For November, in which China has the presidency of the UN Security Council, the MAP provides recommendations on the Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya, South Sudan and Syria.
Central African Republic
As the Security Council renews the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the human rights and humanitarian situation, particularly outside the capital, Bangui, continues to worsen. It is imperative that human rights monitoring continues, and that individuals and entities that violate human rights and undermine peace, stability, and security are brought to justice. The Security Council should expand upon the existing women, peace and security (WPS) provisions in the mandate (S/RES/2387 (2017), OPs 42, 43, 51) in order to more effectively address the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). Specifically, the Council should:
- Explicitly list human rights defenders (HRDs), including women HRDs, as a specific group that should be protected under the mission’s protection of civilians mandate (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 42(a)(ii)).
- Require that MINUSCA consult with women’s groups, humanitarian and human rights organizations, in implementing a gender-sensitive strategy for protection of civilians (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 42(a)(v)).
- Call for implementation of the National Strategy on security sector reform to be carried out in a gender-sensitive manner (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 43(b)(i)).
- Specifically list sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as a category of violations that should be investigated, under the mission’s current mandate to monitor human rights (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 43(d)(ii)).
- In the context of MINUSCA’s support to the Special Criminal Court, specifically list SGBV as a violation that should be investigated and prosecuted (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 43(e)(v)).
- Call for any strategy aimed at disrupting networks that exploit and traffic natural resources to be gender-sensitive and developed in consultation with women’s groups (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 43(f)).
The Council should further call on the Government to update its National Action Plan on WPS through a consultative process that includes the participation of women’s groups and ensures there is both political support and financing for implementation of any updated plan. Additionally, in the context of the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in CAR and the work of the Panel of Facilitators, the Council is urged to include new language calling on these processes to be inclusive, with special attention given to the participation of women (S/RES/2387 (2017), OPs 3, 4). Finally, particularly concerning is the lack of any reference to the ongoing threats and violence targeting civil society leaders, including women and HRDs. The Council should include new language in the resolution that condemns these acts and calls for protection of civil society space, in line with resolutions adopted on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Burundi. Despite the requirement to mainstream gender across all components of the mandate, analysis of past reports of the Secretary-General show that there is a lack of implementation. The Security Council should therefore provide clear instructions on how to integrate gender as a cross-cutting issue.
As the Security Council renews the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the human rights and humanitarian situation, particularly outside the capital, Bangui, continues to worsen. It is imperative that human rights monitoring continues, and that individuals and entities that violate human rights and undermine peace, stability, and security are brought to justice. The Security Council should expand upon the existing women, peace and security (WPS) provisions in the mandate (S/RES/2387 (2017), OPs 42, 43, 51) in order to more effectively address the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). Specifically, the Council should:
- Explicitly list human rights defenders (HRDs), including women HRDs, as a specific group that should be protected under the mission’s protection of civilians mandate (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 42(a)(ii)).
- Require that MINUSCA consult with women’s groups, humanitarian and human rights organizations, in implementing a gender-sensitive strategy for protection of civilians (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 42(a)(v)).
- Call for implementation of the National Strategy on security sector reform to be carried out in a gender-sensitive manner (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 43(b)(i)).
- Specifically list sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as a category of violations that should be investigated, under the mission’s current mandate to monitor human rights (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 43(d)(ii)).
- In the context of MINUSCA’s support to the Special Criminal Court, specifically list SGBV as a violation that should be investigated and prosecuted (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 43(e)(v)).
- Call for any strategy aimed at disrupting networks that exploit and traffic natural resources to be gender-sensitive and developed in consultation with women’s groups (S/RES/2387 (2017), OP 43(f)).
The Council should further call on the Government to update its National Action Plan on WPS through a consultative process that includes the participation of women’s groups and ensures there is both political support and financing for implementation of any updated plan. Additionally, in the context of the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in CAR and the work of the Panel of Facilitators, the Council is urged to include new language calling on these processes to be inclusive, with special attention given to the participation of women (S/RES/2387 (2017), OPs 3, 4). Finally, particularly concerning is the lack of any reference to the ongoing threats and violence targeting civil society leaders, including women and HRDs. The Council should include new language in the resolution that condemns these acts and calls for protection of civil society space, in line with resolutions adopted on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Burundi. Despite the requirement to mainstream gender across all components of the mandate, analysis of past reports of the Secretary-General show that there is a lack of implementation. The Security Council should therefore provide clear instructions on how to integrate gender as a cross-cutting issue.
Iraq
In its discussion of the situation in Iraq and the most recent report on the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), the Council should discuss the extent to which the mission is mainstreaming gender as a cross-cutting issue (S/RES/2421 (2018), OP 2(e)), and further inquire about progress in the key areas of discussion from the May 2018 informal expert group meeting (S/2018/475). There should be follow-up on progress in ensuring women are fully and substantively participating in all decision-making. Further, in its discussion the Council must call for prosecutions of human rights violations against all groups and by all sides, not only for prosecutions of ISIL fighters due to their membership in a terrorist organization. These violations include, but are not limited to, abduction and human trafficking, sexual slavery, rape, torture committed on the basis of gender, beatings, unlawful detention and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of alleged ISIL-affiliated families. The Council should inquire as to progress in establishing a fair and transparent judicial process that addresses SGBV and allows for witnesses and victims to participate in transitional justice reform, as well as provide reparations and reintegration assistance for victims of SGBV. The adoption of resolution 2379 (2017) is an important step towards calling for accountability for crimes committed against civilians by ISIL. However, the Council should demand the creation of an independent commission of inquiry or expand the scope of the resolution to investigate crimes committed by other armed groups. Persecution of and discrimination against returnees, especially women and children, is of particular concern. Many of them come from marginalized groups and some are imprisoned for their association with ISIL. The Council should call for the expansion of current documentation and reporting requirements to cover all gender-based crimes, including crimes against women HRDs, LGBTIQ persons, men and boys, and those persecuted for defying prescribed gender roles. In this regard, the Council should request an update on the implementation of the UN-Iraq Joint Communiqué on the prevention of and response to conflict-related sexual violence. The Council should urge the Government to pass the draft Family Violence Protection law, which clarifies that NGOs may provide shelter for women fleeing SGBV. The Government should also issue a directive that allows NGOs to continue to provide such shelter while the draft law is pending before the Iraqi Parliament. Further, the Council should urge the Government to swiftly amend articles 409 and 398 of the Criminal Code in order to guarantee adequate protection of women.
Libya
In its discussion of the latest report of the Secretary-General on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), there should be discussion on the extent to which WPS is mainstreamed across the work of the mission, including in its implementation of its Action Plan for Libya. The Council should acknowledge that while the latter has helped revive the political process, re-establish the UN in Tripoli and hold elections in Zawiya, it has failed to ensure gender parity in its consultative phase. In fact, less than 25% of participants were women; women’s participation is also low in high-level meetings and decision-making platforms concerning Libya at both national and international levels. The forthcoming National Conference and elections, including the upcoming November 2018 High-Level Conference organized by Italy, must provide women with the same opportunities to substantively engage in and impact all phases of these processes, from consultation and implementation, to monitoring, evaluation and reporting. UNSMIL should update on its efforts to support women’s participation in these contexts.
South Sudan
The Security Council should ensure that gender is mainstreamed across all discussions of the situation in South Sudan. SGBV continues to be a key protection concern within South Sudan; there must be improved protection and security measures for women and girls, both within and outside of protection of civilian (PoC) sites. In PoC sites, women’s access to resources and food security is inexorably linked with their physical security and integrity. As such, attention should be given to how the mission can prevent further violence and reduce protection risks for women, particularly through livelihoods patrols, protective accompaniment and establishment of safe areas. In light of the unprecedented and deteriorating food insecurity across the country, the Council should acknowledge that lack of food, water and sanitation resources is further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Finally, as implementation of the Revitalized Agreement proceeds, the increased role of women in all aspects of the process must be addressed with greater urgency. The Council should call on parties to meet the 35% women’s representation quota in the pre-transition committee, as well as all other implementation mechanisms.
Syria
Despite a reduction in violence across Syria, there are still a number of areas where women remain vulnerable, including in the Berm on the border with Jordan, where access to basic services is scarce. The Security Council must put pressure on all authorities, including UN agencies, in Syria and Jordan, to provide aid to this forgotten population. In eastern Deir-ez-Zor, ISIL reportedly abducted 130 families and executed 10 civilians. ISIL’s attack on the Hajin internally displaced person (IDP) site displaced 300 civilians, the majority of whom were women and children, while International Coalition airstrikes against ISIL killed an unconfirmed number of civilians. These events highlight, once again, the critical role of the Security Council in demanding that all parties to the conflict respect international humanitarian law. The Council should continue to support humanitarian action that is gender responsive, particularly due to the fact that prevention and response to SGBV are life-saving interventions. With minimal health care available in most areas, it is critical that providers are equipped to offer survivor-centered, rights-based, non-discriminatory, quality health services for IDPs, refugees, and all affected communities. This means providing specialized staff trained in providing first-line support, clinical management of sexual assault and rape, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), identification of SGBV cases, and safe referrals in a manner that guarantees the safety, confidentiality, and privacy of survivors. While relative calm remains in Idlib, the Council must push for an increase in humanitarian aid from within Syria and from its neighbors. Finally, the Council should call on all parties to ensure that women are fully represented and meaningfully participate in the constitutional committee, should it convene. Gender must be taken into account in the design and outcomes of all such processes (S/RES/2242 (2015)).