5 Assignment 08

UN Resolution 1325, unanimously passed by the UN Security Council on October 31, 2000, is centered around the security of women and girls during war and the post-war rehabilitation period. Authors Felicity Hill, Mikele Aboitiz and Sarah Poehlman-Doumbouy write glowingly about the ambitious aims of Resolution 1325, yet are relatively vague about the details – horrific as they no doubt are – of the victimization of women and girls when the inherent lawlessness and chaos of war takes hold.

The objectives of the resolution, as per the authors of the essay, range from a basic acknowledgement that women and girls suffer a specific kind of violence during war-time to providing women (who have been victims of gender-based violence) a voice at Security Council meetings to providing sensitivity trainings to key actors in war zones as well as to aim for a more gender-balanced Security Council.

This UN resolution – like so many other UN resolutions – has set some lofty goals for itself but is relatively meaningless because there is no way to actually force its implementation. It is hard to argue that demanding accountability from countries involved armed conflict should pay special attention to the protection and security of women is a bad thing. But, if it is merely words written on paper, then it’s hard to argue that it’s too much of a good thing, either.

When one considers that the US military which is involved directly or indirectly in nearly every armed conflict in the world (currently, the US is bombing 7 different countries, though, few Americans are aware of it) also has a notoriously (and shockingly) high incidence of sexual violence against women in its own ranks, it’s difficult to imagine that “sensitivity training” is going to do much when it comes to the people that the soldiers are supposed to consider the enemy. Beyond this, it is well-known that the US is the most powerful country in the Security Council and, thus, it is nearly impossible to keep the US in check.

I think the main implications of a UN resolution like this is providing political cover for the ongoing violence women, girls, and, really, everyone else endures during armed conflict – fights that are seldom waged for the benefit of the vast majority of society. The other implication that I see is that there could be some headway in terms of more gender-balance within the security council and tacit acknowledgment of women’s particular suffering. But, this, too, serves as political cover.

In the article “Nongovernmental Organization” Role in the Buildup and Implementation of security Council Resolution 1325 by Feliaty Hill, Mikele Aboitz, and Sara Poehlman-Doumbouya describes very clear the Resolution 1325 and its purpose. The Resolution was made to stop the maltreatment towards women and girls specially during war. It’s very clear that women’s voices, needs, problems, and ideas weren’t supported or heard by those in power, who are of course man. During war women and girls suffered the most due to the maltreatment, violations, sexual abuse, and gender based violence. Women and girls were targeted at the highest rates during war by armed group man. It gets more interesting when a little percent of man is helping to empower the Resolution 1325 and women are finally realizing that they deserve; equality, development, peace, and the urgent of others recognizing the significant role women plays in society. The implementation of Resolution 1325 was to ensure that women’s group receive a fair deal that consists on concrete, practical financial, and technical support. The Resolution 1325 simply represented women’s roles in society and protection. Going back to the beginning of the article, there was an interesting part; Sanam Naraghi – Anderlini caught my attention on what she believed. From my understanding, she basically said another document defending women’s rights and needs. However, she believed it was another document out in the world that have 50% of working or 50% of not working. At least it’s another document add it to the list that might help in the future. The Resolution 1325 was structure by three steps. First, the ideas and language in this document were passed through the UN system, which means that it directly occurs to the US system. Second, the international and grassroots and nongovernmental provided historically effects, information and analysis to the Security Council. Third, the DAW, UNIFEM, and NGO was possible and there was success due to the synergistic relationship that had taken many decades to establish. These steps were what helped the elements identify the experiences and expertise of women into the Security Council. In conclusion, in order to have results from the Resolution 1325 actions needs to be taken, not just words. The international community must ensure that women are included in every level of peace and security from all points of views. In the 2000, the doors were open enough to help women and put them into a Security Council debate for the first time. The resolution 1325 has to ensure the door remains open permanently.

In the article “ Role in the buildup and Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 by Felicity Hill, Aboitiz ad Sara Poehlman, the security council resolution 1325 ensured that women were included at every level of peace and security and protect them from conflict. The security council protected women and children from rape and other gender base of violence. They also recognized women’s roles as agents of peace and involved them in peace building in war zones. This provided a tour for women to become equal parts of the fence for the protection of women and girls during conflict in United Nations missions.

The resolution 1325 lies in the United Nations system. It was built on a document passed through the United Nations. Non-government so efforts have provided information to the United Nations. The security council and DAW, UNIFEM, and NGO cooperated with one another to create a relationship. This helped to bring women into the security council. The CSW debated the implication of the Beijing platform for action. This document resulted in the world conference on women and devoted it to women and conflict. The ambassador of Bangladesh presided over the security council and encouraged women to gather you need for their involvement in all matters. Women were brought into the Security Council to discuss the roles of women in conflict and peace and to help gather support from the other security council members on the issue.

Women’s participation in the peace agreement pushed a special session in the security and women peace and security. Meetings were initiated to focus on gender issues and advancement of women. The protection of responsibilities increase the knowledge of women’s response to violent conflict and peace building. And provided lessons about Roles of women in proconflict and reconstruction for women initiatives.

The reading of “Nongovernmental Organizations’ Role in the Buildup and Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325” brings into light Resolution 1325, which was passed on October 31, 2000.  A resolution decision that was place by the United Nations to tackle upon specific matters of importance that consisted on the preservation from injury of children (girls) and women during an ambient usage of mass weaponry; along with safety from the characterized negativity portrayed in times of conflict carried on by force of weapons, there also was an insistence in seeking cessation of violence and a deep urgency in requiring precautions taken during struggles of aggression.

Prior to the Resolution 1325, there weren’t positions given to women who could be taken into account for arranging terms of protection during periods of time where hostility and struggle was at its highest.  Despite of not having a formal female representation sounding out the points of trouble during difficult combative conditions of which worried many women, the opportunity did not cease from hearing revealing instances of whom women endured particular wicked behavior.

From voices of women whom shared their affected hardships vocally, emerged a collective perception from the NGO’s to bring into existence a set of detailed writings of which suggested to have a safe plan of action that would protect women and girls locally and nationally and internationally as well. Not only that, but to also have women engaged in cooperating in the makings of an arrangement that could end hostility, setting forth a state of tranquility, and sitting in meetings where they can assemble to dialogue the guards against guerrilla warfare.

The intentions of NGO’s effort in producing a result that meant a safeguard for women during the agonizing occasions of carnage, agitated the means of communications to publicize diligently in order for all NGO’s to work collaboratively in achieving the goal. It’s as if for once, after several ground proofing personal presences having expressed their accounts of the cruel condemned actions, that not-for-profit organizations have transformed it to be more obvious and a manifestation of which should be reckoned upon.

Once the independent institutions began to role the issues at hand, the following year of October 31, 2001, the openness of allowing women in being part of written agreements was a persistent movement. It allowed women to even further attain a voice in coming up with strategies for future events that pertained about aftermaths of unfortunate conflicts where females were the subjects of cruel inhumanity.

After reading the article of Non governmental organizations ‘Role in the Build up and Implementation of Security council Resolution 1325 by Felicity Hill, Mikele Aboitz and Sara Poehlman, I understood that the reason behind the Resolution that was pass on October 31, 2000, was due to the stress of the importance on issue on the gender condition towards women, especially towards women, peace and security during war time and prevention towards women and girls suffering in armed conflict especially from rape and other form of gender based violence. Because women issue had not been mixed in the Security Council activities, nor did the council recognize women’s roles as agents (representative) of peace, all of that would change with the Resolution 1325. The resolution was a tool that allowed women to become equal participants in the meetings and negotiations towards the topic of protection of women and girls during armed conflict and gender sensitivity in all UN mission including peacekeeping.

During the CSW(Commission of the Status of Women) the ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury of Bangladesh leaded towards the Security Council, he would state on March 8, 2000 in his gathering discussing the issues on women, the inclusion of women in ‘all level’ of decision making, the process of gender and age specific measures in conflict situations especially for refugees and a displaced person and resource to empower women and the necessities for peace keeping. He would also inform for sessions of the security council to discuss these roles of women in armed conflict and peace, requesting support from the fourteen other security councils. The Women and Armed Conflict Caucus would also make suggestions/recommendations to the Security Council, such as command a report or document on the requirements for the protection of women and girls in armed conflict and to “increase the participation of women of all ages in conflict prevention, peace keeping, peace king, and peace build” (p.1257), and more that would included equality with men.

Yet still many task had to be implemented and put into operation, in 2001 the security council would gather once again with the women’s NGO in the Arria Formula meeting, there it was stressed that “women still account for the largest number of victims in situations of armed conflict and the smallest decision makers” (p. 1261), for the instance the U.S attack own Afghanistan, and the limited role women had been able to act in that region. Prior to that meeting the security council would issue a presidential statement for its strong support for increasing women’s role in decision making towards to conflict prevention and resolution. when it came towards the issue on empowerment, the security council would “urge” (instead of demanding) state members to double their efforts on nominating women candidates as special representative towards to peace missions.

It just still seems that words in this article are based more on urging, and suggesting, and reconsidered towards the importance of women’s needs in such conflict, gender based condition.

United Nations Resolution 1325, as described in the essay “Nongovernmental Organizations’ Role in the Buildup and Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325” written by Hill, Aboitiz, and Poehlman-Doumbouya, builds on language and resolutions already established by the United Nations, with the goal of protecting women and girls during times of conflict and including women in conflict resolution and peace keeping missions.  The resolution identifies that civilians, women and children in particular, are those that are most likely to be affected during times of conflict and stresses the need for protection of women and children under human rights law. It also notes the importance of the role women should play in conflict revolution and maintaining peace and the need for implementing gender and culture sensitivity training for peacekeeping missions.

Specifically, the resolution calls for equal representation of women in the decision-making process and accordingly, a plan to implement a strategy to do so. It calls for training guidelines on the protection and inclusion of women, increased funding for training, adherence to accords such as the Geneva Convention in regards to protecting women and children, consideration of women and children in future measures and resolutions, and studies on the impact of conflict on women and children. While the above certainly sounds well-meaning and useful, we must consider how the resolution moves from words on paper to action in real life.

Reading Hill et al.’s essay, it is difficult to ascertain whether the resolution has been successful in protecting women’s rights and safety. The authors speak to actions taken by nongovernmental organization’s (NGOs) roles in crafting the measure and later, working towards implementing the resolution. There were hearings, annotated essays and books recorded, testimonies, forums, dispersions of copies of the resolutions, panels, and working lunches. Again, this looks good on paper and allows academics to flex their intellectual muscles, but how do we determine the real-life consequences of the resolution?

One result is the inclusion of women’s voices and this certainly should not be underestimated. The essay does note the inclusion of gender provisions in reports on UN peacekeeping missions in a number of localities, including Afghanistan, East Timor, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It also mentions that the resolution has resulted in the inclusion of women in the reconstruction talks of both Afghanistan and the DRC. But missing from the essay is the result of these inclusions. Was input from and regarding women considered and put into action? What affect did the gender provisions have on the reports of peacekeeping missions?

Most likely, as is often the case with human rights, progress on this issue is slow moving and it will be a while until we see complete inclusion and consideration of women across all areas of conflict resolution, peace keeping, and rights protection. That being said, starting the conversation and officially resolving to include and protect women is an important first step.

In the article “ Role in the buildup and Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 by Felicity Hill, Aboitiz ad Sara Poehlman, they explain to us how the creation of Resolution 1325. On October 23, 2000, the Security Council of The United Nations discussed and adopted a resolution called 1325. The principal goal was to recognize the role of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and rebuilding war-torn societies. This resolution also indicates the importance of women have in the society and their participation having equality and being fully involved in all initiatives aimed at the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.
According to the article before this resolution, women’s were not considered agents of peace but this changed with the resolution 1325.

There has been a lot of efforts to ensure this resolution is implementing, for example, the NGOS Working group of women, peace, and Security to ensure this resolution mention how in one of the meetings in the Arria Formula meeting some countries gave their testimonies about crimes during a war. One of the testimonies was about The ”Tokyo Tribunal on Japanese military sexual slavery” Where the Japanese military used women as sex slaves. They called “comfort women” and this was during World War II. This shows us how women are not just sexual abuse but were not considered part of peacebuilding at that moment on the contrary women were considered “war weapons”. All these testimonies of Japanese women and women from other countries show how innocent people as women and also children were affected by war and how important is to have protection for them. “The public hearing encouraged the ongoing work of women for genuine justice, peace, and an end to impunity”. Pg.1263)

I am not clear if this resolution is being fulfilled in its entirety in all countries because this is the first time I heard of this resolution but according to the article, the author mentions” the demand for women to be included in decision-making and in peace and security negotiations has had some effect. Women have been included in the talks on the reconstruction of Afghanistan and in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue”. The most important thing is this resolution was build to protect women in during and after a war. It clear that during a war the most affected are women and children and the purpose this resolution is to ensure women have a role in taking decisions about prevention and peacebuilding.

The purpose of Resolution 1325 is to acknowledge the impact of war on women and girls. Resolution 1325 calls for the adoption of gender mainstreaming which takes into consideration the unique needs of women and girls in war torn countries while also recognizing the importance of women’s  roles  and experiences in post war reconstruction, peace and justice.

Resolution is 1325 is a  document or recommendation that requires countries at war to protect women and girls against gender-based violence and prevent rights violations. This document is attempting to recognize that the most affected and impacted groups of people during conflict are women and children. These groups are targeted at higher rates in times of war by armed groups.

Two of the main areas that Resolution 1325 is bringing attention to is sexual violence against women and girls in countries of conflict and to increase the involvement and participation in peace building, security and other political institutions. Despite this resolution being based in international law that explicitly recognizes  “gender-specific conditions and acts that women experience in war”(p.1255) the resolution is facing difficulty being implemented even though  the document has a  Special Representative of the Secretary General  to advance  the issues covered in Resolution 1325. Members of the UN are supposed to follow the decisions made by the security council. Countries represented in the United Nations are supposed to be implementing the aim of the resolution.

I don’t think many nations are interested in implementing the resolution or are not committed to it because there appears to be no accountability or penalties for countries that do not implement it. I think that women are still being presented as victims even within the language of this resolution because it mainly emphasizes the  violence and other issues women face before, during and after war but does not seem to look at the other ways in which women’s rights are violated or ignored in the absence of war. I have never heard of this resolution and I am sure that I am not alone so the fact that society or countries in general may not even know about Resolution 1325 is another challenge to its implementation.

While the Resolution does bring awareness of the effects of war on women and children and how those effects differ from men’s there are still countries presently in conflict that are not utilizing women in peace building and do  not have women in positions of political power where they can effect change. Women, children and civilians are still being targeted by military groups  and women and girls are still becoming victims of various forms of violence from trafficking to rape and their rights continue to be violated and unprotected. Women still account for the largest group affected by war but there are still not enough women represented in the policy making and decisions that impact them (living free from violence, protection against gendered forms of violence,  lack of social justice and resources)

In the reading “Nongovernmental Organizations’ Role in the Buildup and Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325,” there are examples of women’s efforts for reformation and acknowledgement. Though it is no secret that women have, and continue to fight for inclusion and protection, the shocking part of this reading, for me at least, is how long implementation has taken. “In 2000, the doors were open just wide enough for women to squeeze into a Security Council debate for the first time. Concerned women and men must now act on the words of Resolution 1325 to assure that the door remains open permanently,” (p. 1265). The actuality of ideas and languages associated with the resolution dates back as far as 1945, and inequality of women can be traced back even further, and yet, the year 2000, only seventeen years ago, is when the fight was barely fitted in with public and legal considerations.

Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury of Bangladesh assisted in the gathering and encouragement of women’s need for inclusion and role in matters regarding peace and equality development during the Commission on the Status of Women by stating it to the Security Council on March 8th, 2000. He also pushed for a session with the Security Council and encouraged amalgamation between women and support from members of that council, they could achieve this and more. Eventually, after several recommendations from The Women and Armed Conflict Caucus for protection of both female children and women, increased participation and inclusion in peace and security matters, sensitivity and advisement of gender and cultural issues, etc., the Security Council agreed to support two suggestions. First, participation in peace agreements would be motivated, and second, there would be a push for a special session regarding women, peace and security.

Neither of these recommendations seem to be concrete guarantees of anything, considering that they agreed to an encouragement of inclusion and motive to help conduct a special session. Though their efforts did lead to somewhat of a motion, women’s placement in these nongovernmental organizations have not been of full implementation during modern times– where obvious inequality regarding stereotype threats, social position and gender acknowledgement, and differential compensations in a workforce entirety are still evident. How could it though? The year 2000 is a modern time in itself.

Resolution 1325 was the adopted resolution of women’s voice and decision-making being admissible regarding issues of peace negotiations, security, and conflict prevention. Regarding implementation, a presidential statement was read by Brian Cowen that “reaffirmed its strong support for increasing women’s role in decision making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution,” (p. 1261). The second Arria Formula hearing on gender justice contained testimonies that led to an “encouraged the ongoing work of women for genuine justice, peace, and an end to impunity,” (p. 1262). In relation to the protection of women during times of war, this implementation of testimonies, personal experiences, and women speaking on being used as war weapons, do serve as an example of protection and recognition. Also, panels were sponsored, as well as video screenings, on women’s insights regarding international issues and peacemaking, which ultimately allows them to have a say in womens and girls’ protection matters in cases of war conflicts.

Due Sunday, April 2nd, by midnight. Word count: 400 words. Please make sure everything is in your own words. If you paraphrase, make sure to include the proper citation.

In their essay, authors Felicity Hill, Mikele Aboitiz, and Sarah Poehlman-Doumbouy describe Resolution 1325 passed by the United Nations Security Council on October 31, 2000. In your own words, describe this resolution as well as its possible implications for the protection of women and girls during times of war.