UN chief pushes for women to play greater role in peace building

September 29, 2009 9:52 pm 

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 30 — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the Security Council to take additional steps to include women in conflict prevention and resolution, according to a report made public here on Tuesday.

Even though violence continues to disproportionally target women and girls, they are often left out of pre- and post-conflict peace building strategies, said Ban in his latest report to the Security Council.

"Most attention continues to focus on women as victims," he said. "Women as active participants in the peace processes remain fragile."

In his report, which reviewed women's roles in conflict prevention and resolution, Ban called on the 15-nation council to "vigorously pursue a strategy" that ensures an increase in women's participation in all peace processes.

He acknowledged that the persistence of discriminative cultural and traditional views about the roles of women in society hampered progress. He also noted that socio-economic factors, including low literacy rates, are also likely to keep many women outside the decision-making process.

But, said Ban, the threat of post-conflict violence remains one of the most persistent obstacles to women's full and equal participation in peace building and reconciliation.

Despite the fact that women experience sexual violence in early recovery situations, their security is rarely a priority in efforts to reform and rehabilitate justice and security systems, he said.

While many elements reflect the reality that women continue to be considered as victims and not as key partners in addressing conflict situations, they should not stop the Security Council nor UN agencies from incorporating women and security into their approaches.

Nations, said Ban, must condemn violations of the rights of women during armed conflict and prosecute those who commit gender- based violence.

The Security Council should require that all country reports to them provide specific information on the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, including where possible, data disaggregated by sex and age, he said. Governments and civil society should work to increase human and financial resources to mainstream a gender perspective in peace and security processes, he added. Departing from the traditional notion that brokering peace only involves the direct parties — mostly men — can offer unique solutions and opportunities.

For example, women can play an important role in the electoral process, an exercise in political reconciliation. In Iraq, the UN emphasized the importance of getting women to the voting booths. As a result, women accounted for 41 percent of the quarter million potential voters who were reached, said Ban.

As soldiers, women also provide crucial services in helping female victims, especially in societies where women are discouraged from reporting sexual violence.

Gender-based violence remains one of the most pernicious consequences of armed conflict, said Ban, noting that it continues to be used as a weapon or war.

Armed conflict threatens the stability and welfare of women and their families and has a severe impact on humanitarian aid. The destruction of hospitals can destroy a woman's access to reproductive health services, making her highly vulnerable to disease and mental anguish after sexual abuse, he said.

The Security Council will address such issues on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will chair the special session at which point members are expected to adopt a resolution to address sexual violence in armed conflict. (PNA/Xinhua)

ALM/ebp

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