London, 15th December 2003

Gender & Peacebuilding Programme provides technical support at seminars in Sweden on Linking Policy to Practice, 8-9 December 2003

International Alert's Gender and Peacebuilding Programme were invited to Sweden at the beginning of December to provide technical support to various stakeholders during 2 day-long seminars on the theme of Linking Policy to Practice. The first seminar involved SIDA’s conflict and gender advisors; the second, a multi-stakeholder group including representatives of NGOs, the Swedish armed forces, police and others. International Alert’s team included the Gender and Peacebuilding team accompanied by one staff member from IA’s regional Eurasia programme.

Discussions were rich and innovative and included training on UN SC Resolution 1325, exercises on the linkage between specific articles in the Resolution and practice on the ground and information on how 1325 is being practically implemented by women. Some of the issues that were raised included the need to ensure that both policy makers and practitioners have the same information and that there should be some coherence and understanding in the development of tools. In this respect, participants felt that different stakeholders are developing tools but in isolation of each other and that there needs to be a reality check on this.

October 31st marks the 3rd Anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, which commits the UN to addressing the clear gender dimensions of conflict and including women in formal peace negotiations and processes. It recognises the key role that women play in conflict transformation and holding communities together in times of crisis.

This week, meetings are being held within the Security Council and other sections of the UN to support the implementation of the Resolution. International Alert is participating in this process as a founding member of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security formed in June 2000 to lobby for the adoption of a UNSC Resolution on Women, Peace and Security. Having succeeded in this it now works to monitor and support the implementation of Resolution 1325.

Members of the group have been working on the issue of women and armed conflict, refugees, women and security and women and peacebuilding over a long period. All organisations operate important programmes in areas affected by conflict and have developed close working relationships and links with women’s organisations, research institutions and/or government officials working in the field.