United Nations Says Women are Needed in Peacebuilding Efforts
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Terry Murray
Publication (Outlet/Website): Conatus News/Uncommon Ground Media Inc.
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2016/11/06
On October 25, 2016 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the United Nations Security Council, in an open debate entitled Women, Peace and Security, reaffirmed the urgent need to have women in the security and peace-building operations on the ‘international stage’.
A key goal is equal representation and women’s participation in UN peace processes. “Women have a vital role to play in preventing conflict and building and maintaining peace,” Mr Ban said, “…this is now widely recognised, far too often, women are prevented from full participation in peacemaking and peace-building.”
There is a consistent history of underrepresentation of women and girls in peace and security building operations. The Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women noted the previous Resolution 1325 appeal for women’s inclusion in the peacebuilding process which dates back a full sixteen years from Ki-moon’s address. This shows how little progress has been made on past resolutions and prompted UN women chief Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka to reiterate that commitments to the further cooperation with women in peace processes should not be on the books alone, but should be incorporated into practice within countries stricken by conflict.
As well, Executive Director of EVE Organization for Women Development, Rita Lopidia, speaking for non-government organisations devoted to the Working Group on Women, Peace and Security reaffirmed women’s role within “prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction.” She further emphasised the need to prioritise the protection of girls and women in conflict situations where existing gender injustices are aggravated.
According to Mr. Ki-moon, at the start of the National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security, there were only four countries involved in total, which is simply miniscule and rather piddling. However, over time that number has grown to the present point where there are now sixty-three. That is a remarkable achievement that has allowed the largest marginalised population in the world to be incorporated into the framework, as they should have been from its inception. Many women and girls are affected, their worlds shattered by conflict, which means sexual violence in both conflict and post-conflict contexts. Violent extremist groups such as Boko Haram or ISIL target women and girls in areas activated by conflict. Often their bodies become the battleground on which the most barbaric acts of aggression are expressed.
In addition, justice requires a global response to the gender deficit in peace-building because of the ethical obligation that women and girls be accounted for and protected in areas of conflict. This is an ongoing problem for which practical tactics and solutions are needed.
The Vatican responded with ostensibly positive rhetoric emphasising the need to give girls access to education, this playing a vital role in their poverty reduction and civic participation.
However, girls and women must also have leadership and decision-making roles in determining the content of education, or else improving their access to ‘education’ will do little to redress socio-political gender inequalities or the second-class social status given to women and girls.
Women must be involved in setting the education agenda and curricula, not just in delivering it or learning. Moreover, emphasis on women’s special roles in ‘reconciliation’ and ‘healing’ in post-war situations should not be prioritised over their participation in law and justice, strategy and political conflict prevention. Otherwise their ‘participation’ will resemble little more than complacent forgiveness and permanent victimhood. Responses must be as effective as they are diplomatic.
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