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PRESS RELEASE
GNWP Presents Outcomes of Civil Society Monitoring of UN Security Council Resolution 1325
New York City, November 17, 2011
“The 2011 Women Count: Security Council Resolution 1325 Civil Society Monitoring Report uses locally acceptable and applicable indicators to assess progress in the implementation of Resolution 1325 at the country and community levels. The findings and recommendations compel us to reflect on what has been achieved thus far and strategize on making the implementation a reality in places that matters. Congratulations to GNWP-ICAN on this outstanding initiative!” – Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
The above quote summarizes the importance of the outcomes of the civil society monitoring of 1325 presented by the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), on October 25 and 27, 2011 on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of SCR 1325 in New York.
Overall, there is progress being made in increasing and spreading an understanding of the gender dimensions of conflict and peacebuilding but this progress is slow, uneven and lacks resources and support, according to Mavic-Cabrera-Balleza, GNWP International Coordinator/International Civil society Action Network Program Director. Cabrera-Balleza presented the general findings of the monitoring exercise on October 27th at the Permanent Mission of Canada. She pointed out that there are now 32 national action plans on Resolution 1325 but these still represent the minority of the 193 UN Member States who are mandated to implement the resolution in their countries.
The presentation showcased the findings of the monitoring of 1325 implementation in Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Uganda. Another general finding in all of these countries as well as the others included in the monitoring exercise (Burundi, Canada, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines, Spain, Sweden) is that there is still a gap in women’s meaningful participation in governance structures particularly at the local level as well as in the security sector. There is also an important implementation gap in terms of gender responsive laws and policies, including National Action Plans (NAP) on SCR 1325. The resources, capacity and political clout of the lead implementing agency of the NAP and where it is located in the government architecture are as significant as its funding and indicators.
The access to health care for women and girls who suffer from sexual and gender-based violence in conflict-affected communities in Burundi and Nepal was the focus of the October 25th presentation that GNWP co-organized with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). In both countries, there are limited facilities and skills to treat such cases. Most cases are either handled as ordinary illness or remain untreated. Medical evidence is not properly collected and women’s capacities and access to justice is hampered.
Although the 2010 report concluded that much progress was made during the first decade after the adoption of SCR 1325, one element of criticism evident at the many anniversary events last year was the need to address the identified accountability gap, which noted that mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the implementation of 1325 and the accompanying resolutions 1820, 1960, 1888, and 1889 at regional, national, and global levels remains lacking.
As part of a response to this and in pursuit of its mission to bridge the gap between policy discussions and implementation and action on the ground regarding women and peace and security issues, GNWP initiated a process which would build capacity amongst civil society, especially women’s organizations to conduct effective monitoring of policy implementation; support effective implementation of SCR 1325 particularly at the national level; provide a global perspective of the status of SCR 1325 implementation, which would be enriched by being built over time; and bolstering Member State accountability in a series of ways, which go beyond SCR 1325.
GNWP also found that major data gaps on women and peace and security persist across all areas, but especially on SGBV. Data collection practices are weak, leading to unreliable analysis and sex-disaggregated data is still the exception rather than the rule.
Another key finding is that funding for civil society’s women and peace and security work remains meager; donors privilege ‘project or programme’ funding over ‘core’ funding. Funding allocated by donor countries to post conflict countries is not transparently tracked.
The findings of 2011 revealed limited progress since last year. While many of the 2010 findings and recommendations therefore stand, the 2011 report offers specific emphasis and insights on the implementation(s) and their challenges.
GNWP is committed to continue monitoring SCR 1325 implementation to establish a solid baseline data on the Resolution, identify best practices, persistent gaps and challenges; and make recommendations as to where and how energies and resources should be directed to ensure effective implementation on the ground.
“Women Count Security Council Resolution 1325: Civil Society Monitoring Report 2011″ is currently undergoing a revision and will be reprinted in December 2011.
For further information, please contact
Mavic Cabrera-Balleza
Helena Gronberg
212. 973. 0325 ext. 202
For original article click here
NEW YORK — In October 2000, the UN Security Council passed its landmark Resolution 1325 as the first international agreement to specifically recognize the impact of armed conflict on women and their role as builders of peace. While many achievements have been made across the globe as a result of the Resolution, the persistent lack of an accountability mechanism at the global, national and local level has hindered progress.
UNFPA is working to fill this gap by partnering with the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), which brings together 55 women’s organizations and networks working on peace and security across the world. As a lead agency on implementation of Resolution 1325 in Burundi and Nepal, UNFPA has provided technical and financial support to develop the capacity of civil society to monitor the impact of the resolution. Both countries had experienced years of internal conflicts that took a huge toll on women.
A High-level event hosted by UNFPA and GNWP this week on the 11th anniversary of Resolution 1325 celebrated the monitoring efforts of grassroots women activists, particularly in Nepal and Burundi. The event, which took place as part of the larger Security Council debate on Resolution 1325, attracted over 80 participants, including H.E. Ambassador Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya of Nepal, H.E. Ambassador Mr. Herménégilde Niyonzima of Burundi and Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury (former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations).
At the event, civil society representatives from Burundi and Nepal shared their findings from the initiative. The presentations were supported by their ambassadors, who expressed their respective country’s commitment to reducing the number of incidents of gender violence and encouraged women’s participation in decision making roles.
Taking steps to implement and monitor Resolution 1325
Jeanne Bitsure from the Women and Allies Peacebuilders Network in Burundi reported that although Burundi’s penal code criminalizes sexual and gender-based violence, underreporting remains a serious challenge. In part, this is due to a lack of adequate health care facilities and impunity for perpetrators. For example, of the 3,715 cases reported in 2009, only 1.6 per cent of the cases were prosecuted. The government has been working to address these issues. Most notably, the 2005 law requiring a quota of 30 per cent women in parliament has been largely successful with 32.8 per cent of key ministerial positions held by women, the highest percentage in Africa.
Bandana Rana from Saathi, a nonprofit organization in Nepal, echoed similar challenges. Although data on sexual and gender-based violence is limited, the country has seen an increase in the number of reported cases, particularly among minors. The judicial and legal mechanisms for prosecuting such cases are weak, and health care providers are ill-equipped to recognize, and often treat, survivors. The government has actively recognized gender-based violence as a major concern and is conducting sensitization trainings for police and judicial prosecutors. Nepal’s prime minister also declared 2010 as the year to combat the problem.
National action plans adopted
Both countries have also adopted National Action Plans on Resolution 1325, a critical step in building accountability. Ambassador Chowdhury emphasized the importance of these initiatives as it energizes all partners, particularly civil society, and serves as a new resource for monitoring country-level implementation and in soliciting resultant accountability. UNFPA has supported the adaption of National Action Plans in Burundi, Nepal and many other countries. This work is part of a larger effort in working with Member States and civil society partners to ensure that all women and girls have access to safe sexual and reproductive health services at all phases of a crisis, including post-conflict relief and recovery.
A forthcoming report, Women Count, Security Council Resolution 1325: Civil Society Monitoring Report 2011, will provide additional details.
As part of its capacity building and local legislation on 1325 initiative GNWP in partnership with member Saathi, in June facilitated two workshops and public meetings in the towns of Nepalgunj and Pokhara, Nepal. This is an innovative project also carried out in Burundi and the Philippines, that aims to broaden the discussions on, and actual implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 to include significant local actors such as district officials; peace committees; women’s groups; civil society organizations; and representatives of the security sector, including the Nepal Army, Nepal police and the armed police. The NAP process in Nepal has been cited as a prime example of an exceptionally consultative process involving stakeholders at all levels, and covering 52 out of 75 district nationally.
The workshops that convened over 60 participants from Banke, Dang, Kanchanpur, Baglung, Syangja and Kaski districts in the western and mid-western development regions of Nepal served as fora to raise awareness and enhance the capacity of local actors to integrate the National Action Plan on 1325 and 1820 into the district development and district administration plans. Participants from the six districts drafted recommendations and committed to concrete activities that they agreed to carry out within their respective areas of employment. The group from Kanchanpur committed to conduct 1325 awareness-raising programs in Tharu language for at least 15 village development committees. The Police Superintendent for Banke district committed to integrate SCR 1325 and 1820 in the regular training for the Armed Police as a means to ensure that training is provided to the national security sector and not only to those being deployed to foreign peacekeeping missions.
We thank the Government of Canada for supporting the local legislation and capacity building workshop in Burundi and Nepal; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway for providing support to the workshops in the Philippines.
Investing in Peace – Financing 1325 and the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls
Co-orgnanized by Cordaid, UNDP and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders
Tuesday February 22, 2011, 10:00-11:30 am
Church Center for the United Nations, 777 UN Plaza (44th St. & 1st Ave); Hardin Room, 11th floor
Join us for a panel discussion that examines the impact of current financing for UNSCR 1325 and women and peace and security programming on the ground, on the fight to end violence against women and girls. Featuring civil society speakers from Africa, Asia and the Pacific and Latin America, as well as guests from UN agencies, member states and the private sector.
Implementing UNSCR 1325 on Women and Peace and Security; Strengthening the CSW 55 Agenda
Wednesday February 23, 2011, 2:00-3:30pm,
Church Center for the United Nations, 777 UN Plaza (44th St. & 1st Ave); 2nd floor
This co-sponsored* session, open to all, will discuss the next steps that need to be taken to assure women of equality, justice and full participation in decision making so that we can reduce violence, reduce sexual abuse, and move toward democracy. Our objective is to explore how the full implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women and Peace and Security can advance the themes of the CSW, including access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology, the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work and the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child.
Presenters include: Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Mavic Cabrera-Balleza (GNWP) and Cora Weiss (HAP)
*Peace Action, International Civil Society Action Network, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, Hague Appeal for Peace, International Institute of Peace Education, International Health Awareness Network, The Ribbon International, World Council for Curriculum and Instruction, Temple of Understanding, Unitarian Universalist UN Office, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Foundation for the Support of the United Nations, United Methodist Women, International Peace Bureau, Peacewomen.org, Canadian Voice of Women
In partnership with its members Cadre Permanent de Concertation de la Femme Congolese (CAFCO) and Réseau Femme et Développement (REFED) GNWP is facilitating a workshop in Kinshasa to launch the project in-country monitoring of UNSCR 1325 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The workshop in Kinshasa is part of the in-country and global monitoring project that GNWP is undertaking. The goal of the monitoring project, which was launched in February 2010 with the GNWP indicators development/selection workshop in New York, is to identify and develop instruments for NGO monitoring and accurately assessing 1325 implementation. Although GNWP members from DRC were unable to attend the workshop in New York in February they demonstrated great interest and commitment to the project and worked together with the GNWP coordinating team to prepare a similar workshop in DRC, which is now taking place August 23-24. The goal of the workshop is to develop a better understanding of UNSCR 1325 among the participants, which include grassroots women from the eleven provinces of DRC, and come up with country specific indicators to be populated by the monitoring team in DRC.
During the February workshop GNWP members from Afghanistan, Burundi, Colombia, Fiji, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Uganda developed a set of sixteen indicators to assess 1325 implementation on the national level. In March Canada, Sri Lanka and Lebanon joined the project. The participating members have since conducted research in their respective countries and are in the process of finalizing their country reports, which will be compiled into a global report to be launched during the 10th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 in New York in October.
The outcomes of this monitoring initiative together with the study on costing and financing 1325, commissioned by Cordaid and GNWP, will serve as important advocacy tools to ensure 1325 implementation, particularly at the country and community levels.
GNWP, CAFCO and REFED thank Oxfam Novib for supporting the indicators workshop in DRC
In partnership with its member Women Peacemakers Program /Burundi, GNWP is facilitating a public meeting and a local legislation workshop in Bujumbura and Gitega; Burundi June 14-19, 2010. The goal of the project is to enhance the capacity of women in conflict-affected communities to use legal mechanisms available at the international, regional and national levels in order to protect their rights, ensure participation in decision-making and guarantee redress.
The specific objectives of the project are:
- To facilitate country and community–level dialogues on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 in Burundi and highlight the outcomes of such dialogues at global policy spaces;
- To identify and make visible emerging issues and new approaches to the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 and to create opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration;
- To forge linkages between women’s organizations and local district officials and consequently formulate local-level implementation strategies on UNSCR 1325 and 1820;
- To use UNSCR 1325 and 1820 and existing regional and national legal mechanisms and policies to promote women’s political participation, promote and protect women rights and address sexual and gender-based violence in conflict affected communities; and
- To make use of the ongoing elections as a platform to promote greater accountability and secure commitments from political candidates and political parties towards the full implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1820.
See
Bujumbura Workshop Program
Gitega Workshop Program
Photos and interviews
Elections
The workshops come at an exciting time as Burundi finds itself in the middle of a much anticipated election period. The local elections that took place on May 24 were highly contested with the opposition expressing much discontent about the official result, which showed an overwhelming victory for the National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), the party of sitting president Pierre Nkurunziza. Several presidential candidates have demanded that members of the National Electoral Commission resign and have announced that they will boycott the upcoming presidential elections on June 28. The candidates condemned what they called massive fraud in the elections for local councillors. The announcement by the opposition candidates to withdraw may threaten the success of the elections that are seen as a test of Burundi’s peace. The last rebel group laid down arms in 2009 after a conflict that broke out in 1993.
Despite the contested results of the first in the series of elections, GNWP partners say they are content with two elements of the first phase of the election, namely 1.) women’s participation; and 2.) general security. Months of lobbying, outreach and mobilization by women’s groups indeed resulted in huge numbers of women at the polls, demanding that their voices be heard, says Jeanne Bitsure of Women Peacemakers Program – Burundi. Additionally a ‘code of conduct’ created by youth for youth to raise awareness on the importance of peaceful elections and not resorting to electoral violence, was distributed widely all over the country. “Using video projections we targeted schools and public spaces to send a message to the youth of Burundi,” adds Seconde Nyanzobe from Association Fontaine ISOKO pour la Bonne Gouvernance et le Developpement Integre.
GNWP thanks ICCO for supporting this project.
The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders indicators workshop is on! We’re thrilled to inform you that the GNWP indicators development/selection workshop is taking place on Feb 25 & 26, 2010 in New York. This is part of our preparation for the 1325 in-country and global monitoring project that the GNWP is undertaking. The goal of the GNWP’s monitoring project is to identify and develop instruments for NGO monitoring and accurately assessing 1325 implementation. The outcomes of this monitoring initiative together with the study on costing and financing 1325, commissioned by Cordaid and GNWP, will serve as important advocacy tools to ensure 1325 implementation, particularly at the country and community levels.
Agenda
The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, a program partner of the International Civil society Action Network is organizing/co-organizing the following events during the 2010 CSW and the Beijing + 15 review process:
Presentation of study on costing and financing 1325 and GNWP monitoring indicators launch
In partnership with Cordaid and with support from the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN
Date and time: March 2nd, 2010; 1:15 to 2:45 p.m.
Venue: Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN – One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza
885 Second Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Community of Networkers’ Workshop
In partnership with Cordaid, CREA and other NGOs
Date and time: March 3rd, 2010; 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Venue: CREA Conference Room – 116 East 16th St. #7th floor, New York, NY
Launch of the Sierra Leone national action plan on UNSCR 1325 & 1820
In partnership with the Permanent Missions of Sierra Leone and Canada to the UN and Cordaid
Date and time: March 4th, 2010 – 1:15 to 2:45 pm p.m.
Venue: UN Conference Room 6 (new building)
The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders Members Meeting
Date and time: March 4th, 2010 – 6:00: to 8:00 p.m.
Venue: 11th floor, UN Church Center
Additionally, Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, GNWP International Coordinator chairs the Program Committee of the Global Beijing + 15 NGO Forum which will take place on February 27 & 28, 2010 at the Salvation Army, 120 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011 between 6th & 7th Avenues.
GNWP interns Ana Sanchez Mera, Yama Fadera and Jennifer Patello are also actively participating in the planning of the NGO Forum.
We hope to see you in these exciting events.
For more information, please email: Helena Gronberg at helenagronberg@gmail.com
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ICAN who serves as GNWP's fiscal host and program partner, is a network that aims to strengthen civil society and women’s participation and influence in conflict prevention, social justice, coexistence, and peacebuilding efforts, in situations of closed political space and conflict affected states.
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