Women Peace and Security

On October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed SCR Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. This historic resolution called on countries that are members of the UN to acknowledge the distinct impact of armed conflict on women and to recognize women’s vital role in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peace-building. Women have a unique perspective and specific set of concerns during conflict, as disarmament processes begin and reconciliation unfolds. The resolution galvanized the international community, UN agencies, member states and nongovernmental organizations alike to pay increased attention to women’s and girls’ needs during conflict and postconflict periods, as well as to their contributions in stabilizing communities and fostering reconciliation.

Following the passage of 1325, the Security Council passed four resolutions, 1820, 1888, 1889 and 1960, recalling the themes and call to action of 1325 and expanding the Security Council’s commitments in regard to combating sexual violence during war. SCR 1888, passed in 2009 is particularly notable in that it 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 was appointed to this office in 2010 and has 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.

Since 2000, 33 countries have created National Action Plans detailing their strategies for implementing SCR 1325. The United States released its plan in December 2011. As a member of the U.S. Civil Society Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, the Women's Refugee Commission contributed to an expert statement on why a U.S. plan is so important and how it could be most effective.

Momentously, in October 2011, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to three women peace activists—President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, peace activist Leymah Gbowee, also of Liberia, and pro-democracy campaigner Tawakul Karman of Yemen. The Nobel Committee’s announcement directly linked the work of these activists to SCR 1325. Read more.

In addition to this specific work on the women, peace and security agenda, in 2009, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, to head UN Women, the UN's new entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women. By bringing together and expanding on the work of four distinct UN agencies that supported women’s development, the UN signalled its intention to more seriously pursue equal rights and protection for women, as well as to support their empowerment.

Women’s Refugee Commission Contributions

As a founding member of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, the Women’s Refugee Commission was instrumental in making SCR 1325 a reality. Over the past 11 years, we have continued to push for full implementation of the resolution, as well as a broadening of the resolution’s impact. We work to hold UN member countries responsible for implementing the resolution and to ensure that refugees and internally displaced women and girls are given a voice in the peace process.

Despite the achievements seen to date, progress by the international community has been ad hoc and often limited to policy documents rather than lived reality on the ground. Read “UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: High Hopes, Unmet Expectations,” our reflections on the 10th anniversary of SCR 1325, to learn more. This year’s debate is covered in our blog post “An Inside Look at Women, Peace and Security.” For detailed recommendations on actions the Security Council could take right now, read the NGO Working Group’s November 2011 Monthly Action Points.

As Shreen Abdul Saroor, a 2008 Women's Refugee Commission Voices of Courage Award recipient directly affected by war in her home country of Sri Lanka, said, “During [the] 2002 peace process in Sri Lanka there was not a single woman at the main negotiating table and if…there will be a peace process in my country we need to have 50 percent women at the main table...With the help of the Women’s Refugee Commission and other dedicated organizations I have great hope that these ambitions could be achieved.”

The Women's Refugee Commission is working to ensure that the UN and its members fully support and recognize the work of women like Shreen, who are the key to putting their communities and countries back on the path to peace and security.