Afghanistan
The Council is due to receive reports on the UN mission in Afghanistan and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The Council should inquire into information and analysis on the lack of evident progress in the proportion of women participating in political life, and efforts to redress the targeting of women and defenders of their rights, given recent calls for the repeal of the Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In its discussions, the Council should be clear that members of the Afghan government and insurgent groups must not be granted impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Human rights, including women’s human rights, must not be traded away or compromised in connection with the transition of security to the Afghan National Security Forces. The Council should support efforts for genuine and meaningful participation of Afghan women and their security concerns in in all peace talks, and all reintegration and reconciliation discussions, including peace jirgas. The Council must call for an immediate end to attacks by the Taleban and armed groups on humanitarian organisations. Such attacks amount to war crimes and perpetrators of such attacks must be brought to justice.
Central African Republic
Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict in the deteriorating situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), as inaction on the part of the Security Council is allowing exacerbation of the human rights and humanitarian crisis. In its discussion of the reports on the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), the Council should seriously consider recommendations made by BINUCA in terms of accountability and protection of civilians to curb the human rights violations and abuses now taking place in CAR. The Council should ensure the report provides specific information, analysis and recommendations on how BINUCA will address women’s protection concerns and how barriers to women’s participation will be overcome. The Council should press the CAR government to ensure conditions are restored to enable the UN and other international actors to resume work in service provision and human rights monitoring through the BINUCA Human Rights and Justice unit. The Council should inquire into accountability for atrocities committed by the LRA, including efforts being made to ensure justice systems are established and LRA leaders are apprehended, including transfer to the ICC of those persons under arrest warrants by the Court.
Côte d'Ivoire
In its discussion of the expected report of the Secretary-General on Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the Council should inquire into ongoing impunity for sexual and gender-based violence, and barriers to women’s full participation in justice and reconciliation processes. As previous reports on UNOCI have been insufficient in addressing core women, peace and security concerns, Council members should inquire into such information, including on the role of women in peacebuilding process, security sector reform, and DDR, inter alia socio-economic factors affecting female ex-combatants and associates of ex-combatants.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
In its consideration of the Secretary General’s report on MONUSCO, as previous reports of the Secretary-General on MONUSCO have limited their reporting on women, peace and security matters almost solely to protection issues, the Council should inquire into specific information on: efforts to include women in all peace and reconciliation efforts; on targeted attacks of any nature on women; on the impact of the humanitarian situation on women; of consultation with women’s human rights organizations in planning for stabilization and consolidation; and on the centrality of women’s rights to electoral, security sector, and judicial reform. In addition, the Council should ensure that any additional intelligence data at MONUSCO’s disposal serves as early warning signals to inform optimal protection of civilians, including women and children, from abuses by armed groups and the national army. The intervention brigade authorized under the MONUSCO mandate in SCR 2098 (2013) should be held to the missions protection of civilians mandate, must be subjected to strict vetting procedures, and pre-deployment training should include international humanitarian and human rights law and reach best practice standards, particularly regarding sexual violence in conflict.
Liberia
The report of the Panel of Experts (PoE) is expected to be renewed following consideration of the final report of the PoE. The Council should ensure that the mandate allows for the free flow of all relevant information between UNMIL and the PoE, particularly information on violations of women’s human rights, and highlight the links between the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons and the occurrence of sexual and gender-based violence.
Libya
The expected report on the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) should include information on women’s full and equal participation in the political process, reconciliation, and reconstruction efforts. The Security Council should urge accountability for serious and ongoing crimes, and effective protection of human rights and guarantees of nondiscrimination as recognized internationally. The Council should call on the Libyan authorities to protect all foreign nationals, regardless of immigration status, from violence, exploitation, threats and abuse; and ensure that all detainees are treated humanely, receive necessary medical treatment and are protected from torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual and gender-based violence. The Council should encourage the Government to assist in building the capacity of female candidates for political office and train security officers to identify, respond to, and protect individuals from gender-based threats and abuses at polling sites.
Mali
The Council is expected to receive a briefing from the Special Representative for MINUSMA, the new UN Mission in Mali. This discussion should include information on the mission’s specific plans to implement its gender mainstreaming obligations, including those detailed in SCR 2100 (OPs 16, 25), as well as an update on the SRSG’s specific plans to support women voters and candidates in the expected upcoming elections, and in the ongoing peace and reconciliation processes.
Somalia
In discussing the expected reports from the African Union on the mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Secretary-General on the new UN presence in Somalia, the Council should inquire into women’s full participation in all efforts to find a political solution to the ongoing armed violence, and in preparations for upcoming elections, and the specific steps the UN presence will take to support such activities. The Council should urge the Secretary-General to proceed with the full deployment of UNSOM as determined in resolution 2102 (2013), including compliance with its mandate to help prevent, monitor, investigate, and report on abuses and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including those committed against women such as all forms of sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflict. Deployment of dedicated and resourced senior gender advisers, human rights monitors, and women protection advisers is central to this compliance.
South Sudan / Sudan
The Council is expected to discuss the situation in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, where civilians continue to endure Sudan’s indiscriminate bombing and other abuses, as ongoing tensions between Sudan and South Sudan threaten the wider border area. Since July 2011, there have been no UN monitors on the ground to document the impact of the fighting on civilians in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile and no access to independent humanitarian assistance for those affected by the conflict. The Council should demand the Sudanese government allow unhindered humanitarian access and a full, impartial investigation by the OHCHR into events in both Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile
Women Peace and Security
The Security Council is expected to hold an open debate on women, peace and security, with a particular focus on sexual violence in conflict. Sexual violence in conflict, which can be seen as a failure to implement all elements of the full women, peace and security agenda, requires urgent action on key areas, including women’s participation and equality; prevention; response; accountability; and resourcing. The Council can specifically take action by: committing to systematic gender mainstreaming provisions throughout its work; strengthening efforts to end impunity, including through referrals to the International Criminal Court; strengthening the gender components of security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs; providing effective support and protection to women-led organizations and women’s human rights defenders; taking concrete measures to support women’s full and equal participation in all conflict resolution efforts; ensuring that it strongly supports comprehensive multi-sectoral responses, including medical, HIV, access to justice, and psychosocial-health care services for women and girls; and supporting national and regional action on women, peace and security, such as national action plans.