UN conference room.
UN Framework on Gender and Disarmament
In this video you will learn about:
- The UN World Conferences on Women
- The Beijing Platform for Action
- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
- Women, Peace and Security Agenda
- UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions
Four UN World Conferences on Women
The first UN World Conference on Women was convened after the Commission on the Status of Women called for such a Conference to take place at the same time as the International Women’s Year in 1975. The first conference laid the groundwork for the subsequent conferences. Each conference attracted more Member States and civil society representatives, starting with 133 governments present in 1975 to 189 countries represented in 1995. The fourth Conference was followed by a series of five-year reviews.
1975 - Mexico City, Mexico
- brought global attention to womenʼs issues and interlinked goals of equality, development and peace
- 133 member states and over 6000 civil society participants
- 1975 proclaimed by UN General Assembly International Womenʼs Year
- adopted world plan of action for implementation of the objectives of the international womenʼs year – guidelines for advancement through 1985, including: opportunities to increase intellectual potential and resources to participate in political life – maximum participation of women as well as men in all fields
1980 - Copenhagen, Denmark
- reviewed progress made on attaining the goals of the first conference – focus on employment, health and education
- 145 member states and over 10,000 people attended NGO Forum
- highlighted political divisions and disagreements
- action plan made references to disarmament, including “Women should be equitably represented at all levels, especially the senior levels, in delegations to international bodies, conferences and committees dealing with political, economic and legal questions, disarmament and other similar issues.”
1985 - Nairobi, Kenya
- reviewed and appraised achievements of the first UN Decade for Women
- 157 member states and 12,000 people attended NGO Forum
- adopted Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women focused on measures on gender equality and women’s participation in peace and development efforts
- highlighted key role women can play on disarmament issues, including in nuclear disarmament
1995 - Beijing, China
- advanced women’s rights in the realms of poverty, education, health, decision-making and violence against women
- 189 member states and over 30,000 people attended NGO Forum
- adopted Beijing Declaration – Platform for Action focused on 12 critical areas of concern
- increased international commitment to advancement of women, calling for a gender perspective and outlining specific strategies in policies and programs at the national, regional and international level
- linked disarmament and non-proliferation of WMD to women’s empowerment
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
1979 - CEDAW
adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and stressed the importance of women’s participation and leadership in all contexts, including disarmament.
… the full and complete development of a country, the welfare of the world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields
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1992 - General Recommendation 19
Expanded the Convention to include the obligation to prevent, investigate and punish violence against women.
2013 General Recommendation 30
Expanded the Convention by specifying the need to protect women from all forms of discrimination, especially related to women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations. This moved the agenda forward in enhancing women’s rights in conflicts.
2017 - General Recommendation 35
Provided further guidance towards the elimination of gender-based violence against women, updating General Recommendation 19.
Beijing Platform for Action – 12 Critical Areas of Concern
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Platform for Action identifies 12 strategic objectives and actions to advance women and gender equality. The 12 critical areas of concern offer an important framework for governments, civil society and the public at large to focus their work and commitments to promote change and advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Regular five-year review cycles help maintain political will and sustain momentum to achieving these objectives.
The 12 Critical Areas of Concern are:
- women and the environment
- women in power and decision-making
- the girl child
- women and the economy
- women and poverty
- violence against women
- human rights of women
- education and training of women
- institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women
- women and health
- women and the media
- women and armed conflict
UN Women: The Story of Resolution 1325
UN Resolution 1325 was a landmark resolution as it was the first UN Security Council resolution to acknowledge women’s experiences in conflict and peace processes to advance the international peace and security agenda. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on 31 October 2000.
The video produced by UN Women and kindly provided for use in this learning unit, offers background on the events that transpired leading to the adoption of this monumental resolution and the significance the resolution brought to the women, peace and security agenda and the international community at large.
Key Takeaways from UNSCR 1325 – Text from the Resolution
Participation
- Urges Member States to ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions.
- Urges the Secretary-General to appoint more women as special representatives and envoys.
- Further urges the Secretary-General to seek to expand the role and contribution of women in the United Nations field-based operations.
Relief and Recovery
- Encourages all those involved in the planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration to consider the different needs of female and male ex-combatants and to consider the needs of their dependents.
- Calls on all actors involved, when negotiating and implement peace agreements, to adopt a gender perspective including, inter-alia:
- The special needs of women and girls during repatriation and resettlement and for rehabilitation, reintegration and post-conflict reconstruction.
Protection and Prevention
- Calls on all parties to armed conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence.
- Calls upon all parties to armed conflict to respect fully international law applicable to the rights and protection of women and girls, especially as civilians.
Source: UNSCR 1325
UNSCR 1325 and Subsequent Resolutions
2000: SCRF 1325
- First resolution to recognize the unique impact of conflict on women and their role in preventing and resolving conflict. Calls for equal participation in security and peace-making efforts.
- Establishes the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda item in the Security Council.
- Specifically calls for the different needs of men and women ex-combatants to be considered in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) processes.
- Calls for mine-clearance and mine-awareness programmes to consider the needs of women and girls.
2008: UNSCR 1820
- Recognizes the detrimental impact conflict-related sexual-violence has on peace processes and international peace and security in general.
- Prohibits amnesty for sexual violence.
- Calls on consultations with women in and prevention of sexual violence in peacekeeping tactics and mediation methods, including in DDR processes.
2009: UNSCR 1888
- Stresses the need for the protection of women from (sexual) violence, including in DDR processes.
- Notes the promotion and empowerment of women and support for women organizations and networks as essential for peace.
2009: UNSCR 1889
- Requests that UN Secretary-General to appoint gender advisors to UN missions and ensure that UN bodies collect gender-disaggregated data in post-conflict situations.
- Reiterates the importance of women’s representation in peace processes and institutions and to consider their needs, especially in DDR processes.
- Introduces a system for monitoring and reporting on WPS progress.
2010: UNSCR 1960
Asks conflicting parties to implement and enforce time-bound and specific commitments to address sexual violence, such as investigations.
2013: UNSCR 2106
- Affirms the participation of women in DDR processes is important to prevent sexual violence.
- Confirms the need to provide support to women in conflict and post-conflict situations.
2013: UNSCR 2122
- A more comprehensive resolution of those making up the WPS agenda. Stresses importance of improved quality and regularity of WPS reporting.
- Introduces a roadmap for more systematic implementation of commitments on the WPS agenda.
- Calls for strengthening the commitment to consult and include women directly in peace processes.
- Emphasizes the need for full and effective participation of women in DDR processes, and in efforts to combat and eradicate illicit transfer and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
- Acknowledges the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and its Article 7.4.
2015: UNSCR 2242
- Links between women’s participation in efforts to prevent and resolve conflict and the sustainability of peace and security.
- Includes some recommendations from the Global Study on 1325 that was commissioned by the UN Secretary General.
- Introduces a commitment to integrate gender analysis in the context of violent extremism.
- Encourages women to participate in the design and implementation of SALW control efforts.
2016: UNSCR 2272
Discusses sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations.