Women in Peacekeeping:
Towards an Active and Visible Policy

The Security Council on 31 October met to consider the item on women, peace and security, exactly one year after the Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000), calling on all actors involved in negotiating and implementing peace agreements to adopt gender perspectives that included the special needs of women and girls during repatriation and resettlement, reintegration and post-conflict reconstruction. The Council adopted a presidential statement that reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation of resolution 1325 and welcomed the efforts by the United Nations system, Member States, civil society organizations and other relevant actors in promoting the equal participation and full involvement of women in the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and in implementing the provisions of the resolution.

The Council reaffirmed its support for increasing the role of women in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution, and renewed its call on States to include women in the negotiations and implementation of peace accords, constitutions and strategies for resettlement and rebuilding and to take measures to support local women’s groups and indigenous processes for conflict resolution. It recognized the efforts of the Mano River Women’s Peace Network in facilitating peace and dialogue in that region, as well as the inclusion of women in the political decision-making bodies in Burundi, Somalia and East Timor.

The Council underscored the importance of promoting an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes while addressing armed conflicts, in particular peacekeeping operations. It renewed its support for gender-sensitive training guidelines and material on the protection, rights and the particular needs of women, as well as on the importance of involving them in all peacekeeping and peace-building measures.

The Council also welcomed the timely issuance of the publication Gender Perspective in Disarmament, which gives a clear indication of ways in which women can be fully involved and the benefits to the parties concerned.

It noted with satisfaction that the Secretary-General’s study on the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, the role of women in peace-building and the gender dimensions of peace processes and conflict resolution was under way, and welcomed the coordinated, comprehensive input of the United Nations and all its relevant agencies, funds and programmes.

The Council expressed concern that there were no women appointed as Special Representatives or Special Envoys of the Secretary-General to peace missions, and urged Member States to redouble their efforts to nominate women candidates. It also urged the Secretary-General to appoint women as Special Representatives and Envoys to pursue good offices on his behalf in accordance with his strategic plan of action.

The Council recognized the need to implement fully international humanitarian and human rights law that protects the rights of civilians, including women and girls, during and after conflicts, and called on all parties to armed conflicts to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence and all other forms of violence.

Links:
Security Council Resolution 1325 (in PDF format)