NGO Working Group for Women, Peace and Security

Global Open Days for Women and Peace are a First Step In Responding to Women in Conflict Countries

June 15 2010

The Civil Society Advisory Group to the United Nations on Women, Peace and Security (CSAG) expressed support today for the “Global Open Days for Women and Peace,” organized by several UN agencies and departments, to hear directly from women in countries affected by past or ongoing conflict and substantively to incorporate women’s rights and concerns in their mission planning. The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security is on the Secretariat for the CSAG.

Open Day events have been held in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Nepal, Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the coming weeks, Open Days will be held in Afghanistan, Haiti, Pakistan, Iraq, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, and the Office of the UN in West Africa based in Senegal, among others.
Download the Full Press Release [PDF]

Credit: Public Domain

IPS Article on “New U.N. Envoy to Crack Down on Sexual Violence”

February 9 2010

February 2, 2010 - (IPS) When the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 back in October 2000, it was a historic event: for the first time the U.N.'s most powerful political body dealt with a gender-related issue, explicitly linking women to peace and security. Last week, that resolution completed a full political circle when Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Margot Wallstrom of Sweden as his Special Representative (SRSG) to tackle violence against women and children in the world's battle zones.

"We are looking forward to Ms. Wallstrom getting the U.N.'s house in order, particularly in this tenth anniversary year of resolution 1325," said Sarah Taylor, executive coordinator of the Non-Governmental Organisations' Working Group on Women Peace and Security (NGOWG).
View the full article [External Link]

New UN Champion for Women in Conflict

February 1 2010

The UN Secretary-General has announced his intention to appoint Margot Wallström as his new Special Representative for sexual violence in conflict. This could finally focus international action against these crimes, said the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security (NGOWG). “The UN has for too long lacked crucial leadership for its day-to-day work against rape in war,” said Sarah Taylor, Executive Coordinator of the NGOWG. “The new representative has the potential to ensure the UN is more effective in preventing and responding to such crimes; helping to empower women and bring perpetrators to justice.” Please read more in the full press release.
Download the Press Release [PDF]

NGOWG Criteria for the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Women, Peace and Security

November 9 2009

Considerations are underway for the appointment of the Secretary-General’s new Special Representative on women, peace and security, as requested in Security Council Resolution 1888 (OP 4). 

As it is not realistic to think one person will embody all necessary criteria for this important post, UN system and Member States must work to support this new SRSG, and there must be a concerted effort to give the SRSG a staff who can build the post’s legitimacy and effectiveness. It is essential the SRSG’s office have the knowledge and legitimacy to speak to and act on the content of its mandate: this goes beyond addressing impunity for sexual violence, and includes participation, prevention, protection, and access to services for survivors of sexual violence. The NGOWG believes a qualified man can be an equally effective SRSG, though he may have to work harder to build trust with women’s groups in conflict-affected countries: this is where the support of the system and staffing of the SRSG’s office are key. 

With this in mind, the new SRSG should:

• Have substantial operational knowledge of the UN system, and potentially of a military operation;
• Have the authority to address gaps in UN system. It is vital that this person be taken seriously by all operational UN branches;
• Have legitimacy with the women’s groups this person will have to coordinate with and learn from in order to do the work properly; and have the sensitivity necessary to work with the survivors of sexual violence;
• Ensure women, peace and security matters continue to be addressed in the security arena, and understands the importance of human rights in this context; and
• Have political access, and be able to open doors for funding; political strategizing; and getting governments and other stakeholders to support the mandate. This may be regarding troops contributions and other resources, and mobilizing the justice and health systems in conflict situations.

Download Security Council Resolution 1888 [PDF]
Download the NGOWG Criteria [PDF]

UN: Security Council Action Spells Hope for Women in War

September 30 2009

On 30th September 2009, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1888 on "Women, Peace and Security." In response, the NGOWG published this press release: Resolution 1888 on sexual violence in war, adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council today, could substantively improve the situation of women in conflict, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security said. "Nine years ago, the Security Council first recognized specific international obligations to women in conflict situations by adopting resolution 1325. But, these women continue to be targeted for sexual violence, and have largely been excluded from the talks to end conflicts," said Sarah Taylor, Coordinator of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.

Download the Press Release [PDF]