The implementation of UNSCR 1325 in the Arab Statesiknowpolitics.org/sites/default/files/en_consolidated_reply_ikp_e-discussion_unscr...All respondents agree that the implementation

CONSOLIDATED REPLY of the e-Discussion on:

The implementation of UNSCR 1325 in the Arab States:

taking stock and moving forward

February 2016

CONSOLIDATEDREPLY_iKNOWPoli5cse-Discussion:Theimplementa,onofUNSCR1325intheArabstates:tackingstock,movingforward

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Launching MessageI List of par$cipants I Summary of Responses I Useful Resources

LAUNCHING MESSAGEArabicFrenchSpanish

The United Na,ons Security CouncilResolu'ononWomen, Peace and Security was adopted on 31October 2000 (S/RES/1325).Par$cipa$on is one of thefour pillars of the UNSCR,stressing theimportanceofwomen’sequalpar3cipa3onandfullinvolvementinalleffortsforthemaintenanceandpromo%on of peace and security.Compara've studies from across regions show that women’sdecision-makingpowerwithregardtopeaceandconflictimpactthelikelihoodofwar.

SincetheArabuprisings,anumberofcountriesintheregionhaveexperiencedheightenedpoli0calunrestandunprecedentedviolentstruggles,withwomenandgirlsbearingtheheaviestbruntofthesystema'cviolencecommi/edinconflictareas.

A2013UNWomenreportfound“alackofpoliciesandac0ons”aimedatreducingtheimpactofarmedconflicts on women, and li0le enforcement, monitoring or repor5ng on the relevant provisions ofUNSCR1325amongcountriesintheArabregion.

Thee-Discussionwill remainopenoveraperiodof5weeks (10December2015–24 January2016).iKNOW Poli*cs structured this e-Discussion along three main blocks, as shown below. Each blockconsists of a related set of ques*ons. Respondents are invited to send contribu*ons to as manyques%ons as they see fit throughout the dura%on of this e-Discussion.The full concept note can beaccessedhere.

QUESTIONS

1.ADVANCINGTHEWOMEN,PEACEANDSECURITYAGENDA(WPS)1.1. To what extent has UNSCR 1325 been implemented across the Arab States? What are the mainimplementa)ongapsandchallenges?1.2.What progress has been made in promo1ng women’s leadership and par1cipa1on at all levels in theimplementa)onofUNSCR1325?Whatarethemainlimita,onspreven,ngwomenfromhavingagreaterrole?1.3.Whatarethemosteffec0vemechanismsandstructureswithinParliamentstoadvancetheimplementa4onofUNSCR1325(e.g.caucuses)?2.STRATEGIESANDMONITORING2.1.Aretherepar,cularbudgetaryconstraintsrelatedtotheWPS?WhatmechanismsareinplacetoallocatebudgettotheWPSagenda?2.2.What accountability mechanisms need to be developed to ensure monitoring and repor8ng on UNSCR1325?2.3.Na'onalPlansofAc'on(NPAs):whatgoodprac'cesexist intheArabStatesandbeyondandwhat istheroleofparliamentsincallingforNPAsthroughtheiroversightfunc6on?3.PARTNERSHIPSANDCAPACITYBUILDING 3.1.Whatroledocivilsocietyandwomen'sorganiza9onsplayintheimplementa9onofUNSCR1325andhowcanParliamentarianscooperatewiththesestakeholders?Pleaseshareconcreteexamples.3.2.Whattypeofcapacity-buildingeffortsareeffec1veandwhichvenues/formatsarebesttoenhancecross-regionallearningandexchangesofbestprac3ces?3.3. Are there topics that need par1cular a4en#on and capacity building in light of the recent conflicts (i.e.refugeecrisis,increasedradicaliza0onandextremisms)?Arethereanyexamplealreadyavailable?


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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Thee-discussionwashostedontheiKNOWPoli#csonlinepla$ormandreceivedelevencontribu)onsfrom interna+onal organiza+ons and regional organiza+ons, leaders, policy specialists and womenrightsac*vistfromtheArabregion.OnecommentwasauthoredbytheiKNOWPoli:csteam,basedontheknowledgegatheredatawebinarorganizedby theWomen’s Interna0onal League forPeaceandFreedom(WILPF).

1. RadhikaCoomaraswamy,LeadauthoroftheUnitedNa1ons’GlobalStudyonUNSCR1325,formerUnder-SecretaryoftheUnitedNa1onsandformerSpecialRepresenta1veforChildrenandArmedConflict.

2. Dr.HaifaAbuGhazaleh,AssistantSecretaryGeneraloftheLeagueofArabStates,formerMinisterofTourismandAn.qui.esofJordan,formerSenatortotheJordanianUpperHouseofParliamentandformerRegionalDirectorfortheArabStatesofUNIFEM.

3. The JordanianNa-onalCommission forWomenandUNWomen Jordan, joint replyby the twoorganiza(onsspecifictoJordan.

4. SallyElMahdy,RegionalPoli+calPar+cipa+onAdvisorat theUNWomenRegionalOffice for theArabStatesinCairo.

5. Pamela Husain,Women, Peace, Security and Humanitarian Advisor at the UNWomen RegionalOfficefortheArabStatesinCairo.

6. SarahDouglas,PolicySpecialistonPeaceandSecurityatUNWomenHeadquarters.7. GabriellaBorovsky,PolicySpecialistonPoli/calPar/cipa/onatUNWomenHeadquarters.8. BasmaAlKhateeb,HumanRightsdefender,women’srightsac6vist,memberoftheIraqiWomen

Network,formerUNIFEMandUNFPAcoordinatorinIraq.9. KirthiJayakumar,Womenrightsdefender,author,journalist,UNVolunteerandlawyerspecialized

inPublicInterna.onalLawandHumanRights.10. MarwaFarid,MastersCandidateinSecurity,TerrorismandInsurgency.MiddleEastAffairspoli<cal

analyst.11. NanaN’dow,InclusivePoli.calProcessesConsultantatUNDP.12. iKNOWPoli*cscontribu)ononNa)onalAc)onPlans.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSES

Theexperiences,prac%cesandrecommenda)onsofeachresponsewereconsolidatedbytheTeamandthebelowsummaryhighlightsthekeyconclusionsofthise-Discussion.

AdvancingtheWomen,PeaceandSecurityagenda

DrawingonandconfirmingthefindingsoftheUnitedNa*onsGlobalStudyontheimplementa(onofUNSCR1325“Preven&ngConflict,Transforming Jus&ce,Keeping thePeace”,all respondentsagreeonthepressingneedtoadvancetheagendaonWomen,PeaceandSecurity(WPS)intheArabregion.


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Allcontribu,onsdrewa2en,ontothecomplexityoftheconflictsthatarecurrentlyunfolding intheregion but emphasized the benefits that can be brought about when women are fully included inpeaceprocesses.Whenwomenpar,cipate, theyhelpshiftdynamicsandbringwith themparticularleadership qualities, such as consensus building, public debate, and a sense of the imperative toconcludetalksandimplementagreements.Theseelementsareparamountforpeacenegotiationstobemeaningfulandlasting.Researchhasshownthatwomen’sinvolvementinpeaceprocessesleadstobetteroutcomes.TheGlobalStudyreportsthatwhenwomenparticipate“a20percentincreaseintheprobabilityofapeaceagreementlas*ngtwoyears.Thispercentageincreasesover0me,witha35percent increase in the probability of a peace agreement las,ng 15 years”. A study of the GraduateInstitute of Geneva shows that peace agreements weremore likely to be reached in cases wherewomen’sgroupswereabletoexerciseastronginfluenceonthenegotiationprocess,andthattheseagreements were more likely to be implemented. Furthermore, several of the countries with thehighest [poli,cal] representa,onofwomengloballyarealso thoseemerging fromconflict, includingAfghanistan,Angola,Burundi,Croa3a, Iraq,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal,Rwanda,SerbiaandSouthSudan.

Therespondentsmadeclearthatwomen’spar1cipa1onand leadershiphaveconsiderablebenefits inpeacenego)a)onsandhavespill-oversthatimprovetheadvancementofgender-sensi%velegisla%onsandac&ons.Goodexamplesfromothercountrieswerecited:

“In Burundi, women succeeded in including provisions on freedom ofmarriage and the right to choose one’s partner into the peaceagreement. InGuatemala,women’sorganiza5onscoordinatedwiththewomanrepresenta,veatthetabletointroducecommitmentstoclassifysexualharassmentasanewcriminaloffenceandestablishanofficeforindigenouswomen’srights”.

In the Arab region, only three countries have established Na-onal Ac-ons Plans (NAP)1 for theimplementa)onofUNSCR1325.Asuccessfulexample is Iraq,whichhasadopted itsNAP inFebruary2014. Theother two, Pales3ne and Jordan, havedra8ed their respec*vebut did not officially adoptthem. As expressed by the Jordanian Na*onal Commission for Women (JNCW), its adop)on wascompromisedbythe limitedawarenesseffortsandalackof localengagementinthedra(ingprocess.Thedra(remainedunderreviewbytheGovernmentofJordanforthreeyears.Since2015,Currently,JNCW works has been working with UN Women Jordan to implement UNSCR 1325 through thedevelopmentandadop*onofanewNAPsince2015.

Attheregionallevel,theLeagueofArabStates(LAS)putforwardaRegionalStrategyonadvancingtheWPSagenda,includingaregionalac1onplanfortheimplementa1onofallUNSCresolu1onsrelatedtothis agenda. The LAS is the first interna'onal regional organiza(on to take the ini(a(ve of such aregionalstrategyandac/onplan.

AllrespondentsagreethattheimplementationofUNSCR1325isadifficultprocess,asonerespondenthighlighted:

1ToreadmoreonNa+onalAc+onPlansandsearchbycountry,pleaseaccessWomen’sInterna-onalLeagueforPeaceandFreedom.


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“Themainchallenge faced isprimarilyattitudinal – if countryX isnot in conflict, itdoesnotneedaNAP. The perception that 1325 applies only to countries in conflict is slowly changing, but requirescontinuedadvocacy…Anothermajorchallengeisthetraditional(non)relationshipbetweengovernmentandcivilsociety,andmorespecificallyengagementwithwomenasequalandvaluedrepresentativesofcivilsociety.”

Thedifficulties facedbycivil societyorganizations thatwish toengage in the implementationof theagendawasbroughtupbyseveralrespondents.InIraqforexample,despitethemulti-sectoralworkinggroupssetupwithintheframeworkoftheNAP,thegovernmentdidnotincludeenoughconsultationswiththemitwhenrevisingtheplan.Thisresultedinthedismissalofamendmentsandthedeletionofprovisionsthathadbeenputforwardbythegroups.Inadditiontothis:

“Itwasalsoobservedthattheadoptedplanlackedsta3s3calindicatorsdemonstra*ng the escala*ng violence… Furthermore, the plan did notinclude the Na-onal Security Council resolu/on 1820 on thecriminaliza)onofsexualviolenceasameansofwarfare. Italsodidnotinclude the list of resolu/on 1325 recommenda/ons, adopted by theSecurityCouncil.”

Anothermajorchallengemen/onedbynumerousrespondentsisthelackoffundingtosupportthefullimplementa)onoftheNAPs.ItwasnotedthatonlyfewNAPshavededicatedbudgetsandevenfewerreceivefundingdirectlyfromthegovernmentinques4on.

Parliamentswerefoundtobevitalbodiesindeliveringtransi)onaljus)ce,asprovenintheexamplesofBosnia, Libya, Kosovo and Croa/a where parliaments have enabled res0tu0on for women vic0ms ofconflict (par,cularly of gender-based and sexual violence). The role of male MPs was men9oned asimportanttofurtherpromotetheWPSagendaamongMPs:

“Whatisessen*alisthattherearebothmenandwomenMPswillingtopromote theagenda.This is not just a gender agenda, but a na2onalhuman rights agenda that must be owned by all duty-bearers.Par#cularlyinapatriarchalsociety,itiscri#caltohavemaleaswell as female champions of the cause, as women in government aresome%mesplace-holdersformen,ratherthanindependentactors”.

ThreeproposalsweresuggestedfortheParliamentsintheArabregion:

1.DevelopinggendersensitivelawsthatattendtothedifferentarticlesoftheUNSCR1325,includingtheintroductionofquotasforwomeninpeacenegotiationsandtransitionalentities.2.Monitoringthegovernment’simplementationoftheUNSCR1325relatedlaws.3.EnlighteningthegeneralpublicoftheUNSCR1325.Twoparliamentarycaucuseswererecently launchedby theArabStates’RegionalParliamentandtheAlgerianNa+onalParliament.BothhaveputUNSCR1325atthecoreoftheiroperationalby-lawsandyearlyactionplansthatfundamentallyworktowardsachievinggenderequality.


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- StrategiesandMonitoring

For any Na)onal Ac)on Plan (NAP) to reach its full poten0al in terms of implementa0on, properstrategiesandeffec-vemonitoringandevalua-onmechanismsneedtobeputinplace.Emphasiswasputon theactors responsible for themonitoringand themechanisms inplace to share thefindings.Goodprac)ceswereobservedwhen civil societywasengaged in themonitoringprocess toproduceshadowreports.Thisleadstogreatertransparencyandeffec/venessoftheagenda’simplementa/on.Itwassuggestedtoplacethereportswithinthepublicdomainandtolinkthisprocesstothereportsongender-responsivebudge.ng.Suchamechanism facilitates toaccess thegovernment’sadherence toitsgendercommitments.

RespondentsfromJordanalsoputemphasisontheneedtodrawonexper%seandtechnicalsupportinthemonitoringprocess. Forexample, JNCWandUNWomen Jordanworked together tobring to thetablevariousstakeholders.Theprac(cesputinplaceforthefutureJordanianNAPreadasfollows:

1. Athree-way cooperationbetween the JNCW), UNWomen (providing international legitimacy andtechnicalsupport)andtheInstituteforInclusiveSecurity(providingspecific,technicalexpertiseonNAPdesign and implementation processes). These three bodies will serve as the technical experts insupportingthenationalSteeringCommittee.2. The establishment of aSteering Committee(still to be formed in Jordan), composed of high-levelgovernment officials. The Steering Committeeis the primary decision-making body, and leads theprocessofNAPadoption,aswellasitsimplementationandlocalizationatlaterstages.Furthermore,itgrantsasenseofdirectionandstrongerownershipoftheNAPprocesstokeystakeholdersandensuresthatpoliticalwillinthecountryiswellunderstood,andthatnationalprioritiesareadheredto.3.Theestablishmentofanadvisorybody–inJordan,theNationalCoalitionfortheImplementationoftheUNSCR1325.WithwiderrepresentationthantheSteeringCommittee,theroleoftheadvisorybodyistosupportandguidetheNAPdevelopmentprocessinJordan.4.The crea(on of a Secretariat forUNSCR 1325within JNCW– that is,staff specifically dedicated toWPS/UNSCR 1325 implementa6on within the process’ leading body –to ensure coherence andcon$nuityoftheprocess.

Other good prac-ces include the above-men$oned LAS Regional Strategy. It was iden,fied as aposi%veini%a%vetoencourageotherregionalorganiza-onstorecognizetheregionalimpactofconflictandtoiden(fyhoweachcountrycancontributetomi-gateitsimpacts.Thecrea(onofsuchpla0ormsare thus important steps towards fostering regional dialogue and partnership building. However, itremains to be seen if a model such as the one ini0ated by the LAS, will have posi$ve effects onadvancingtheWPSagendaandmoregenerallyonwomen’spar,cipa,on.

- Partnershipsandcapacitybuilding

Partnershipbuilding,especiallywithcivilsociety,isatthecoreofthesuccessfulimplementa1onoftheWPSagenda.

Respondentsagreedthatcivilsocietyandwomen’sorganiza4onshaveplayedakeyroleinpushingtheagenda,promo,ngtheroleofwomeninpeaceprocessesandraisingawarenessabouttheimpactofconflictonwomenandgirlsintheArabregion:


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“WeworkedwithnationalcounterpartiesandCSOstoaligntheirforcesand lobbying efforts to increase women’s representation in peacenegotiations, political dialogues, constitutions’ development andgovernments following peace agreements. For example, in Libya sixwomenweremembersintheConstitutionDevelopmentAssemblyandawomen’strackwasintroducedtotheformalpoliticaldialoguecomposedof 25 active women.In addition, a Syrian Women’s Initiative (SWI),composedof40womenactivistswascreatedcomposedofmorethan40women activists (representing different ethnicities, backgrounds,geographical locations,politicalaffiliations,etc.).ThisSWImanagedtoformaparalleltracktotheofficialpoliticaldialogueandcreatedavividspaceforwomen’svoices,whichleveragedtheirlobbyingpower.”

It is crucial tobring together those directly involved, for example through pla$orms that enable allstakeholders to meet and make decisions together as these allow for experience and knowledge-sharing while ensuring relevance and prac1cality. For example, CSOs in Iraq conducted severalini#a#vestoreachthevariousreligiousandethnicgroupsofbothsexesandpromotetheprinciplesofpeacefulcoexistenceandtoleranceintheareasexperiencinghighlevelsofsectarianviolence.

In regards to capacity building, many Iraqi CSOs have organized trainings in the fields of conflictresolu'on,dialogueanddevelopment.Thereisnodoubtthatcivilsocietyac'vismhasvastimpactonthe society. For instance,women’s movements in Iraq successfully lobbied for the adop5on in thecons%tu%onofaquotasystemwhichensuresthepar(cipa(onofwomenbynolessthan25%.

Another example is that of the regional office of UN Women in Cairo, which organized a two-daycapacity building workshop that gathered representa5ves of women machineries across the MENAregion. Training on how to dra/ applicable, cost-effec$ve and coordinated NAPs was provided.Furthermore,itwashighlightedthatafullunderstandingofthena#onalneedsandcontextrelatedtotheWPS agenda, is a key element to strengthen capaci1es, awareness-raising and lobbying.With aview to increase understandingof local challenges to theWPS agenda, plans to address the genderdimensionofradicaliza/on,aswellasconsulta)onswithrefugeesarecurrentlybeingdeveloped.

USEFUL RESOURCES (available on iKNOW Poli0cs) - LeveragingUNSCR1325NationalActionPlansforLocalChange:Civilsocietyopportunitiesinthe

MENAregion[EN][AR]- RegionalStrategy"ProtectionofArabWomen:PeaceandSecurity"[EN][AR]- AdvancinggenderequalitywithinpeaceandsecurityinJordan[EN][AR]- IraqiNationalActionPlanforImplementationoftheUNSCR1325[EN][AR]- IraqiWomeninArmedConflictandPost-conflictSituation[EN][AR]- iKNOWPoliticsInterviewwithRadhikaCoomaraswamy[EN]- PolicyRecommendation:ApplyingGlobalToolstoImproveNationalActionPlansonUNSCR

1325[EN]- Women,PeaceandSecurityinIraq[EN]- CNNVideoontheImportanceofWomenforPeacebuilding[EN]


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- WhyWomen?InclusiveSecurityandPeacefulSocietiesMarieO’ReillyOctober2015.https://www.inclusivesecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Why-Women-Brief-10.12.15.pdf

- UNWomen,2013,RegionalConsultationfortheProposedGeneralRecommendationonWomen’sHumanRightsinSituationsofConflictandPostConflictContextsfortheArabStates&theCommitteeonEliminationofDiscriminationAgainstWomen,Amman,Jordan,availableat:http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/Womenconflictsituations/RegionalConsultationAmmanJan2013.pdf

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بالعربیة نقاشیة حول حمایة النساء أوقات النزاعات المسلحة الداخلیة في بنغازي حلقة

تعاني المرأة بكل تأكید لشتى أنواع التعسف واالضطھاد وانتھاكات العدیدة الجسدیة والجنسیة وقد تم تسجیل وتدوین العدید منھا وخاصة ...اثناء االزمات

نساء لیبیا یقدمن خطة عمل من أجل السالم في مؤتمر صحفي في جنیف

أیام في مونترو في سویسرا بعد اجتماع استمر ثالثة قدمت مجموعة نساء ناشطات لیبیات من مختلف الخلفیات من داخل وخارج البالد ...خطة عمل من أجل السالم

فائزة جائزة نوبل للسالم من تونس, وداد بوشماوي تتحدث أمام مجلس األمن

...لعقود المنطقة شعوب تھمیش إن مسبوقة. غیر واقتصادیة واجتماعیة سیاسیة أزمة من تعاني منطقتنا في البلدان"

لقاء مع بسمة الخطیب, ناشطة في شبكة النساء العراقیات

...جات و منسقة سابقة لبرنامبسمة الخطیب مختّصة في شؤون المرأة, و ھي عضوة في شبكة النساء العراقی

حول المرأة و األمن و السالم في الدول العربیة 1325تحدید الفجوات التشریعیة في تطبیق قرار مجلس األمن

...ببناء المؤسسات و قدرات البرلمانات العربیة و غیرھاتم تحضیر ھذه الدراسة في سیاق مشروع األمم المتحدة للتنمیة المخصص

لقاء مع السیدة الزھراء لنقي من لیبیا

...لشبكة العربیة للمرأة و األمن و السالم, كرامةالزھراء لنقي, مؤسسة من مؤسسات منبر المرأة اللیبیة من أجل السالم و عضو في ا

. ھناالمزید