European Parliament Resolution

Gender Aspects of Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding

A Summary

Though numerous international agreements recognise the significance and necessity of the participation of women in peace negotiations, conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction processes, most analyses and policies regarding conflicts have been gender-blind. Only recently have significant efforts at the policy level been made to highlight and promote the role that women are playing in peacebuilding. Drawing on various declarations, conventions and resolutions, the European Parliament resolution considers the status of women in the context of armed conflict and makes several recommendations aimed at transforming the situation of women to one based on inclusion and recognition of the rights they hold and the contributions they continually make to peace processes globally.

Concerns Highlighted in the Preamble

The preamble to the European Parliament resolution cites a number of concerns as evidence for the need for the resolution, also referring to the lack of effective international protection and reparation mechanisms available to women victims of war.

· lack of specific references within existing legal frameworks that are meant to protect women from all forms of sexual violence in conflict situations

· vague wording of declarations regarding the protection of refugee and IDP women

· the reality of the situation of women in refugee camps, of raped women in war and rape as a weapon of war, including resulting stigmas

· sexual slavery, especially that of young girls, the needs of girl soldiers and the abusive history of peacekeepers on UN missions as contributing factors to the increase in child prostitution and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases

· only two European Union Member States have ratified the International Criminal Court

Positive Developments Highlighted in the Preamble

The fact that the rights, priorities and interests of women are frequently ignored, that women are marginalised from negotiation processes and that donor attention during the demobilisation of military forces generally focuses on men, are cited in the context of the recognition of the various peace initiatives taken by women around the world.

· the increased presence of women in peacekeeping operations has resulted in improved relations with local communities, though this increase has only been numerically significant since the 1990s

· women’s peace initiatives are often undertaken at great risk, crossing warring factions and in areas of extreme conflict

The resolution then makes a series of recommendations, categorised into three areas.

I. The Protection of War Affected Populations

The resolution condemns rape, sexual slavery and all forms of sexual violence and misconduct, and calls upon Member States to:

· ratify the Treaty of Rome for the ICC

· update wording of Convention on the Protection of Women and Children in Armed Conflict

· increase funding for health, counselling and witness protection services to victims of rape and sexual assault

· gender-sensitive training on peace and security initiatives by providing training on the gender-aspects of conflict resolution, utilising local gender expertise and fostering research on the development of gender-based violence during and after conflicts

· integrate a gender perspective in the planning of refugee camps

II. International Efforts to Prevent and Solve Armed Conflicts

The resolution stresses that current conflicts demand the increased use of non-military methods of crisis management and accordingly, calls on Member States and the European Commission to:

· recruit more women in diplomatic services

· nominate more women to international diplomatic assignments and senior positions with the UN and increase the percentage of women in delegations to the national, regional and international meetings concerned with peace and security

· ensure that at least 40 per cent of women should hold posts in reconciliation, peacekeeping , peace enforcement, peacebuilding and conflict prevention

· in reconstruction efforts, a gender analysis must be automatic in the planning and practice of external interventions

· promote the establishment of national machinery for gender equality within governments through a Ministry of Women’s Affairs, a Gender Desk, or an Office of the Status of Women

III. Community-based Participation in the Prevention and Resolution of Armed Conflicts

It is widely recognised that women play a crucial role in the rebuilding of societies, yet in order that they are not further marginalised, the resolution stresses the importance of local involvement and ownership of the peace and reconciliation process, and in this regard, calls upon Member States and the Commission to:

· support the creation and strengthening of non-governmental organisations and ensure that the warring factions incorporate civil society representatives—50 per cent of whom should be women—into their peace negotiation teams

· the promotion of public debate in post-conflict regions concerning gender-based abuses, ensuring that men and women benefit from external reconstruction initiatives in the process

· the specific rehabilitation needs of girl soldiers must be paid particular attention.

The following declarations, conventions and resolutions have been referred to in the resolution:

· Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

· Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, 1993

· UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979

· UN General Assembly Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984

· UN General Assembly Declaration 3318 on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict, 1974

· UN Security Council Resolution 1265 on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, 1999

· UN General Assembly Resolution 3519 on Women’s Participation in the Strengthening of International Peace and Security, 1975

· Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Chapter E, Women and Armed Conflict, 1995

· Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1998

· Geneva Conventions and additional Protocols, 1949; 1977

· European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, 1950

· European Council resolution on Integrating Gender in Development, 1995

· Declaration and Agenda for Action of the UN Millennium Forum on the Strengthening of the UN for the 21st Century, 2000

· European Parliament resolution on Women in Decision-making, 2000

· European Parliament resolution on the Application of the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 1984

· European Parliament resolutions (2) on the Rape of Women in the Former Yugoslavia, 1992; 1993

· Outcome documents of public hearings on gender specific human rights violations and rape as a war crime in Bosnia, 1993; 1995