From Kathy Taylor, Gender Specialist, Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office, UNFPA
Women, Peace and Security
Women are at the forefront of peace efforts. Despite the inherent risks and difficulties they face and endure, women - individually, in groups and in formal organizations - demonstrate extraordinary resilience and commitment to sustaining peace and normalcy in crisis settings. They are active leaders and often the first group of stakeholders to publicly demand a space in peace negotiations and reconciliation efforts. With limited resources, they seek to work with both state and non-state actors to build awareness and understanding of human rights, protection of civilians and participate in peace processes. However, time and again, women’s daily contributions to peace – both politically and in the humanitarian sphere, their stories of survival and protection of more vulnerable people (the young, the elderly and the sick) – are ignored.
UN Security Council Resolution 1325 is rooted in the premise that women’s participation in and contributions to the peace-building processes will improve the chances of attaining viable and sustainable peace. It is also rooted in the knowledge that gender equality itself is a source of sustainable peace. This resolution acknowledges that VAW is a gross violation and threat to peace and security.
UNFPA adopts multi-sectoral, holistic approaches to address women, peace and security issues, to combat various forms of violence and in establishment of systems for coordination of response efforts. Furthermore, UNFPA addresses the impact of war and conflict on women and recognizes the need to develop leadership capabilities of women to contribute to conflict prevention as well as conflict resolution and sustainable peace efforts. UNFPA’s programme activities under Security Council Resolution 1325, 1820 and the other 3 related Resolutions take place in both humanitarian, post-conflict and development settings under the themes of Prevention, Protection, Participation, Data Collection and Analysis and Development of Institutional Capacities. UNFPA will continue to expand its partnership with country’s governments and civil society to realize the goals as stated under SCR 1325 and the related Resolutions. Our contributions in this area are a major part of our leading role within the UN System in line with our commitment on achieving the MDGs, the ICPD and Beijing Conference goals, and various international human rights instruments.
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