Women Peace and Security Special Edition E-News 2018
From “Adding Women” to Tackling Patriarchy: Mobilising around the 18th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325
By Abigail Ruane, WILPF Women, Peace and Security Programme Director
Panelists and participants of the Strengthening Women's Meaningful Participation in Political Movements and Electoral Processes event co-hosted by Mission of Switzerland WILPF (Photo: Nathanael Hamlin)
Siniora was six years old when the Israeli occupation of Palestine started. She did not think she would live her life under colonial occupation, yet she has.
Last week, on 25 October 2018, she made history by addressing the Security Council at its Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security on behalf of her organisation, the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling (WCLAC) and the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.
Ms. Siniora brought attention to how conflict acts as a force multiplier for gender discrimination and violence, which women face in patriarchal societies. Her call to action affirmed the importance of taking a contextualised approach to the UNSCR 1325 implementation and accountability that goes beyond a cookie-cutter approach and addresses root causes of conflict and violence.
Across the week of commemorations of UNSCR 1325’s 18th Anniversary, WILPF mobilised with leaders from across our feminist peace network from Colombia, Cameroon, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria to raise the international community’s standards on women’s participation in peace and conflict work.
“Why isn’t women’s participation happening? It is about discrimination and patriarchy,” stated UN Women Peace and Security Deputy Head Sarah Douglas at the Tuesday Multistakeholder Forum, reporting back from this year’s Expert Group Meeting on Women’s Meaningful Participation.
Participants at the event organised by WILPF and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland on participation and elections developed this idea further: “Women’s exclusion from peace processes is a reflection of women’s low participation and status worldwide,” stated Syrian Women’s Movement Co-Founder Mariam Jalabi. “In Colombia, is very easy to access small arms, you can rent a gun for a day,” stated WILPF Colombia (LIMPAL) President Katherine Ronderos, and member of the National Summit of Women and Peace. “We are now seeing an increase of killings of women with guns. We must challenge gender norms as well as military structures for human security.”
Across the 18th WPS Anniversary week, the message rang out loud and clear: Ensuring democratic representation through gender parity must be supported as an important first step. However, women’s meaningful participation requires more: it requires a political gender power shift that puts the experiences of local women at the centre of peace work.
As we look toward the 20th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325 in 2020, it is important to remember that a strong normative framework already exists. We just need to operationalise existing commitments.
Join us in demanding that the international community step up!
WILPF Calls for Women’s Meaningful Participation at the 18th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325
By Mikayla Varunok, United Nations Monitor
The WILPF Delegation for the 18th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325 pictured alongside the WILPF team. (Photo: WILPF)
To commemorate the UNSCR1325+18 week, WILPF used the space to advocate for the active engagement and meaningful participation of women in peace and security. Together with partners from Cameroon, Colombia and Lebanon, we engaged in a variety of events and engagements throughout the week. Activists shared how they are tackling pernicious obstacles to women’s participation as well as recommendations for building a stronger feminist peace movement.
Together, we demanded women's meaningful participation that transforms peace processes to encourage bottom-up, inclusive and gender-aware action oriented around local women’s voices. Our engagement contributed to a significant shift in the discourse across the week: rather than the typical tokenistic references to “women as victims”, discussions highlighted systems of patriarchy and economic institutions for war, emphasising the critical importance of not only adding women to positions of leadership, but also tackling systemic gender inequality by changing political, economic, and social systems from violence to equality and justice.
Read more about WILPF's engagement at the 18th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325 below and here>>
Inside the United Nations Security Council Debate on Women, Peace and Security
By Colleen Bromberger, Security Council Monitor Fellow
Randa Siniora Atallah, General Director of the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counselling in Jerusalem, addresses the Security Council meeting on Women, Peace and Security. (UN Photo/Manuel Elias)
The Security Council annual debate on Women, Peace and Security took place on 25 October 2018. Held during the UNSC Presidency of Bolivia, the debate reviewed the Secretary-General’s most recent report on Women, Peace and Security, and focused on women's political and economic empowerment. The debate included powerful statements that went beyond traditional calls to action and included addressing masculinities and patriarchy, economic resilience and access to resources, and root causes. Statements made by representatives alluded to the progress and positive steps in the implementation of the WPS Agenda, such as the improving the inclusion of more civil society briefers to the Security Council, supporting the creation of regional mediation networks, and implementing the work of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security (IEG).
This year’s debate was historic, in having a woman peace activist from Palestine to brief the Security Council. Randa Siniora, General Director of the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counselling in Jerusalem, spoke on the experiences of women in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its gendered implications. In particular, she linked the Israeli occupation of Palestine to the reinforcement “of the patriarchal structures of Palestinian society”, noting the disproportionate and therefore gendered effects of violence, lack of access to resources and funding cuts of UNRWA to women in Palestine. “In committing to Women, Peace and Security, the Security Council recognised the importance of women’s meaningful participation, and that without women, there can be no peace”, said Randa. “The lives of Palestinian women are evidence that these commitments have not been met.”
Read WILPF’s analysis of the UNSC open debate on Women, Peace and Security here>>
Read the overview of the Secretary-General's Report on Women, Peace and Security here>>
Read the statement of Randa Siniora on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security here>>
Strengthening Women's Meaningful Participation in Political Movements and Electoral Processes
By Marina Kumskova, WILPF’s Women, Peace and Security Programme Associate
The participants from Yemen who were unable to join other peace activists at the UNSCR1325+18 (Photo: Marina Kumskova)
On 24 October 2018, Wo=men, Oxfam, Cordaid, Care, International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), WILPF and the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands co-hosted an event titled, “Reality check: What is working in Yemen and CAR when it comes to international support for women’s leadership in peace and security?” Civil society activists from Yemen and the CAR discussed different approaches and tailored programs local women’s organisations are putting in place to advance the meaningful participation of women and girls impacted by humanitarian crisis and sexual and gender-based violence. The activists also discussed how the international community can support and advance, rather than take over, their work for peace.
Although she was unable to participate in person since her visa was not approved by the US government, our partner Rasha Jarhum, Founder and Director of the Peace Track Initiative, along with two other panellists, participated via video link. She highlighted how Yemeni women are bearing the brunt of the impact of the war, yet their role at the peace table is marginal. While the members of the Security Council celebrate the increase of civil society briefers and engagement with local activists via the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, as well as strengthened international framework on peace with women at its core, the conversation shed the light on persistent gaps in financing, the lack of focus on disarmament and the shrinking space for civil society on all levels.
Read our summary of the “Reality check: What is working in Yemen and CAR when it comes to international support for women’s leadership in peace and security?” event here>>
A Reality Check: Where are We on the Peace in Yemen and the Central African Republic?
By Marina Kumskova, WILPF’s Women, Peace and Security Programme Associate
The participants from Yemen who were unable to join other peace activists at the UNSCR1325+18 (Photo: Marina Kumskova)
On 24 October 2018, Wo=men, Oxfam, Cordaid, Care, International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), WILPF and the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands co-hosted an event titled, “Reality check: What is working in Yemen and CAR when it comes to international support for women’s leadership in peace and security?” Civil society activists from Yemen and the CAR discussed different approaches and tailored programs local women’s organisations are putting in place to advance the meaningful participation of women and girls impacted by humanitarian crisis and sexual and gender-based violence. The activists also discussed how the international community can support and advance, rather than take over, their work for peace.
Although she was unable to participate in person since her visa was not approved by the US government, our partner Rasha Jarhum, Founder and Director of the Peace Track Initiative, along with two other panellists, participated via video link. She highlighted how Yemeni women are bearing the brunt of the impact of the war, yet their role at the peace table is marginal. While the members of the Security Council celebrate the increase of civil society briefers and engagement with local activists via the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, as well as strengthened international framework on peace with women at its core, the conversation shed the light on persistent gaps in financing, the lack of focus on disarmament and the shrinking space for civil society on all levels.
Read our summary of the “Reality check: What is working in Yemen and CAR when it comes to international support for women’s leadership in peace and security?” event here>>
WILPF INITIATIVES
Mapping Women, Peace And Security In The UN Security Council: 2017
Monthly Action Points (MAP) For The Security Council: November 2018
Statement By Randa Siniora, First Palestinian Woman Activist To Brief UN Security Council
WILPF’s Analysis Of The 2018 Security Council Open Debate On Women, Peace And Security
Highlights From The UNSCR1325+18 Week: Dismantling Patriarchy And Ensuring Women’s Meaningful Participation
Just Elections Are Vital To Peace: The Cameroon Case
Training On Gender Mainstreaming From A Feminist Perspective
Parallel Report To The CEDAW Committee On The Situation In Colombia
RESOURCES
Women In Palestine Face Violence And Political Exclusion, Campaigner Tells UN
Palestinian Women Have 'Meaningful Role to Play', Says Lawyer Ahead Of UN Address
Why The United Nations Security Council Must Let Women Speak Freely
Women’s Meaningful Participation In Peace—Where Are The Barriers And What Can Be Done?
A Yazidi Activist Was Awarded The Nobel Peace Prize. But What Happens Next For Yazidis?
Why Women, Peace, And Security? Why Now?
EXTERNAL INITIATIVES
Women’s Meaningful Participation In Negotiating Peace And The Implementation Of Peace Agreements
Poland Adopts National Action Plan To Implement UN Women, Peace And Security Agenda
The Feminist Roadmap For Sustainable Peace Project
Africa: Women's Voices Must Be Heard, Their Needs Prioritized
We Are All A Piece Of Peace: Young Women Leaders Call For Greater Inclusivity For Sustainable Peace