WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM
1325 PEACEWOMEN E-NEWS

The PeaceWomen team is now providing a biweekly newsletter giving
up-to-date information on Security Council Resolution 1325. The
PeaceWomen team will describe current efforts of women on the ground,
the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, United Nations
Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Division for the Advancement of
Women (DAW), Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and
Advancement of Women, Friends of Women, Peace and Security,
Department of PeaceKeeping Operations (DPKO), and other relevant
sources.

The highlighting feature of this newsletter includes an analysis of
resolution 1325 and its implementation worldwide. The 1325 news
service will raise the visibility, maintain the momentum and keep all
relevant parties informed of others' endeavors. Subscribed members
will be encouraged to contribute any relevant information, events, or
documents specifically related to Security Council Resolution 1325.
The PeaceWomen is a project of the Women's International League for
Peace and Freedom. Please visit us at http://www.peacewomen.org. We
apologize for any cross-posting initially.

This Edition of PeaceWomen E-News features:
1. Current 1325 e-News
2. Analysis of 1325
3. Campaigns and Petitions
4. UN news/documents
5. Resources on Women, Peace and Security
6. Calendar Events
7. Featured PeaceWomen Contact

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1. CURRENT 1325 E-NEWS

April 30th, 2002: On-line Gender Training
Minister Bill Graham announced at the last plenary meeting of the
Canadian Committee on Women, Peace and Security (April 30th), the
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs with the UK Department for
International Development have developed an on-line training course
on gender for military and civilian personnel involved in peace
support operations. The web site was designed by Ottawa-based firm,
Zed Communications. http://www.dfaitmaeci.gc.ca/genderandpeacekeeping/

MAY 24, 2002: International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament
Isis-Women's International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE) joins
women who network for peace and justice all over the world to
celebrate this day and reflect on its implications. We commend our
government on the efforts it has made towards disarmament in the
country, and for being part of the International Action Network on
Small Arms to control the flow of small arms, as well as create
awareness about their dangers. Read Further:
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/may/May24.html

May 30th, 2002: Gender Representation in the ICC
The 10th and final session of the Preparatory Commission will be held
from 1-12 July 2002. Government delegates at the last PrepCom (April
2002) began negotiating rules of procedure that will govern the
nomination and election of judges, prosecutor and deputy prosecutors.
There seemed to be less real commitment at the Ninth session to carry
forward the gender mainstreaming mandates of the Rome Statute when it
comes to the elections of judges and other posts. The ICC will be the
first international institution of the 21st century and it is time,
that women be accorded a presence in such institutions on an
equitable footing. Read Further: http://www.iccwomen.org

For More News please go to: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/newsindex.html

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2. ANALYSIS OF 1325

SECRETARY GENERAL'S REPORT ON WOMEN AND ARMED CONFLICT

Security Council Resolution 1325 adopted on 31 October 2000 called
for the Secretary-General to carry out a study on the impact of armed
conflict on women, adolescent girls, and girl children, the role of
women in peace-building and the gender dimensions of peace processes
and conflict resolution. For this purpose, the Secretary-General and
the office of the Assistant Secretary-General on Gender Issues have
engaged expert consultants and a taskforce, including DAW, UNHCR,
UNDP, DPA, OHCHR, UNICEF, and the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace
and Security, to examine the issues. The final study is expected in
September and should touch on various elements raised in Resolution
1325 such as, international humanitarian and human rights law, women
in peace processes and peace building, peacekeeping operations,
humanitarian response to armed conflict, reconstruction and
rehabilitation, recommendations for policy and action. This results
of this study will go to the Security Council and be made available
to all Member States of the United Nations.

INDEPENDENT EXPERT REPORT ON WOMEN AND ARMED CONFLICT

Elisabeth Rehn and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, were appointed by UNIFEM to
produce an Independent Expert Assessment on the Impact of Armed
Conflict on Women and Women's Role in Peace Building. Their report
will be available in September, 2002. Countries visited by the
experts were East Timor, Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Israel, occupied Palestinian territory, Guinea, Sierra Leone and
Liberia.

During their visits, the Experts heard widespread accounts of
violence against women. The Experts heard that women and girls were
reportedly raped both by government and rebel forces. They were
attacked in their homes, in their communities, or while fleeing for
safety. Women who fled from violent groups recounted story after
story of trying to hide their daughters to get them to safety. But as
refugees fell into the hands of rebels or government soldiers, no
woman or young girl was exempt from violence. For example, it is
estimated that 94 % of households surveyed had at least one family
member sexually abused in the past 10 years in the Mano River Region.

Displaced women in camps testified to the Independent Experts that
adolescent girls were specifically targeted, because they were
believed to be virgins and therefore free of HIV/AIDS. Older women
were not spared, either. Pregnant women had their legs spread and
their wombs punctured with sticks or guns. Even after finding refuge
in villages and towns, or in camps for displaced persons, these women
were again violated by fellow refugees, by the military that were
supposed to protect them and, as is being currently investigated, by
humanitarian and peacekeeping personnel. Although the fate of
children born of rape is not known, a large number have been born.
The Experts also observed the wholly inadequate provision of
reproductive health services and reports of a large number of unsafe
"backstreet" abortions. The Experts also heard reports that many
women and girls were abducted into sexual slavery. These have not
been consensual relationships. Some of the abducted women managed to
escape, only to be eventually rejected or treated with suspicion and
disdain when reunited with their families. Others, including those
addicted to drugs, chose to remain with their abductors who, in
essence, became their families, providing drugs, food and shelter.

Despite the devastating effect of conflict on women in war-affected
countries, women have demonstrated enormous leadership and courage in
mobilizing support networks for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
The work of the Mano River Women's Peace Network, the Women in Black
in Palestine and Israel, as well as the Former Yugoslavia are just a
few examples. Many local NGOs are providing support for women in the
recovery and reconstruction process with the help of international
organizations and donors. However, the needs are overwhelming and the
assistance provided has proven inadequate. The women who met with the
Independent Experts pleaded for education of women and girls.
Without education and job skills, women have no means of supporting
themselves or participating in decision-making.

Given the magnitude of violations of human rights and international
humanitarian law committed during the conflicts visited, it is
imperative that the perpetrators of such violations be held
accountable for their crimes. Special Courts and the Truth and
Reconciliation Commissions must make provision for gender sensitive
mechanisms for investigating and prosecuting violations against
women. The Independent Experts welcome and endorse recommendations
made by the Special Rapporteur to this end in the case of Sierra
Leone, including for gender-balanced composition of the Court,
witness protection mechanisms, and the establishment of a special
unit investing sexual crimes.

FINLAND HOSTS ADVISORY GROUP MEETING FOR INDEPENDENT EXPERTS GENERAL
DESCRIPTION

In April 2001, UNIFEM asked Elisabeth Rehn of Finland and Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, to carry out an independent assessment of
the impact of armed conflict on women and women's role in
peace-building. The experts formed an Advisory Group, which met for
the second time in Helsinki, Finland from 11-12 March, hosted by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Advisory Group discussed the
findings and recommendations of the report and gave the independent
experts guidance on cutting-edge policy issues and recommendations.
Expert group members were drawn from UN agencies and NGOs including
the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, Women in
Black, the East Timor Constituent Assembly, and the National Union of
Guatemalan Women. The Advisory Group also met with the President of
Finland, Tarja Halonen and the Speaker of the Finnish parliament,
Riitta Uosukainen and spoke at a well attended public forum along
with the experts.

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3. PEACEWOMEN CAMPAIGNS AND PETITIONS

URGENT ACTION - WOMEN'S POLITICAL & CIVIL RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN
The Bonn Agreement looks forward to "the establishment of a
broad-based, gender sensitive, multi-ethnic and fully representative
government in Afghanistan". Given the involvement of the
international community in funding the implementation of this
Agreement, we have a responsibility to ensure that the process of
government and state building meets international standards and
commitments over women's rights. As a state party to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Afghanistan is
committed to the participation of women on equal terms with men and
the implementation of necessary affirmative action measures.
To sign the petition go to:
http://www.peacewomen.org/campaigns/featured/afghanistan%20women/afghani...

PeaceWomen Call for Translation of SC Resolution 1325 into local languages
Greater political pressure for the implementation requires greater
public awareness of Security Council Resolution 1325 as well as
organizing around it. Little is known about Security Council
Resolution 1325 outside the UN. In order to gain public awareness
around the world and to mobilize various women's organizations and
NGOs around the Security Council Resolution, we need the translation
of Security Council Resolution 1325 into many more languages besides
the official UN languages. If you are interested, please contact
[email protected]

For more information and links to outreach and campaigning
efforts,programmes and activities, designed by women's peace
organisations in various regions and countries go to:
http://www.peacewomen.org/campaigns/outreachindex.html

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3. UNITED NATIONS

This document that has all references made to the possible Gender
Unit in Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO) from a variety
of UN documents - from the original proposal in December of 2000, to
the latest input from the Special Committee on Peacekeeping of March
11, 2002. The 5th Committee meeting of the General Assembly that
received the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and
Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) rejected the proposal of a Senior Level
Gender Post in the DPKO. Men and women experience the impact of armed
conflict differently and therefore everyone involved in the DPKO must
realize the gender dimension of conflict as a vital component to
build sustainable peace in the future.
http://www.peacewomen.org/un/pkwatch/genderunit.html

For more information on women and the UN please visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/un/unindex.html

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4. PEACEWOMEN CALENDAR

Facing Global and National Crises: Women Define Human Security
The National Council for Research on Women Annual Conference 2002,
Thursday, May 30 - Saturday, June 1, 2002 The Roosevelt Hotel, New
York City http://www.peacewomen.org/frame/calendar/calendar.html#may02

Women and Peacebuilding
June 10-18, Eastern Mennonite University
The Summer Peacebuilding Institute at Eastern Mennonite University
includes all kinds of classes on nonviolence, conflict resolution,
conflict transformation, and give a special focus to women and
peace-building. This Institute features international instructors.
http://www.emu.edu/ctp/spidesc.html#IV

For a listing of other upcoming events:
http://www.peacewomen.org/frame/calendar/calendar.html

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5. 1325 RECENT RESOURCE

International Alert's summary report from their recent
regional/national consultations on Resolution 1325. The summary aims
to distil some of the main findings and focus issues from three
recent consultations in Nepal, Russia, and Uganda.

New Network Women in Development Europe (WIDE) publication "Gender
mainstreaming for invisibility or women's Empowerment" is a report of
WIDE's Annual Conference 2001, hosted by the Spanish WIDE platform
Grupo Mujeres y Desarrollo from 4-6 October in Madrid. (price: o
5,00) please contact Barbara Specht at [email protected]
(www.eurosur.org/wide)

For a comprehensive annotated bibliography of books, articles and
analyses on women's peace theory and activities, as well as NGO
position papers, reports, speeches, statements and tools for
organisational building. Please go to:
http://www.peacewomen.org/resources/resindex.html

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6. PEACEWOMEN FEATURED CONTACT

Women's WORLD
208 W. 30th St. #901
New York, NY 10001, USA
Tel 1-212-947-2915
Fax 1-212-947-2973
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wworld.org

Women's WORLD Mission Statement:
We have formed the Women's World Organization for Rights, Literature,
and Development, or Women's WORLD, because nowhere on earth are
women's voices given the same respect as men's. In a few countries, a
few women are heard some of the time; in most countries, our words
are greeted with polite indifference and mere lip service is paid to
our concerns; and, in far too many countries, women who try to have a
public voice are met with hatred, contempt, suppression, exile, or
death. Whether the agency of suppression is the state, the publishing
industry, religious authority, or the family, all forms of silencing
and exclusion must be seen as censorship. When certain subjects are
made taboo to women-subjects like war and peace, religion, or
law-this is censorship. When people who write critically about gender
arrangements cannot find publishers, this is censorship. When girls
are not taught to read and write, this is censorship. Gender-based
censorship is a human rights abuse that must be fought. The world
cannot afford to use less than half its wisdom.

For an extensive database of organizations worldwide working on women
and peace issues, go to:
http://www.peacewomen.org/contacts/conindex.html

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Best Wishes,

Sheri Gibbings and Magdalene Hsien Chen Pua

******* ******* ******* *******
Sheri Gibbings and Magdalene Hsien Chen Pua
Program Associates, Peace Women Project
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
United Nations Office
777 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
Ph: 1 212 682 1265 Fax: 1 212 286 8211
email: [email protected], [email protected],
web: http://www.peacewomen.org