UNSCRs on WPS

UNSCR1325 and beyond: the evolving United Nations framework on Women, Peace and Security

 

On 31st October 2000, the UN Security Council approved the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, formally recognizing the vital role played by women in prevention and resolution of conflicts, and the value of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of a lasting peace, international security and sustainable development. Now, more than one decade later, what are the extent and the impact of the efforts to promote the linkage between women, peace and security as a priority and a pillar on which peace processes, post-conflict reconstruction and conflict prevention are based?

 

This section aims to introduce the current scenario of the linkage between  women, peace and security through the basic tools adopted and elaborated at international level by the UN and at National level by single Countries, with some further analysis produced by RESDAL and other actors.

 

Security Council Resolution

1325

(2000)

 

Security Council Resolution

1820

(2008)

 

Security Council Resolution

1888

(2009)

 

Security Council Resolution

1889

(2009)

It addresses the impact of war on women, and acknowledges the vital role women can and should play in conflict management, conflict resolution and sustainable peace.

 

It represents the first UNSCR to recognize sexual violence as tactic of war, and that addressing sexual violence in conflict is a matter of international peace and security, since sexual violence in conflict destroys the basis of a sustainable peace and security, impeding women’s participation and empowerment. It requires to improve the UN’s prevention and protection response to this atrocity, including through the training of peacekeeping personnel dealing with fight against sexual violence as tactic of war.

It is the third UNSCR dealing with women, peace and security agenda and focuses again on sexual violence as tactic of war, urging Member States to take effective steps, also in peacekeeping missions with a comprehensive prevention and response, to halt the use of sexual violence in war. It calls for the appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary General to drive forward response efforts and in particular to provide leadership and coordination of UN efforts to address sexual violence.

 

It expresses the importance of the involvement of women in post-conflict and reconstruction periods and the need to increase the number of women among peace-building and peacekeeping personnel.

 

Security Council Resolution

1894

(2009)

 

Security Council Resolution

1960

(2010)

 

Security Council Resolution

2106

(2013)

 

Security Council Resolution

2122

(2013)

Within the framework of protection of civilians, it recalls the importance to deal with specific measure with sexual violence in armed conflict.

Noting the continuous and rampant use of sexual violence in armed conflict, the 1960 details new tools to fight against conflict-related sexual violence, especially to bring justice to victims, as a listing mechanism of armed perpetrators committing this serious violation of human rights

It represents the fourth UNSCR focused on sexual violence in armed conflict, noting that sexual violence can constitute a crime against humanity or a constitutive act with respect to genocide.

It reaffirms the importance of comprehensive strategies of prevention and response, calling for the implementation of specific roles to ensure a more effective fight against sexual violence, as the Women Protection Advisors.

It explicitly affirms the need to implement an integrated approach to sustainable peace, where women’s participation in all domains is a central element, included the link between disarmament and gender equality. It refers to the need to address root causes of armed conflict and security risks faced by women, and it calls for the provision of multi-sectoral services of assistance for women affected by conflicts.