Gopal Chitrakar/REUTERS
Programs Women, Peace & Security
Since 2000, the Security Council has passed four additional resolutions that collectively comprise the Women, Peace and Security agenda: SCRs 1820, 1888, 1889 and 1960. These resolutions strengthened the themes and call to action of SCR 1325 and expanded the Security Council’s commitments to combating sexual violence during conflict.
SCR 1888, passed in 2009, led to the establishment of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict to lead, coordinate and advocate for efforts to end conflict-related sexual violence against women and children and to mobilize action on this critical issue. Margot Wallstrom of Sweden was appointed to this office in 2010. Ms. Wallstrom stated her intention to combat sexual violence in armed conflict through a five-point agenda: ending impunity; protecting and empowering conflict-affected women and girls; strengthening political commitment and leadership; ending the use of rape as a tactic of war and terror; and harmonizing and amplifying the response of the international community.
The Special Representative chairs UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action), a group of 13 UN entities that work together on policy, programming and the creation of a knowledge base aimed at ending sexual violence in conflict. UN Action also includes the new UN entity for the empowerment of women, UN Women. UN Women brings together and expands on the work of four former UN agencies that supported women’s development. It was established in 2010, with the declared intention to more seriously pursue equal rights and protection for women and girls, as well as to support their empowerment. Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, serves as UN Women’s Executive Director.
