í Assignments

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)

Prison population and restructuring of the state are two phrases that begin a theory. With the 70s, the prison world was being groomed in the current state it is in. Though the crime rate was dropping, prison were accumulating numbers, while also inheriting a drug issue and being rejected from employment opportunities (Gilmore, 1999, 172-173). This invented the crisis that begun the cycle of relapse in the prison world, bleeding into the 1980s and 1990s. However, in the 1990s, the crisis was more centered on race, especially anti-Black propaganda (Gilmore, 1999, 174). The prison population was exponentially growing in numbers where black Americans were being incarcerated, compared to their white counterparts. This is the crisis Gilmore discusses, and it is dated back to 1968.
For the African American community, 1968 was a prolific period. Not only does it involve civil rights being a forefront in the American population’s minds, but the Black Panther movement was on an upswing. The idea of Kenyanism, a reversion back to the African roots, was in the air, becoming more of a central idea to the average African American (Gilmore, 1999, 175). An educated African American, suave in politics and culture, is the stark contrast to the prison reality, uneducated and ignorant to current events. However, this is the type of “surplus” the prison world wanted. The prison world realized that to stop this knowledge and growth, they needed ways to discreetly scapegoat the group. This is what we see happening in the 1970s, with accusations of drug problems and crime issues surrounding the African American community.
Now, to resolve the issues of crime and drugs, prison was used as the ultimate incentive. This was the way to “fix” the problem at home (Gilmore, 1999, 177). Thanks to the prison population, a “surplus” was able to happen for the rest of the United States. Instead of having more competition for jobs, houses, cars and other essential expenses, Americans were able to consume without the fear that the media created. Instead, the “crisis” was the reason for the imprisonment, and the imprisonment in return creates the surplus. The surplus was created at the expense of an entire group of the United States, but this was ignored. To have a surplus, the media tricked the American people into concepts that were not true, and because of this false thinking, many individuals were wrongfully imprisoned or misrepresented and labeled as deviant.

This reading by Gilmore was very interesting and shocking to read. I was so surprised to the percentage of people who are in prisons. Nearly 2 million people are locked up in prisons in California. Mostly African-American and Latino men make up the majority of persons who are doing prison time.

The “crisis” started with the moral panic over crime. Young people on the street, people of color (black and brown) out of control. During the 70’s and 80’s drug epidemic exploded. Leaving many families without fathers and husbands to provide for their families economically. This became a social crisis. Gilmore argues and explains that crisis and surplus work hand and hand. This means that the society can reproduce itself as it did before in the past. Through crisis comes struggle and people struggle because they have no other choice.
People who are convicted of crime and have done prison time are subject to a lot of restrictions. Prisoners with records are not eligible for benefit and entitlements (i.e. Food stamps, housing and their right to vote) are taken away. Making people with conviction records lives extremely hard and not much hope for a better life. A lot of convicts would go back and commit new crimes becoming a cycle. California in 1982 planned only to replace small prisons. But instead made room for new “mega prisons” which are built and in use now. The State of California used money raised to buy land and built prisons. Also, California make new laws that guarantee convicts to fill their prisons. The majority of revenue comes from the prison system at an enormous levels. In the US almost 95 per cent are either publicly owned. Making prisoners require to work in the public sectors, there work would pay their own cost and make the state a profit on their free labor. Military Keynesianism is an increasingly building of prison. This military Keynesianism was made after the Great Depression (WWII). Nixon in 1968 explained why so many prisons were built because of the social disorder, rise in crime and drug use.  In the US having almost two million people in prisons.
Lastly, Gilmore counter explanation is about racism and profit off the prisoners free labor. The prison system has an underlying “racism” which is behind the prison industrial complex on working men and women.  The laws must be reformed so that people don’t have to do such long prison times. Also, the US must implement programs (work development, free education) and give convicts more opportunity to get out of these criminal activities. The US must enforce unity and freedom to all people.

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.

Ruth Wilson Gilmore argue that expanding prison population is not helping the people. It is sad to know that USA is the country  has more people incarcerated, and instead  of helping people the system is trying to build more prisons. The main idea of Gilmore’s reading is all about the system and what they are doing? instead of helping, they just building more correctional facilities and spending money that can be use to help the population in so many ways.

During the reading Gilmore gives the cost of prison, and how much they spend to build one. “California has completed twenty two new prisons (1984), the new prisons, PLUS the state’s twelve previously exciting facilities, PLUS four new prisons being planned, PLUS internal expansions and PLUS….” Reading this paragraph make me think in the plus, California is not helping the population is just building more prisons to recruiter more  prisoners and erase the problem by keeping the “bad people” in a prison.

There is a lawyer Bryan Stevenson that is trying to make a difference and created a way to make people see what is happening in our country and what can we do to change the system. He said that slavery still here but with a different name “prisoners”. It is sad to know that the story repeats from enslavement to mass incarceration.

Gilmore also mention the reason why the massive incarceration ” another explanation for the burgeoning prison population is the DRUG epidemic and the treat to public safety posed by the unrestrained and trade of illegal substances”…. that is true people have to survive and some times when poverty hits there is no choice, the only choice is either you use drugs to forget or sell them to try to get out of poverty. Here is when the system just see the problem as a crime, and it has to be punish by taking away the people and just incarcerated like an animal. In California there more african american and latinos incarcerated and every year the percentage is increasing just like I mention before PLUS more prisoner.

If only there is a way to created a system where can solving the problem is not just taking away women or men who commented any kind of crime, is finding a way to help those people not to committed a crime, using the money that is use to build prison, to make more programs, help communities, created more schools, and more jobs just to keep the population a better system.

Globally many corporations have intricate relations with government. The government has an alliance with multiple corporations that is like the slavery arrangement. For instant, prison inmates are working to make commodities valued far more than the $1.00 a day they are paid. For example, most items labeled made in America has been made in prison. Major corporations have contracts with the state to create products. The state has found a way to encourage business in the prison complex at the lowest cost. Most contracts consist of space rented or purchased. Other contracts involved the expansion and construction of the prison complex. Also, prison laborers covered the commodities or objects made. The wealth created has allowed the state to continuously dispense labor below the minimum wage. The hegemony determined that inmates that are incarcerated must product physical work which settles America’s financial debt. The laborer’s make license plates. repair roads, and make clothing among other things. Where can you find factory work in America? Factory work in developing nations are done for minimal pay. America has shifted their out of the country. The work is cost effective when there is no factory. America has no factories because they have sent their work to third world countries. yet, the purpose of permitting inmates to finish work was all in the commercial trading of a commodity. The buying and selling of prison labor was ensconce. America had established government incentives to prison facilities.
The globalization remedy extended to all parts of the world. The world crisis was resolved. Prison labor solved major economic problems. Although individuals were not imprisoned based on deviant behavior. The state no longer represented respectable behavior. The state has linked prison growth to social order. So, prisoner’s labor consists of any product that has been made in the facility at a cost-effective price of $1.00 a day for labor. Prison population has been established based on economics. Brown, black, yellow and red individuals were quickly sent to prison. Whether they had a minor or major problem with the law they were sent to prison. Strategically law makers imposed stiffer sentences to individuals because there was a reduction in crime.
The state must stop implementing contracts with corporations for labor beneath the minimum wage. All individual must work for a living with the dignity. Whether an individual is executive of the company or the maintenance man the state must employ all individuals. Employment must not be shifted to individuals whereas minorities find other ways to make money.