Women: Security & Peacebuilding
Program Mission
To promote awareness and action through education and advocacy in two key areas:
- Women’s global security and their role in peacebuilding and peace-keeping efforts.
- Ratification of CEDAW (U.S.) and international implementation
Background
Security and Peacebuilding
Women increasingly bear a major portion of the burden of armed conflict. Sexual violence against women is on the rise in conflict areas. Armed conflict and post-conflict environments exacerbate pre-conflict gender inequalities. Women comprise the majority of civilian casualties during armed conflict and suffer exceedingly from forced displacement, gender-based violence and loss of social structure. Supposed peacekeepers, law enforcement and military are often the perpetrators of such violence during the chaos of armed conflict. There is a widespread lack of recognition and will to address these problems and they continue in the aftermath where women’s protection is not made a priority. In response to this lack of security, on March 1 2010, the United Nations Secretary General appointed Margot Wallstrom as special representative to oversee sexual violence in conflict zones.
Women play a unique role in peacebuilding as the core of the community and role models for future generations. We call for the inclusion of women in peacekeeping missions on the community level as well as military and police membership. Women often do not report instances of abuse and violence because they must report to men. We want to stress that “women and children affected by armed conflict may feel more secure working with and reporting abuse to women in peacekeeping missions, and that the presence of women peacekeepers may encourage local women to participate in the national armed and security forces, thereby helping to build a security sector that is accessible and responsive to all, especially women”(Resolution 1888)
Donate to the UU-UNO so that it can continue to work to end human rights abuses against women in conflict areas and promote their voices as peacebuilders.
CEDAW
The Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is considered as an international bill of rights for women, CEDAW outlines standards for ratifying countries to meet in the treatment and rights of women.
The treaty was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. As of October 1, 2009, 186 countries have ratified the Treaty for the Rights of Women. Among the countries that have not yet ratified it are Sudan, Somalia, Iran and the United States. By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including:
- to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women;
- to establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and
- to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.
Click here for more information and text of the Convention
For more information about CEDAW and the women’s program at the UU-UNO click here!
United Nations Women:
On July 2nd 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution creating the UN ENTITY for Gender Eqaulity and the Empowerment of Women. This new entity, known as “un women”, combines four former UN gender agencies: DAW, UNIFEM, INSTRAW, and OSAGI.
What will UN Women Do?
UN Women is focused on five thematic priorities:
1. Expand women’s voice, leadership and participation
2. End Violence against women
3. Stregthen women’s participation in conflict resolution and peace process
4. Enhance women’s economic empowerment
5. Ensure gender priorities are reflected in national plans and budgets, including capactiy to support CEDAW reporting
UN Women will continue to promote:
1. Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) adopted by the GA in 1979. The USA still fails to adopt the treaty along with Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Nauru, Palau, and Tonga.
2. UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 which adress women’s role in conflict prevention, specifically in 1325 and 1820 which adresses women’s role in conflict prevention, specifically in 1325 sexual-gender based violence and in 1820 sexual violence in conflict situations;
3. Millenium Development Goals (MDG’s) which all 191 Member States have pledged to meet by 2015, UN WOMEN will advocatie for gender equality in each of 8 goals.
