African Ministers Meet To Gauge The on Implementation of Resolution 1325

Addis Ababa, 06/02/2008 - Over 12 African Ministers in charge of Gender and women's affairs, as well as Justice and Defence are attending as of today the High Level Policy Dialogue that The Economic Commission for Africa is organizing jointly with The Office of the Special Adviser (OSAGI) from 6-8 February 2008

The three-day Dialogue is also gathering over 50 senior government officials and representatives from various regional organizations and women's rights mouvements.

The Dialogue is being led by Ms. Rachel Mayanja, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Gender Issues and will focus on the national implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

The Resolution 1325, unanimously adopted by Security Council in October 2000 under the Presidency of Namibia, recognizes the need to mainstream women's and gender issues in the area of peace and security. It provides guidelines for action on a wide range of issues ranging from conflict prevention to peace negotiation and post-conflict reconstruction.

According to the Resolution 1325, the UN system and its Member States are requested to take concrete measures to:

•  Increase women's participation in conflict prevention and peace operations,

•  Secure the participation of women in institutions and in decision-making in post-conflict situations and transition processes from conflict to peace,

•  Strengthen protection of the human rights of women and girls and their special needs in connection with war and conflict,

•  Incorporate a gender perspective into humanitarian activities and into programmes aiming at promoting peace and security.

Unfortunately, eight years after the unanimous adoption of 1325, very few African governments have developed national action plans for national implementation of the above resolution. Côte d'Ivoire, for example, is one of the very few that have developed, with UNDP and UNFPA's support, a project to support the national implementation of 1325.

This means that the objectives set in 1325 are not taken into account in activities relating to peace making. Women and girls, who always bear the brunt of wars and conflict situations, continue to be marginalized and even excluded from all reconstruction and peace making processes.

During the High Level Policy Dialogue, representatives from Ministries of Gender, Defence and Justice of selected countries will present their respective experience with regard to implementing Security Council Resolution 1325 at the national level. They will also give some best practices on mainstreaming gender justice and gender equality goals in post conflict reconstruction programmes.

A presentation will also draw on the experience of the African Union, Sudan, and Burundi with regard to women's participation in peace building negotiations

Another major focus of the Dialogue will be formulation of concrete and doable recommendations to enhance the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 at the national level in Africa.

For further information, please contact:

Houda Mejri (Ms)

Information Officer, ACGS/UNECA

Tel : (0911) 864 588

E mail : hmejri@uneca.org