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Women Peacebuilders Program

“Local and foreign militias continue to sow terror and commit sexual violence in the eastern part of the country. The fact that the Security Council has decided to strengthen the number of Blue Helmets in my country has given rise to enormous hope among the local population, especially the women with whom I work every day. We must earnestly hope that those peacekeeping forces will help strengthen security in the Democratic Republic of Congo, restore peace in our region and prevent other crimes.”

—Agathe Rwankuba, Lawyer, Réseau des femmes pour la défense des droits et la paix, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Women Peacebuilders Program connects women peacebuilders working on the frontlines of conflict with high-level decision makers at United Nations headquarters in order to advance policy and programming on women, peace and security - strengthening both the work of the United Nations at headquarters and women’s peacebuilding initiatives at home.

Recommendations for Security Sector Reform in Sierra Leone Given to the PBC by Local Woman Peacebuilder

June 5 2007

During a high-level roundtable with Peacebuilding Commission members, Gladys Brima, Coordinator for the Women in Peacebuilding Program for Women's Partnership for Justice and Peace discussed security sector reform in regard to the Commission's work in Sierra Leone. Ms. Brima addressed the importance integrating a gender perspective in security sector reform. "At a fundamental level, integrating a gender perspective in security sector reforms means asking questions such as: How is security defined by people? Whose security are we talking about? Who should legitimately participate in decision-making within the security sector? Why are women not involved? How are they affected by the decisions made? How can the security sector play a role in changing negative gender stereotypes and cultures of violence?"
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Burundi Civil Society Leader Makes Recommendations for the Peacebuilding Commission

June 5 2007

During a high-level roundtable, United Nations and civil society representatives discussed the gender dimension of peacebuilding in Sierra Leone and Burundi. Participants heard directly from leading Burundian and Sierra Leonean women peacebuilders, key national governments and UN representatives as part of a wider effort to enhance communication between local women's organizations and decision-makers.
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Security Council Resolution 1325: National Implementation of Women, Peace and Security— Ways Forward

October 23 2006

In a consultation on implementing SCR 1325 in Fiji and the Pacific Islands, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, Coordinator of femLINKpacific in the Fiji Pacific Islands discussed the implementation SCR 1325 at the national level in Fiji and the importance of regional consultations in advancing progress on women, peace and security.
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