United Nations Human Rights Council - WFWPI written statement: 1325 and the rights of women in conflict and post conflict situations

Human Rights Council Fifty-sixth session 18 July–12 July 2024 Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Written statement* submitted by Women’s Federation for World Peace International, a non-governmental organization in general consultative status The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31. [24 May 2024]

* Issued as received, in the language of submission only.

A/HRC/56/NGO/110

1325 and the rights of women in conflict and post conflict situations. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, established in 1995, marked a significant milestone in the global commitment to gender equality. It laid the groundwork for the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 in 2000, which revolutionized the approach to peace and security by emphasizing the importance of women’s participation and the need to address gender-based violence in conflict settings. UNSCR 1325 introduced four key pillars: enhancing women’s participation in decision- making, protecting women from gender-based violence, and ensuring gender sensitivity in relief and recovery efforts. This resolution was a turning point, leading to the adoption of subsequent resolutions, such as UNSCR 1889 in 2009, which further emphasized women’s roles in peace processes and their socio-economic rights.

The integration of gender perspectives in peacebuilding is essential for achieving social justice, legitimacy, inclusion, and accountability. Women’s associations play a crucial role in monitoring these processes, ensuring that gender-sensitive approaches are adopted in post-conflict interventions. Such approaches are vital for sustainable peace and equality, offering opportunities to improve women’s rights and reshape gender dynamics. They also help in identifying the root causes of conflict, including societal norms around masculinity and violence, and in assessing the gendered impact of conflict, such as increased violence against women and their changing roles in society.

Despite the significant progress made by UNSCR 1325 in recognizing women’s vulnerabilities in conflict, its effectiveness is limited by the need for substantial changes in social structures, which hampers the empowerment process for women and the recovery of livelihoods. Post-conflict scenarios present a unique opportunity for social transformation and the advancement of gender equality. However, programs often fail to adequately address the changes in gender roles during and after conflicts. Major challenges in enhancing women’s economic empowerment include facilitating access to resources and enabling control over income for strategic life decisions. Gender-sensitive approaches in post-conflict interventions need to comprehensively assess women’s skills, vulnerabilities, and responsibilities, aiming to dismantle gender discrimination and ensure equitable access to resources.

Moreover, the presence of women in decision-making and political spheres remains insufficient. Economic empowerment is essential for ensuring their effective participation and equality. Without economic stability, women’s ability to make independent social choices and engage in decision-making is compromised.

A critical limitation of UNSCR 1325 is the lack of robust international enforcement mechanisms, which can lead to the marginalization of women’s roles in peace processes and the continuation of violence against them. Additionally, the resolution’s oversight in addressing sexual violence against boys and men in conflict and post-conflict situations highlights the need for a more inclusive approach.

To enhance the effectiveness of UNSCR 1325, a more comprehensive approach should be adopted, including the following recommendations:

1. Address Violence Towards Men and Boys: Expand the scope of the resolution to acknowledge and address violence against men and boys in conflict situations. Recognizing that gender-based violence affects all genders is crucial for a more inclusive approach to peacebuilding.

2. Data Collection: Invest in research and data collection to better understand the impact of conflict on different genders. This data should include qualitative and quantitative information about the experiences of both women and men in conflict and post-conflict situations.

A/HRC/56/NGO/110

3. Ensure Enforcement Mechanisms: Develop robust international and national enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with the resolution. This could include sanctions for non-compliance or incentives for countries that effectively implement gender- sensitive policies in line with UNSCR 1325.

4. Enhance Women’s Empowerment and Participation: Facilitate women’s access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, and encourage their active role in political decision-making. Adopt a feminist perspective in post-conflict efforts to combat gender inequality and power imbalances, while striving to eliminate discrimination and promote peace and gender equality. Recognize and address the diverse experiences of women, influenced by caste, class, and sexual orientation, through an intersectional approach.

5. Foster Global Collaboration: Encourage nations and organizations to share successful strategies and learn from various international experiences in implementing UNSCR 1325. Analyzing both successes and failures across different contexts can enhance understanding and address the resolution’s limitations, leading to more strategic, effective solutions and innovation in peacebuilding and gender equality.

Conflict often reshapes women’s roles, challenging established gender norms and offering chances for societal change. However, post-conflict settings pose challenges; while conflicts may temporarily elevate women’s status, these gains often are not sustained, with women reverting to traditional roles and reinforcing gender hierarchies. The critical question is how to effectively leverage the momentum of post-conflict situations to implement and sustain gender equality. Enhancing this momentum requires gender- sensitive approaches that thoroughly evaluate women’s skills, vulnerabilities, and responsibilities, and create environments that challenge gender discrimination and promote equal access to resources.