Côte d'Ivoire
In its discussion of the expected report and expected mandate renewal of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the Council should implement its recently adopted SCR 2106 (OP 16c), by ensuring comprehensive information is provided on ongoing impunity for sexual and gender-based violence, and on barriers to women’s full participation in justice and reconciliation processes. In addition, the mandate should support the role of women in peacebuilding process, security sector reform, land reform, and DDR, including the socio-economic factors affecting female ex-combatants and associates of excombatants, as detailed in SCR 2106 (OPs 16a, b).
Cyprus
The Security Council is expected to consider the report of the Secretary-General and renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The Council should call for the inclusion of women in peace negotiations and strengthen references to the participation of civil society in the peace process (S/RES/2058, OP 3(d)), in line with the recommendations in S/2010/603, para. 43.
Darfur / Sudan
The Security Council is expected to consider a report and renew the mandate for the UN Hybrid Operation mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The report should continue the good practice established in previous reports of providing gender-disaggregated data, and should include assessment regarding progress and barriers as per the third benchmark on the rule of law and human rights, particularly in terms of addressing sexual and gender-based violence. In its renewal of the UNAMID mandate, the Council should implement its recently adopted SCR 2106 (OPs 8, 12, 21) by strengthening language concerning women and civil society’s participation in processes to implement peace agreements and in the establishment of security arrangements and transitional justice mechanisms. The Council should reinforce existing language concerning women’s protection concerns, and support the important role of Gender Advisors. The Council should prioritize the call for all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, including women and children, from violations, including sexual and gender-based violence, and continue the request to the Secretary-General to report on progress made in creating and implementing a strategy to protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence, as requested in SCR 1881 (OP 14).
Democratic Republic of the Congo
In its discussion of reports on the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) and expected briefing on the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework, the Council should ensure that women’s participation and protection concerns are central to efforts to achieve peace and stability in the DRC, as highlighted in SCR 2106 (OP 11, 12). Regarding the PSC Framework, the Council and MONUSCO should provide consistent support to the civil society consultations that have taken place during the benchmark development process, and ensure these continue throughout the Framework implementation process, particularly regarding women’s participation. Any national implementation mechanisms should ensure women’s and civil society organizations’ full participation, and reporting on progress should contain gender analysis and gender-disaggregated data. Regarding the MONUSCO country report, as previous reports of the Secretary-General on 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 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. The intervention brigade authorized under the MONUSCO mandate in SCR 2098 (2013) should be held to the mission’s protection of civilians mandate, must be subjected to strict vetting procedures and pre-deployment training that reaches best practice standards, particularly regarding sexual violence in conflict.
Iraq
The expected report and mandate renewal on the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI) should hold women’s human rights central to addressing increasing concerns regarding the current security situation. The report should include information, analysis, and recommendations on challenges facing women in political processes; progress made in ensuring participation of Iraqi women in national reconciliation efforts; and progress made to enhance Iraqi women’s access to justice. Further, the report should provide information on progress in developing national strategies on SCR 1325, such as a National Action Plan.
Lebanon
The Security Council is expected to receive a report from the Secretary-General on the implementation of SCR 1701 (2006) on the situation in Lebanon. The briefing and discussion around this report should address women’s protection concerns, particularly regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis due to the conflict in Syria. Further, women’s participation in political systems and peacebuilding efforts at the national level, inter alia the National Dialogue, as well as efforts to address and prevent sexual and gender-based violence should be addressed within the report and raised by Council members.
Middle East
The Security Council’s discussion on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, should focus on the reduction of indiscriminate attacks harming civilians in both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and on upholding accountability for violations of human rights and crimes under international law. Member States, including Council members, should ensure that any outcome of this debate includes concrete steps to promote the role of women in any peace process, and to end violence targeting women and girls, including violations that severely harm women and girls, including demolition of homes, and denial of adequate access to education and healthcare through restrictions on building schools, clinics, and roads in “Area C” of the West Bank.
South Sudan
Implementing its newly adopted SCR 2106 (OPs 5, 12) in its expected renewal of the UNMISS mandate, the Security Council should ensure the current provisions supporting women’s participation are strengthened, particularly in all aspects of constitution-building and political work, and in all negotiations underway to resolve current crises. The Council should ensure the protection component of UNMISS’s mandate is supported and resourced. In addition, the Council should:
- Ensure DDR programs comprehensively support women associated with armed forces; and include in these efforts both a comprehensive approach to mine action, and the scourge of small arms and light weapons (SCR 2106, OP 16 a);
- Support the revision of South Sudan’s legal framework, particularly in ensuring that women have true access to justice, including in crimes of sexual violence and domestic violence, and in the interim ensure measures are taken to provide that access to justice for women;
- Specifically request that the regular report on UNMISS include sex-disaggregated data, analysis, and recommendations;
- Ensure that there are provisions for crucial and long-term support to civil society, particularly women’s rights organizations, and ensure that UNMISS is mandated to engage with and support the South Sudanese people, including in rural areas, inter alia through senior Gender Advisors (SCR 2106, OP 8); and
- Support the effective implementation of the Women’s Protection Advisor (WPA) initiative, including expedited recruitment to fill outstanding positions, ensuring formalized training and modes of operation for all WPAs in line with international ethical and safety guidelines, and referral of victims to support services (SCR 2106, OP 7).
Implementing its newly adopted SCR 2106 (OPs 5, 12) in its expected renewal of the UNMISS mandate, the Security Council should ensure the current provisions supporting women’s participation are strengthened, particularly in all aspects of constitution-building and political work, and in all negotiations underway to resolve current crises. The Council should ensure the protection component of UNMISS’s mandate is supported and resourced. In addition, the Council should:
- Ensure DDR programs comprehensively support women associated with armed forces; and include in these efforts both a comprehensive approach to mine action, and the scourge of small arms and light weapons (SCR 2106, OP 16 a);
- Support the revision of South Sudan’s legal framework, particularly in ensuring that women have true access to justice, including in crimes of sexual violence and domestic violence, and in the interim ensure measures are taken to provide that access to justice for women;
- Specifically request that the regular report on UNMISS include sex-disaggregated data, analysis, and recommendations;
- Ensure that there are provisions for crucial and long-term support to civil society, particularly women’s rights organizations, and ensure that UNMISS is mandated to engage with and support the South Sudanese people, including in rural areas, inter alia through senior Gender Advisors (SCR 2106, OP 8); and
- Support the effective implementation of the Women’s Protection Advisor (WPA) initiative, including expedited recruitment to fill outstanding positions, ensuring formalized training and modes of operation for all WPAs in line with international ethical and safety guidelines, and referral of victims to support services (SCR 2106, OP 7).
In its regular work, the Council should ensure that all country reports and mandate renewals evaluate the level of protection and promotion of women’s human rights, as per SCRs 1325, 1820 (OP 9), 1888 (OP 11), 1889 (OP 5), 1960 (OPs 6, 13), and 2106 (OPs 5, 6). Member States should inquire about any lack of such reporting. In July, the Security Council has the opportunity to implement a number of provisions in its recently adopted SCR 2106, which, inter alia, emphasizes the importance of the role of civil society in the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda (OPs 11, 12, 19, 20, 21); the importance of women, peace and security throughout the work of the Council, including in mandate renewals (OP 5); and numerous provisions to address sexual violence in conflict.