in addressing the issue of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict as part of its mandate to maintain international peace and security. Several Council members have argued that it is not within their purview to do so. The adoption of Resolution 1820 firmly puts to rest that debate and recognizes that the Security Council's role in maintaining international peace and security includes considering and responding to sexual violence. It also begins to address concerns about the poor flow of information to the Council on this violence. The lack of information on this violence and broader women, peace and security concerns in Secretary-Generals reports to the Council on country-specific situations has hampered our advocacy efforts to ensure that peacekeeping mandates properly address women's issues and concerns. The role of peacekeepers is an important one and this topic was, in fact, the subject of a conference in the time leading up to the Open Debate. The summary of the discussions at this conference at Wilton Park can be found in our Gender and Peacekeeping Update (Item 9). The outcomes of that conference were very much part of the Open Debate in the Council and are, to some extent, reflected in the resolution that was adopted. A fuller discussion of the Resolution, controversies around its adoption, and some of its implications is presented in our Feature Analysis section (Item 3).

One of the crucial aspects of our analysis and advocacy on this issue is that sexual violence is integrally connected to the issue of women's participation in decision-making. For this reason, in our analysis of the resolution and in including resources and content for this newsletter, we have endeavored to include this perspective. The resources in our Feature Resource Section (Item 6) by the ICRC and UNIFEM both recognize this link and the importance of designing responses that take this into account. Also included are specific initiatives around participation. Our Feature Events (Item 7) includes the launch of a book on a coaching program for women's political participation conducted through the gender unit in the Haitian mission MINUSTAH. An interview with one of the participants and the local coach reveals some of the powerful opportunities provided by the program. Another strategy that is often raised is that of quotas for women's political participation. An online discussion conducted by iknow Politics is this month's Feature Initiative (Item 8) and provides useful insights into this particular tool.

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As always, we welcome your contributions to the newsletter's content. We will have a combined July & August edition that will be published in mid-August and will focus on Gender, Small Arms and DDR. Contributions for that edition should be sent to enewssubmissions@peacewomen.org by Thursday 7 August 2008.