First meeting of the UN Civil Society Advisory Group on Women, Peace and Security

  

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on the role of women in conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding broke new ground in October 2000 by calling for women’s full engagement in peace processes, gender equality in political leadership, gender-sensitive security forces, support for displaced women, and protection from and accountability for sexual violence and other abuses. UN Security Council Resolutions like 1325 are international law that all member states are required to follow.

However, despite four separate UNSCRs on women, peace, and security, and the dedicated efforts of international agencies, civil society actors, and governments, courageous women peace builders still face legal, cultural and traditional discrimination. In the context of armed conflicts, many women also continue to be raped and trafficked with impunity, threatened, and stigmatized by their very victimization.

Within the UN itself there remains a dearth of women making high-level decisions and acting as chief mediators in peace missions. Perhaps as further evidence of the lack of enforcement and implementation, subsequent Security Council Resolutions 1820, 1888, and 1889 all build on the promise of 1325. 

Recognizing the need to take a more comprehensive approach to implemetation of UNSCR 1325 within the UN and in conflict-affected regions, a group of experts met in New York City on April 24, 2009. At that time Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Asha-Rose Migiro agreed to chair a UN Steering Committee on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 throughout the United Nations and member states.

More recently, DSG Migiro invited former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson to chair a Civil Society Advisory Panel to act as a liaison to civil society and to guide the UN steering committee in taking action on UNSCR 1325. Mary Robinson in turn has invited Inclusive Security's Chair Ambassador Swanee Hunt and twelve other experts from around the world to participate on the panel. 

The first meeting of the UN Civil Society Advisory panel will take place March 6, 2010, in New York City.

For more information about Inclusive Security's work with the UN, please contact Jacqueline O'Neill.