[WCUSP] Fwd: 1325 PeaceWomen E-News Issue 94

[Odile Hugonot Haber]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sam Cook <sam at peacewomen.org>
Date: Nov 1, 2007 7:56 AM
Subject: 1325 PeaceWomen E-News Issue 94
To: wilpf-news at wilpf.ch










 ________________________________


From: Sam Cook [mailto:saminthecity at gmail.com]
 Sent: 01 November 2007 08:22 AM
 To: 'sam at peacewomen.org'
 Subject: 1325 PeaceWomen E-News Issue 94









October 2007: Marking Seven Years



The Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on women,
peace and security, 31 October 2000.



For the text of the resolution, visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/un/sc/1325.html



For the printer-friendly version of this newsletter and for past issues, visit:

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/1325News/1325ENewsindex.html



To subscribe to 1325 PeaceWomen E-News, email subscribe at peacewomen.org
with "subscribe" as the subject heading.



THIS ISSUE FEATURES:



1.       Editorial: Marking Seven Years

2.      Women, Peace and Security News

3.      Feature Event : Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace
and Security

4.      Feature Statement: WILPF Statement on UN Day

5.      Feature Initiative: Call for Submissions : Global
Peacebuilders Peacebuilding Approaches Catalogue

6.      Feature Resources: DCAF Report – Sexual Violence in Armed
Conflict, Austrian Action Plan on Implementation of Resolution 1325

7.       NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security Update: WPS Open
Debate Statement

8.      Women, Peace and Security Calendar



PeaceWomen is a project of the Women's International League for Peace
and Freedom http://www.wilpf.int.ch



Please visit us at: http://www.peacewomen.org





1. EDITORIAL

Sam Cook



As reflected in this edition of the PeaceWomen E-News, the seventh
year since the adoption of Resolution 1325 was marked this month. Also
this month was UN Day and WILPF released a statement on 24th of
October to mark the sixty-second anniversary of the creation of the UN
(see Item 4). As it usefully instructs, "Get back to the Charter:
WILPF believes it is time to undertake a Universal Periodic Review of
all UN Member States of how they live up to their commitments, not
only in the human rights field, but under the United Nations Charter
as a whole." And in relation to 1325, it importantly notes that
"women's participation in decision-making is essential for human
security and human rights: As acknowledged by the Security Council
resolution 1325, to be legitimate and democratic, decision-making must
be shared; tables seated only by men, or a vast majority of men, are
simply not acceptable in 2007."



The participation of women in decision-making is but one aspect of
Resolution 1325, though one in which the gap between rhetoric and
reality is clear. Another area for serious concern and, in fact,
outrage, is that of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict.
Several of our news items (Item 2) reflect this problem and the
concerns of advocates and some decision makers. Our Feature Resources
section (Item 6) highlights a new publication by the Geneva based DCAF
(Democratic Control of Armed Forces) which looks at the issue and at
its implications for the Security Sector through a global overview
profiling 51 countries. This and efforts such as that to catalogue
peacebuilding approaches in our Feature Initiative section (Item 5)
are good examples of engagement by civil society with the specific
issues contained in Resolution 1325. It is the case, however, that we
need to move beyond rhetoric to reality through demonstrable actions
by governments. Many have taken steps to implement the resolution on
the national level and the Austrian 1325 National Action Plan (see
Item 6) is the latest of these efforts. Unlike many such action plans
which are broad policy commitments, this plan is a good example of the
inclusion of specific actions and efforts to monitor progress and
impact through indicators and tracking of budgetary allocations.



In Item 3 we reflect the marking of the "anniversary" of Resolution
1325. This month has been an interesting time as many women, peace and
security advocates have grappled with how to mark this occasion. There
is a need to acknowledge the significance of the resolution and the
occasion of the anniversary of its passage and to note progress made
in its implementation. At the same time there is a strong desire to
avoid falling into empty ritual and false celebration. October at UN
Headquarters in New York offers an excellent opportunity to highlight
women, peace and security issues. This is when many have specifically
scheduled time to "pay attention" to 1325, and the holding of an Open
Debate on these issues within the Security Council is now a tradition.
Canada certainly reflected the sentiments of many when it said that it
"would like to suggest that this year the Security Council begin a new
tradition of assessing the implementation of this resolution in a
deliberate and concerted way throughout the year." It was, however,
hard to miss the anniversary fatigue and cynicism as people asked
"will this debate be in any different," and "will it actually make any
difference to the situation on the ground." In fact, in the months
leading up to October many asked if it was really worth engaging in or
advocating for a potentially empty "talk fest." As it turned out,
Ghana, who held the presidency of the Security Council in October,
wanted to hold an Open Debate on women, peace and security and was
eager to make it worthwhile. And so, we and other NGOs and UN
colleagues engaged in the open debate anniversary ritual with the aim
of seeing concrete commitments and action from the event held on the
23rd October.



Was it worth it? At some level such debates are useful as a measure of
the current attitudes of governments to the issues. In our survey of
the Open Debate (Item 3 below), can be found links to the PeaceWomen
thematic index of the debate and what governments said in relation to
certain key themes. Overall what this year's debate usefully revealed
was the growing frustration of many Member States with the status of
local level implementation. Also revealed was the desire of many
Member States (including Security Council members) to see the
establishment of a mechanism within the Council to drive the
implementation of 1325 and, furthermore, for the Council to take
decisive steps to address sexual and gender-based violence. Many NGO
advocates had hoped for similar commitments as is seen in the
statement delivered at the Debate on behalf of the NGO Working Group
on women, peace and security (see Item 7). The Presidential Statement
issued at the Debate was, in these respects, a serious disappointment
and does not do much more than repeat language from previous
statements. It is all the more disappointing since we are aware that
the ideas of increased monitoring and reporting on sexual violence and
a commitment to explore the establishment of a Security Council
mechanism were proposed. Many (including Security Council members)
advocated strongly for their inclusion. Unfortunately the negotiation
process resulted in a statement that reflects no more than the lowest
common denominator and the views of those Council members who have
resisted making any meaningful commitments to 1325. For many such
members it has become a matter of arguing that issues of, for example,
sexual violence in conflict are not within the purview of the Security
Council. However, as the UK representative so eloquently put it:
"Conflict is the business of the Council. The evidence from countries
on the Council's agenda today shows how much remains to be done. There
is continued sexual violence on a massive scale in the
conflict-affected areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo…..The
cruelty of the sexual violence inflicted upon women and children, in
particular as a weapon of war, is unspeakable. This is not a debate
about the institutional niceties of whether the subject does or does
not belong on the Council's agenda. This is a debate about protecting
people who are suffering as a result of conflict."



We hope that the strong opinions expressed by several Member States at
the Open Debate are one more layer of pressure on the Security Council
and that, at the very least, this can be counted as incremental
progress in implementation of the resolution.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •



We continue to welcome contributions to the newsletter's content.
Contributions for the November 2007 edition should be sent to
enewssubmissions at peacewomen.org by Thursday 15 November 2007.





2. WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY NEWS





UN CHIEF: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SURGES

October 24, 2007 - (AP) The U.N. secretary-general warned that
violence against women has reached "hideous" levels in some countries
trying to recover from conflict, and the U.N. Security Council
demanded an end to impunity for rape and other sexual abuse.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/International/Oct07/sc_sg.html



SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR BOOST TO WOMEN'S ROLE IN PEACE AND SECURITY

October 23, 2007 – (UN News) Recognizing the recent progress towards
including women in the search for peace, justice and reconciliation,
the Security Council today urged countries and the United Nations
system to enhance female participation in decision-making and to take
specific steps to protect women and girls from gender-based violence
during conflicts.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/International/Oct07/23_oct_sc.html



SENIOR UN OFFICIALS CALL ON MEMBER STATES TO ADDRESS RAPE AS A WEAPON OF WAR

October 22, 2007 – (UN News) On the eve of a Security Council debate
on the role of women in peace and security, two senior United Nations
officials have stressed the need to combat gender-based violence and
to ensure that violations of women's rights, including the use of rape
as a weapon of war, are viewed as a security issue.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/International/Oct07/22_oct_sc.html



CONFLICT LEAVES WOMEN STRANDED IN DIVIDED KASHMIR

October 18, 2007 – (Womens Enews) In Indian-controlled Kashmir women
with husbands on the other side of the militarized zone have spent
years and decades struggling for reunion. In the meantime they endure
official suspicion and harassment and struggle for their daily
survival.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/SouthAsia/Oct07/kashmirconflict.html



SOUTH AFRICA: SA MEN'S FORUM OUTLINE GENDER CHALLENGES

October 17, 2007 - (AllAfrica) Lack of coordination, resistance from
traditional and religious leaders and commitment from the private
sector is hampering efforts to achieve gender equality, according to
the South African Men's Forum.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/SouthernAfrica/October07/SAmen.html



TURKEY: WOMEN CONDEMN TURKEY'S NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION

October 14, 2007 – (Women living under muslim laws) Women's groups in
Turkey have condemned a new draft constitution, saying it sets the
country back years in terms of gender equality. A new civilian
constitution is being prepared to replace the current one, introduced
after a 1980 military coup. The document describes women as a
vulnerable group needing protection.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/MiddleEast/October07/Turkey_const.html



ZIMBABWE: STATE VIOLENCE TARGETS WOMEN SAYS REPORT

October 12, 2007 – (IRIN) In a preliminary report detailing widespread
state violence, including the torture and the unlawful detention of
its members, a Zimbabwean social movement is warning southern Africa's
political leaders to temper their optimism about the country's
prospect of free and fair elections next year.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/SouthernAfrica/October07/zimstatevio.html



DRC: RAPE CASES UP BY 60 PERCENT IN NORTH KIVU – UNHCR

October 12, 2007 - (IRIN) A total of 351 cases of rape were reported
in North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
representing a 60 percent increase from August, the UN Refugee Agency
(UNHCR) said on 11 October.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/GreatLakes/October07/moreDRCrape.html



SUDAN: DARFUR ATTACK "TARGETED WOMEN AND CHILDREN"

October 10, 2007 (IRIN) - The recent attack on Muhajiriya town in
South Darfur, in which 45 people died and thousands fled their homes,
mainly targeted women, children and the elderly, a rebel faction said.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/EastAfrica/October07/sudanAttacks.html



BURUNDI: NO PROTECTION FROM RAPE IN WAR AND PEACE

October 9, 2007 - (Amnesty International) Amnesty International and
ACAT -- Burundi (Action des Chrétiens pour l'Abolition de la Torture)
today called on the Burundian government to take immediate action to
protect women and girls from rape and other sexual violence in
Burundi.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/GreatLakes/October07/sgbvburundi.html



BAHRAINI AUTHORITIES IMPOSE MEDIA BLOCKADE ON WOMEN ACTIVIST GHADA JAMSHEER

October 7, 2007 – (Defending Women – Defending Rights) The president
of the Women's Petition (WP), the Bahraini activist Ms Ghada Jamsheer
revealed the existence of a formal decision preventing her from
appearing in any of the Bahraini media.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/MiddleEast/October07/Bahrain_media.html



RAPE EPIDEMIC RAISES TRAUMA OF CONGO WAR

October 7, 2007 - (New York Times) Denis Mukwege, a Congolese
gynecologist, cannot bear to listen to the stories his patients tell
him anymore. Every day, 10 new women and girls who have been raped
show up at his hospital. Many have been so sadistically attacked from
the inside out, butchered by bayonets and assaulted with chunks of
wood, that their reproductive and digestive systems are beyond repair.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/GreatLakes/October07/DRCrape.html



NO SOFT TOUCH: THE WOMEN OF BURMA HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FORCE TO RECKON WITH

October 5, 2007 - (The Irrawaddy) As the mother of a four-month-old
baby, Nilar Thein should be at home now, caring for her little
daughter. Instead, she's a fugitive with a price on her head, in
hiding from Burmese government forces desperate to silence her and
other outspoken activists.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/SouthAsia/Oct07/femaleburmeseactvists.html



ZIMBABWE: MINISTRY TO TRAIN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON GENDER BUDGETING

October 4, 2007 – (AllAfrica) The Ministry of Women's Affairs, Gender
and Community Development will soon train senior Government officials
on gender budgeting as part of efforts to make budgeting systems in
various institutions gender responsive, an official has said.

http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/SouthernAfrica/October07/zimtrain.html



• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •



For more regional women, peace and security news, please visit:

 http://www.peacewomen.org/news/countryindex.html



For more international women, peace and security news, please visit:



http://www.peacewomen.org/news/International/Index.html





3. FEATURE EVENT: SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE



UN SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY

United Nations Headquarters, New York, 23 October 2007



The Permanent Mission of Ghana, which held the Security Council
Presidency during the month of October, organized this debate that
took place on 23 October 2007. All 15 members of the Security Council,
38 Non-Security Council Member States, 4 UN Entities and 2 Civil
Society representatives made interventions.



Governmental, UN and Civil Society Statements:



Security Council Members:

Belgium, China, Congo, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Panama, Peru,
Qatar, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, United Kingdom,
United States.



Non-Security Council Members:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Benin, Canada, Colombia,
Costa Rica,  Croatia,  Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark,
Egypt, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Iceland, Israel,
Japan, Kazakhstan,  Kenya, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Mexico, Myanmar, The
Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Republic of
Korea, Spain, Sudan,  Sweden,  United Arab Emirates,  Viet Nam, Zambia
(for SADC)





UN & Civil Society:

·         Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General

·         Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping ·                            Rachel Mayanja, Assistant
Secretary-General, Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of
Women


·         Ms. Joanne Sandler, Interim Executive Director, United
Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

·         Ms. Gina Torry, Coordinator, NGO Working Group on Women,
Peace and Security



For the full statements visit:

http://www.peacewomen.org/un/7thAnniversary/Open_Debate/index.html#opendebate



For the webcast of the Open Debate visit: http://www.un.org/webcast/sc.html



For the Secretary-General's Statement visit:

http://www.peacewomen.org/un/7thAnniversary/Open_Debate/SG.pdf



For the NGOWG on Women, Peace and Security recommendations visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/un/7thAnniversary/NGOWG_Amb_Letter_Oct07.pdf




• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •



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 23
October 2007.  The compilation deals with the following themes:



·         Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

·         Integrating 1325 in the work of the Security Council

·         Women's Participation in Peace Processes

·         Gender & Peacekeeping

·         UN System-wide Action Plan & Implementation

·         National Implementation Mechanisms and Policies

·         Gender Equality Architecture Reform



This can be found at:
http://www.peacewomen.org/un/7thAnniversary/Compilation/index_2007.html




• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •



THEMES AND SAMPLES OF EXCERPTS FEATURED IN THE COMPILATION:


Sexual and Gender-Based Violence



Belgium

As we speak — at this very moment — thousands of women are victims of
sexual violence in its most atrocious forms. Who among us has not
reacted with horror when reading the reports on the sexual violence
committed against women in the Kivus in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, or in the Sudan? Therefore, some might wonder: what is the
point of another debate in these hushed halls of the United Nations?
We have the duty to answer that question by going beyond statements
and reaffirming our political commitment to combating violence against
women, using all means at our disposal.



In conclusion, the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) represents
an extremely complex challenge. The Security Council must show the way
forward. We believe it is urgent to strengthen its capacity to follow
up on problems related to gender-based acts of violence in armed
conflict. To that end, the Council must have better-targeted reporting
at its disposal.



Benin

International judicial bodies must be more involved in punishing
gender-based violence against women. If national jurisdictions do not
address that issue effectively, the International Criminal Court
should itself be encouraged to take up cases of large scale rape and
sexual exploitation of women and young girls. We believe that to be an
appropriate approach, given the astronomical number of documented
victims cited in the report of the Secretary-General.



Canada

 [Re the situation of sexual violence in DRC] The Security Council can
make a difference here. It has a crucial role to play in the
effective, timely and systematic implementation of Resolution 1325.
Over the past few years, many of us have stressed the need for an
effective monitoring mechanism. We couldn't be more in need of one
than we are right now.



The creation of a monitoring mechanism and the regular presentation of
disaggregated data and status reports will increase the Council's
capacity to design and implement peace support mandates to better
respond to such violence, and ensure the integration of prevention
strategies to address violence against women and girls in the work of
UN country teams. Canada will continue to support the Council's
implementation of its commitments, including in country specific
contexts, and to support efforts to enhance Council and wider
international action in this area.



Liechtenstein

The Security Council therefore has a vital role to play in ensuring
that targeted measures are taken to protect women and girls from rape
and other forms of sexual violence in conflict situations and that
there is no impunity for such acts does. The referral of the situation
in Darfur to the International Criminal Court was a landmark decision,
both legally and politically. It was a strong message by the Security
Council that the international community does not accept impunity for
the most serious crimes under international law, including
gender-related crimes. We would like to encourage the Council to
continue to consider the ICC as a policy option - referrals to the ICC
must, however, be accompanied by sustained political support from the
Council through all phases of the judicial proceedings, and must in
some situations be accompanied by other substantive measures.



The Netherlands

The grave violations of women's human rights through massive rape and
other sexual violence require the immediate attention of organisations
like the International Criminal Court and other relevant tribunals.
The Security Council can play a role in this by referring such cases
to the ICC. We have to give a clear signal to the perpetrators that
the international community is no longer tolerating impunity for these
heinous crimes.



Last but not least, uncomfortable issues like rape and other forms of
sexual violence against women, should be openly discussed with and by
governments, members of parliament, militia leaders and opinion
makers. By us. The Security Council has to raise its voice on this
issue. The Big Silence has to stop. I hope that this debate in the
Security Council will give this clear message to the international
community.



United Kingdom

The issue of sexual and gender-based violence against women is as much
about perpetrators and tackling impunity as it is about victims. Those
accused of such violations should be named, shamed and brought to fair
trials. The Security Council will only limit its ability to ensure
long-term peace and security in many of the countries on its agenda if
it does not address gender-based violence.



Zambia (for SADC)
The high number of victims of violence continues to be a concern for
SADC. We are saddened that women continue to bear the brunt of grave
violations of human rights, including violence and sexual abuses. We
condemn all those parties that perpetuate acts of violence and abuse
against women and children. We call for the speedy investigation of
all cases of violence and sexual abuse, especially those committed
against women and children. The culture of impunity must be stopped
by, among other things, bringing to justice all the perpetrators.



Extracts from the Open Debate on this theme can be found at:
http://www.peacewomen.org/un/7thAnniversary/Compilation/SGBV.htm




• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

  Integrating 1325 in the work of the Security Council



Canada

In his 2007 report, the Secretary-General concluded that without
concerted efforts by Governments and civil society at the country
level, implementation of this resolution will continue to lag. In
order to ensure a focus on women's rights and equality issues within
its country- and region-specific work, Canada calls upon the Council
to commit to regular consultations with representatives of women's
organizations in the countries that are on the Council's agenda.


Congo

...

[Message clipped]
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 3418 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://wilpf.org/pipermail/wcusp_wilpf.org/attachments/20071101/a44ae2d2/attachment-0002.png 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1902 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://wilpf.org/pipermail/wcusp_wilpf.org/attachments/20071101/a44ae2d2/attachment-0003.png 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image006.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 5291 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://wilpf.org/pipermail/wcusp_wilpf.org/attachments/20071101/a44ae2d2/attachment-0002.gif 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image008.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 104 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://wilpf.org/pipermail/wcusp_wilpf.org/attachments/20071101/a44ae2d2/attachment-0003.gif