I’ve been working specifically on Women, Peace and Security
issues since 2007. Of all the areas to focus on with regards to women’s rights
I am asked, from time to time, why Women, Peace and Security?
I see women as agents of change. When there is a conflict
that needs a resolution, it is important to bring ALL stakeholders to the
table. Too often women are missing from this table.
As wars rage between governments, rebels and terrorists, and as stakeholders try to stop the conflict, women - whether a rape victim, combatant, refugee,
internally displaced person, parliamentarian, activist, freedom fighter, or
just someone caught up in an armed conflict – women must be a part of the
resolution if it is going to be sustainable. Think about it, if you
don’t have all perspectives considered and acknowledged, and you don’t have an
agreement to commit to a resolution from all stakeholders, resolving conflict
will simply not work.
In 2001 the Security Council, the body of the United Nations
in charge of the maintenance of global peace and security, passed a resolution
explicitly acknowledging, for the first time, the integral role women have in conflict
resolution processes. This is Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. It also acknowledges violence committed against women in
armed conflict as well as the need to address and eliminate it.
SCR 1325 is the first of a suite of resolutions committed to
empowering women to be at the decision-making tables to end conflict.
I want to help empower women and men with conflict resolution skills to transform conflict, peace-build
and eliminate sexual gender-based violence.
Women are the root of communities. Through them communities
grow. Women’s life experiences impact youth, who turn into adults who
contribute to societies that we live in. In armed conflict people’s minds,
spirits, and bodies are broken. Sexual and gender-based violence exacerbates this.
I work on Women, Peace and Security because I have seen how
the voice and perspective of women help transform conflict, help in the healing
process, and contribute to peace-building. I want to support this process.
Through a series of blogs there will be an exploration of the
role women, men, boys and girls have in raising the voice of women with the aim
of contributing to the resolution of conflict in a way that leads to
sustainable, positive change.
There will be an interactive component as the blogs progress so that your voice can be heard. Through the exchange we will see how we all can and do contribute to Women, Peace and Security.
I invited you to leave a comment with your thoughts and stay tuned for more to follow.
There will be an interactive component as the blogs progress so that your voice can be heard. Through the exchange we will see how we all can and do contribute to Women, Peace and Security.
I invited you to leave a comment with your thoughts and stay tuned for more to follow.
