| ASSESSING
WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE PEACE PROCESS |
|
Table
of Contents
Executive
summary
1. Introduction
1.1 Women
in the peace process: Commitments made in the African and the
Global Platforms
2. Commitments
2.1 The
United Nations system
2.1.1
UNIFEM
2.1.2 OHCHR
2.1.3 UNHCR
2.1.4 UNFPA
2.1.5 UNESCO
2.2 National
commitments
3. Statistical
data on the status of women in conflict situations
4. General assessment
4.1 Assessment
of progress achieved
4.2 Assessment of the strategies of the stakeholders
4.3 Human and financial resources provided by
United Nations agencies and partners for the peace initia- tives
of women
5. Mechanisms
for monitoring and evaluation
5.1 Mechanisms
for accountability vis- à vis women as beneficiaries
5.2 Mechanisms for consultation and dialogue between
Gove nments and NGOs
6. Results
of recommendations of meetings, conferences and other consultations
organized at the regional, subregional and regional levels
6.1 Expert
g oup/ women s leadership fo um for peace
6.2 Conference on peace, gender and development
6.3 Peace mission to Burundi
6.4 The African Women s Committee on Peace and
Development
6.5 The African First Ladies Forum
6.6 ECA regional conference on economic development
6.7 Inter- agency workshop on documented best
practices of women in peace- building and non- violent means
of conflict resolution
6.8 The pan- African women s conference for a
culture of peace and non- violence
6.9 The Sixth Regional Conference on Women: -
mid- decade review of the implementation of the Dakar and Beijing
Platfo ms for action. ( 22- 26 November, 1999) Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
7. Conclusion
References
Notes
about this publication
Executive
summary
This report
was prepared for the Sixth African Regional Conference on Women
held in A dis Ababa from 22 to 27 November 1999. The Conference
provided an opportunity to review the overall implementation of
the African Platform for Action adopted in November 1994 and the
Beijing Platform for Action adopted in September 1995. The report
assesses, in particular, the commitments made by Governments and
United Nations Agencies to promote the participation of women
in peace processes. It further examines the national, subregional
and regional mechanisms for monitoring the Platform for Action.
The report contains the views and recommendations of participants
attending the Sixth African Regional Conference, who participated
in the workshop on women and peace held during the conference.
The theme
of Women s Participation in the Peace Process is very important
for Africa. Not only do women constitute the majority in pre-
and especially post- conflict societies, they are also often the
first to start calling for peace. There have been fourteen conflicts
on the continent since the adoption of the two Platforms. Africa
has the largest number of refugees and internally displaced persons
on our globe. Against this background, it is important to assess
the participation of women in bringing about peaceful positive
changes. There can be no sustainable peace without the participation
of women who bear the brunt of the wars and internal conflicts.
African women Peace activists lobbied hard at the Fifth African
Regional Conference on Women in Dakar, Senegal, to strongly influence
the resolve of Governments to support the inclusion of women in
the peace processes. This commitment was strengthened by the adoption
of the African Platform for Action by the OAU Heads of State meeting
in June 1995. There are some good examples of Governments that
have included women in peace processes.
Through such
actions the Governments have demonstrated their commitments. There
is still much to be done to ensure that women have a permanent
position in decision- making structures.
The United
Nations agencies have played an important role in supporting women
s participation by committing resources and technical support
to enable women s groups to build their capacity to influence
peace processes in their countries. Other initiatives include
the promotion of peace education to promote a culture of peace.
The establishment
of the African Women s Committee for Peace and Development brings
hope to African women that their voice will now be heard in Peace
negotiations on our continent. At the international level, the
advancements made by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwandan
in prosecuting war crimes and the Tribunal s characterization
of sexual violence as an instrument of genocide and a crime against
humanity are very welcome for the protection of women s rights.
There are
new challenges to be ad ressed in the search for peace. These
include the use of new and sophisticated arms and the use of anti-
personnel mines. The arms industry continues to make profits while
the African people suffer death or permanent disability. African
women peace activists are committed to turning their attention
and activism to the Northern countries which develop these arms.
There will
be no development in Africa until there is an end to conflicts.
The challenge of bringing peace to our continent is a challenge
to all of us.
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1. Introduction
1. 1 Women
in the peace process: Commitments made in the African and the
Global Platforms
Prior to the
adoption o both the African and the Global Platforms for Action,
a regional Conference on Women and Peace took place in Kampala,
Uganda, in November 1993. This was a joint initiative of the Economic
Commission for Africa, the Organization of African Unity and the
Government of Uganda. This initiative was in response to the concerns
of African Women about the increasing number of intra- State wars,
violent conflicts and civil strife, in the continent, of which
they are the major victims. It came in the context of the goals
and objectives of the United Nations Women s Decade whose strategies
and action plan emphasized the need or the promotion of equality,
development and peace. It was also considered time to examine
the situation of women in the process of political changes and
the role they play in conflict resolution and peace- building.
The African
Regional Conference on Women and Peace ocused on four areas of
concern: the nature and effects of conflict and underdevelopment;
women in the struggle for peace; the empowerment of women in the
peace process; and a culture of tolerance and violence. The outcome
was the Kampala Action Plan on Women and Peace which was endorsed
by the OAU Heads of State and Government in June 1995. The principal
ideas contained therein were incorporated in the African Platform
or Action and later in the Global Platform.
The causes
of wars and conflicts are varied. War devastates all of society,
but armed conflict, political instability and civil unrest inflict
particular suffering on women and the girl child. The impact of
violence against women and violation of the human rights of women
in such situations is elt by women of all ages. They suffer displacement,
loss of home and property, involuntary disappearances, sexual
slavery, rape, sexual abuse and orced pregnancy in situations
of armed conflict, especially as a result of policies of ethnic
cleansing and other new and emerging orms of violence.
When Governments,
the International community and civil society adopted the Beijing
Declaration and Plat orm or Action ( PFA) , they resolved, innter
alia , to promote non- violent orms of conflict resolution and
reduce the overall incidence of human rights abuse on women in
conflict situations.
Governments
are called upon to uphold and reinforce standards set out in international
humanitarian law and international rights instruments to prevent
all acts of violence against women in situations of armed conflict.
They are also called upon to fully investigate all acts of violence
against women committed during war, including rape, forced prostitution,
and other orms of indecent assault and sexual slavery, as well
as to prosecute all acts of violence.
Specifically,
the PFA, recognizing that the elimination of all orms of violence
against women is central to equality, development and peace, calls
upon Governments and other agencies to commit themselves to undertaking
the following key actions:
Strategic
objective 1: Increase the participation of women in conflict
resolution at decision- making levels and protect women living
in situations of armed and other conflicts or under foreign occupation.
Strategic
objective 2: Reduce excessive military expenditures and control
the availability of armaments.
Strategic
objecti e 3: Promote non- violent orms of conflict resolution
and reduce the incidence of human rights abuse in conflict situations.
Strategic
objecti e 4: Promote women s contribution to fostering a culture
of peace.
Strategic
objective 5 : Provide protection, assistance and training
to refugee women and other displaced women in need of international
protection and internally displaced women;
Strategic
objective 6: Provide protection to women of the colonies and
non- self governing territories.
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2. Commitments
Both the Dakar
and the Bejing Platforms aknowledge that without durable peace
there can be no sustainable development; and that without sustainable
development there can be no durable peace. They further state
that since peace is a pre- requisite or the advancement of women,
without peace in Africa, none of the proposed recommendations
and actions in the Platforms can be implemented. Considering that
both women and men are victims of the consequences of conflict,
the representation of both gender groups in all peacebuilding
mechanisms is vital. Peace- making is a life- long process that
is based on partnerships which are inextricably linked to equality
between women and men and development.
Five years
after the Beijing Conference, there have been significant developments
in the participation of women in the peacebuilding process in
Africa. Both Governments and United Nations agencies have contributed
resources and goodwill which have helped women to make significant
strides in contributing to peacebuilding on the continent.
The following
are various commitments made by the United Nations Agencies, Governments
and regional entities in connection with this critical area of
concern in the two Platforms.
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2.1 The
United Nations system
PFA identifies
the United Nations as one of the key implementers of the Platform.
Under the chapter on Institutional Arrangements ( C) , PFA calls
upon the key United Nations agencies to integrate a gender perspective
in all their policies and programmes, and to establish a comprehensive
implementation and follow- up mechanism for the Platform. In order
to be effective in the implementating of the PFA, the United Nations
heads to restructure and redefine its institutional capacity.
This will include strengthening the strategies and working methods
of its various bodies. Furthermore, it stipulates that all entities
of the United Nations system focusing on the advancement of women
shall have the necessary resources and support to carry out follow-
up activities. ( Paras. 306- 311of PFA) .
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2.1.1 The
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
UNIFEM has
set in motion several initiatives to promote women s participation
in the peace process in Africa. Through its African Women in Crisis
project, popularly known as AFWIC, UNIFEM focused its programme
activities on strengthening women s participation in peace processes
and encourages gender- sensitive approaches to peacebuilding.
The framework o the Fund s global initiatives situates the promotion
of human security as an integral part of any efforts to promote
sustainable peace and development. UNIFEM is committed to achieving
the following: ( a) Building the leadership potential of women
to make meaningful contributions to peacemaking processes at all
levels; ( b) Facilitating efforts to engender peace- building
processes at the national, regional and international levels;
and ( c) Supporting measures to address the fundamental factors
that increase women s vulnerability during periods of armed conflict.
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2.1.2 Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
The Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ( OHCHR)
is committed to promoting and protecting women s rights in times
of war and peace. The agency is committed to ensuring that women
and girls rights in war situations are respected and that women
fully participate in conflict resolution. The agency supports
the inclusion of women in peacebuilding processes, noting that
women are true peacemakers and peace- builders in the field and
at the negotiating table. OHCHR operates in post- conflict and
ongoing armed conflict settings, from violent internal tensions
to peaceful democratic transitions, requiring corresponding adjustments
in the mandates and modus operandi o the agency.
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2.1.3 The
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
As indicated
above, the strategic objectives of both the Global and African
Plat orms on the protection, assistance and training of refugee
women, other displaced women in need of international protection
and internally displaced women state that Governments, intergovernmental
organizations, in particular, and UNHCR, are to take urgent steps
to speed up and enhance the involvement of women, including refugees
and internally displaced women, in conflict prevention, management
and resolution and in the peace process.
UNHCR is one
of the key United Nations Agencies specifically concerned with
activities relating to violence against women, women and armed
conflict, and the human rights of women and the girl- child.
The tragic
consequences of man- made disasters such as armed conflict, civil
strife and generalized violence trigger the displacement of people,
especially of women and their young children, exposing them to
the dangers of violence and abuse.
UNHCR promotes
women s role in ostering a culture of peace and non- violent orms
of conflict resolution through training and peace- education activities.
An example of this is the Rwandan women s initiative through which
women can rebuild their lives and that of their communities. Other
similar initiatives are being carried out in Rwanda, Uganda, Liberia
and Kenya via different channels of mass education.
UNHCR is committed
to using a participatory approach to combat violence against refugee
women. The agency has encouraged the establishment of refugee
task forces that offer counselling and support services to women
who have been sexually abused. They also advocate for the elimination
of such harmful practices as FGM from the refugee community. In
order to promote better programmes or the protection of and assistance
to refugee women, UNHCR has adopted a gender perspective in all
its policies and programmes and has invested financial and human
resources in the development of training materials to guide its
staf on how to promote women s rights.
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2.1.4 The
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
In cooperation
with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and some
non- governmental organizations ( NGOs) , UNFPA provides packages
or reproductive health services that include care and post- coital
contraception for sexually abused women. This is a pro- active
strategy that responds to the immediate needs of vulnerable women,
or those that PFA identifies as women in special needs due to
armed conflict.
2.1.5 The
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
UNESCO is
committed to promoting women s ostering of a culture of peace.
In the last five years, the agency has supported initiatives to
strengthen women s leadership capacity in promoting a culture
of peace. UNESCO adopted the Manifesto 2000 for a culture of Peace
and Non- violence in March 1999. The manifesto is a basic framework
through which each and every individual is commited to promoting
a culture of peace.
UNESCO s committment
to actions that ensure equality between women and men is evident
in its action to implement PFA with adequate resources, political
will and through the preparation, implementation and ollow- up
of national plans of action among other things.
As a follow
up to the process that commenced in Kampala in 1994, and the resultant
Kampala Action Plan, UNESCO has supported the development of a
Culture of Peace in Africa by hosting a conference on this theme
in Zanzibar, in May 1999. The Conference brought together over
three hundred women from various walks of life. It was the agency
s contribution to a mid- term review of PFA and aimed to strengthen
women s peacebuilding capacity in Africa. UNESCO s project on
Civil Education for Peace and Good Governance seeks to document
the experiences of women in peace processes.
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2. 2 National
commitments
Several countries
took unprecedented initiatives to promote peace and the participation
of women in the peace process. Examples ollow:
1. The Rwandan
Government is committed to the integration of women in the reconstruction
of its society. This Government s commitment is captured in its
support and hosting of the 1997 Regional Conference on Peace,
Gender and Development. The outcome of that conference was the
adoption of the Kigali Declaration for Peace, Gender and Development
in 1997.
2. The Rwandan
Government established a Ministry for the Peace Process which
supports the participation of women in grassroots committees in
governance issues at this level. The Government also addressed
the important issue of women s economic situation and land reform
in favour of women in post- conflict reconstruction. In this programme
the Government gave women s committees, comprising elected officials,
the responsibility of setting up contributory communal funds,
intended to help women to start economic activities at the commune
and sector levels. This initiative enhanced women s active participation
in post- conflict reconstruction in Rwanda. The Government established
a National Commission for Unity and Reconciliation to assist citizens
in dealing with the trauma of the genocide.
3. The Algerian
Government took unprecedented action to facilitate the passing
of legislation to decriminalize abortion in order to allow women
who had been raped during the armed conflict access to abortion
services. The Government further provided multidisciplinary trauma
centres to assist women in coping with the trauma arising from
the violations inflicted on them. The Government also introduced
peace studies in the National School Curriculum.
4. The Angolan
Government, through the Ministry for Family and Women s Promotion,
has supported the active participation of civil society organizations
in the post- conflict reconstruction process. Some of these are
women s organizations.
5. In Liberia
and Burundi, pressure from women s organizations contributed to
the negotiations for national peace. The Liberian Government supported
a woman interim President who was instrumental in brokering the
peace agreement.
6. In Sierra
Leone, the Government included four women in the team of nine
participants in the peace talks leading to the development of
the Lome Peace Agreement of 1999.
7. The Government
of Chad established a National Institution to mediate conflicts.
This institution includes women.
8. The Government
of Mali supports the active participation of women in peacebuilding
initiatives in the country. Women s stand against armed conflict
has contributed to the new impetus to reduce the proliferation
of small arms.
9. In Burundi,
the participation of women initially disorganized due to lack
of political will on the part of all the parties in the conflict
and, in some cases, strong resistance by political parties. However,
the Government established a Ministry of Peace in 1997 to coordinate
peace activities. Women were admitted unto the National Unity
and Reconstruction Committee in recognition of their important
role in the promotion of peace. Women influenced and organized
their participation in the Arusha Peace Negotiations and are now
officially accredited as observers in the talks. The Ministry
in charge o Social Action and Women s A airs brought together
women members of committees in seven provinces to discuss peace
and income- generating activities. The Government supported the
hosting of the National Peace Festival on the Culture of Peace
in January 1998.
10. The Tunisian
Government reduced its military budget and encouraged women s
organizations to participate in peace negotiations and activities.
The Government introduced peace education in the school syllabus.
11. The Ugandan
Government included women in its post- conflict reconstruction
programme. The result is that Uganda now has a strong institutional
base for the active participation of women in decision- making.
12. Several
Governments have initiated national education programmes to support
a peace culture; these include the Governments of Togo, Rwanda,
Algeria and Burundi.
13. Follwing
their acceptance of refugees in their countries, several other
Governments have adopted peace education and have addressed the
needs of refugee women. These countries include Benin, Chad, Uganda,
Tanzania, and Guinea. The following countries also made specific
commitments in this area in their action plans:
Angola
: The participation of women in the peace process
Burkina
Faso : To promote non- violence
Ghana
: Identifification of as a critical area of concern
Kenya
: Identification of women and armed conflict as a critical
area of concern
The
Niger : To combat violence and the consequences of armed
conflict: to provide assistance to refugees and displaced
women and to reintegrate them in the process of development;
to train women and men to combat violence.
Nigeria
: To increase the participation of women at the decision-
making levels, protect women in situations o armed conflict,
promote non- violent forms of conflict resolution, and reduce
military expenditure.
The
Sudan : To identify women and armed conflict as one of
the critical areas of concern.
South
Africa : To increase and strengthen the participation
of women in conflict resolution, decision- making and leadership
in peace and security activities, and to protect women in
situations of armed and other conflicts. To put forward legislation
subject to amendment, or new legislation that must be enacted.
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3. Statistical
data on the status of women in conflict situations
Five years
after PFA was adopted, the status of African women did not improve
significantly, indeed there has been increased civil strife and
conflict. The majority of the estimated 8.1 million refugees,
displaced persons and post- conflict returnees in Africa in 1997
were women and children. War and conflict have increased violence
against women and worsened the social and economic conditions
under which they live. In situations of conflict, refugee and
displaced women and girls have often been sexually assaulted.
Reports compiled by women s human rights groups indicate that
in Mozambique, Liberia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, women and girls
faced extreme violence, including rape and torture. Women living
as refugees have been orced to take to prostitution. The United
Nations 1996 report to the General Assembly states that women
of all ages may be victims of violence in conflict, but adolescent
girls are particularly at risk for many reasons, including body
size. The impact of armed conflict on children especially girls,
is atrocious, reflecting a slow progress in improving the status
of African women in conflict situations. Programmes to promote
the health o African women through maternal and child care services
and amily planning services have been undercut by the reduction
of finances and other resources at various levels.
A review of
data for the last five years demonstrate that women have had to
bear the brunt of the continent s harsh social and economic conditions,
even though many Governments have ratified conventions and international
legal instruments on women s rights. Often, however, international
instruments have not been absorbed into national laws.
Moreover,
many women are ignorant of the existence of laws that recognize
their rights and that can be invoked for their protection. About
three quarters of the world s 20 million refugees are women and
their dependants.
The 1996 national
report of Burundi referred to abuses committed by soldiers in
the commune of Gasorwe leading to the death of 200 civilians most
of whom were women and children.
Analysis and
research on refugee issues ( 1992) put the number of internally
displaced persons at 16 million. This includes 4.5 million in
the Sudan, 300,000 in Chad, more than 1 million in Ethiopia, 825,000
in Angola, 2 Million in Mozambique, at least 1 million in Liberia,
2 million in Somalia, 4.2 million in South Africa and half a million
in Uganda [Center for policy and research on refugees issues,
1992 p 2 ].
As regards
the availability of reliable data, little or no data has been
generated by Governments or United Nations agencies on the actual
situation of women in the peace process in the last five years.
It is recommended that for the coming five years the emerging
data should be gender- disaggregated in order to show the impact
o war and internal conflicts on women and men, respectively. This
will strengthen advocacy activities for women. Data and research
should also be developed to show what has been the impact of women
in peace processes, and whether the result was sustainable peace.
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4. General
assessment
4. 1 Assessment
of progress achieved
PFA calls
or Governments to establish national machineries or the implementation
of the Platform. It also calls or joint efforts between NGOs and
government agencies. Several national initiatives have been taken
to increase the participation of women in national peace pro-
cesses. In selected African countries that have experienced conflicts,
women s groups have taken up bold and effective strategies to
ensure their participation in the peace process. During the inter-
agency Best Practices in Peace Building and Non- Violent Conflict
Resolution con- ference in Addis Ababa in 1998, several case studies
were revealed.
In Liberia,
women organized themselves effectively through two national networks
to influence the peace process. After the active participation
of women, a long- term sustainable peace process was developed
that was inclusive of both women and men.
In Sierra
Leone, the Sudan, Somalia and North- West Somalia, various women
s movements or Peace were ormed to promote a peaceful resolution
of the conflicts. In Rwanda, women s action was centred on influencing
the central political process.
In the Republic
of the Congo, women participated in the development o two peace
pacts in 1994 and 1997, respectively.
In Mali, the
participation of women in an internal conflict involving the Northern
Tuareg people has been important in the reconciliation of the
communities and the restoration of trust between them. The experience
of Liberian women in the peace talks held in Accra, Ghana, where
they organized a delegation of six women to make a forced entry
into the 1994 Accra Clarifications Conference, demonstrates that
Governments and regional bodies may still be gender- biased against
women in peace initiatives. Yet their strategic presence at the
conference gave the women a high visibility through the print
and electronic media. The Governments of Liberia and Burundi also
took steps to include women in the peacebuilding process. The
Liberian Government supported a woman interim President who was
instrumental to the negotiation of the lasting peace that this
country enjoys today.
Recognition
should be given to the following Governments for having supported
women s participatation in peacebuilding initiatives in their
respective countries: the Sudan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Rwanda,
the Republic of the Congo, Mali and Burundi. These countries have
taken into consideration the issues and concerns raised by women
peace activists in their efforts to bring about national reconstruction.
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4. 2 Assessment
of the strategies of the stakeholders
In addition
to these successful efforts to increase and strengthen the participation
of women peace networks in order to build their capacity to influence
regional peace initiatives, Governments should buttress their
commitments with concrete action through legislation and policy
so as to ensure that women are included in all structures of conflict
resolution and peacebuilding.
Legislative
or policy changes in any of the countries that support permanent
inclusion of women in the peace process is crucial. Countries
should establish effective national machineries through which
women can participate in these processes. In many instances, women
have had to lobby intensively for visibility and inclusion. At
times, the existing national machineries may not be effective
in the promotion of women s rights. It may even be necessary for
Governments to legislate stronger conditions such as the inclusion
of affirmative action in all decision- making institutions. This
will guarantee that, at all levels, women are not excluded from
participating in decisions that affect them. The national machinery
will certainly be more effective with legislative and financial
support.
At the international
level, several mechanisms are used to monitor and follow up the
implementation of the global PFA. The United Nations Commission
on the Status of Women ( CSW) , was mandated by the General Assembly
to play a central role in monitoring the implementation of the
Beijing PFA. Since 1995, CSW has systematically addressed each
of the 12 critical areas of the Platform. In 1998, the Commission
or the Advancement of Women examined the ollowing key areas: Violence
against women, Women and armed conflict, and the Human rights
of women and the girl- child. CSW was also made the preparatory
body for organizing the United Nations special session on Beijing
+ 5 held in June 2000.
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4. 3 Human
and financial resources provided by United Nations agencies and
partners for the peace initiatives of women
Resources
or peace initiatives have come from different sources. Various
foreign partners have supported specific activities relating to
building women s capacity to participate in peace processes. Some
of the resource allocations during the past five years have been
as follows:
( a) The
Netherlands Government provided $ US 860,000.00 for capacity
building for work at the grassroots level and for training women
on peacebuilding skills. The support was or phase one of the
peace project;
( b) UNIFEM
provided the AFWIC project with $ US 1,000,000.00 for activities
to be undertaken during the period 1999- 2001;
( c) The
Swedish Government provided financial support totaling $ US
430,000.00 for strengthening peace movements in Burundi during
the years 1998- 2000;
( d) The
Italian Government provided financial support totaling $ US
250,000.00 for peace mainstreaming in the Arusha peace process
for Burundi;
( e) The
Netherlands Government provided support amounting to $ US 250,000.00
for Somalian women in the peace process from 1998 to 1999;
( f) The
United Nations Human Rights Commission has appointed a Special
Rapporteur on the elimination o harmful traditional practices
affecting the health of women and the girl- child ( HTPs) and
a special rapporteur on systematic rape, sexual slavery and
slavery- like practices during armed conflicts.
( g) The
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is also supporting
the campaign for the universal ratification of the Women s Convention
( CEDAW) and the removal of substantive reservations. Through
the United Nations Technical Cooperation Programme in the field
of Human Rights, the agency provides a programme that addresses
training for police officers, peacekeepers and human rights
monitors.
However, fund
allocation and the effectiveness of the mechanisms and procedures
established to mobilize resources to fully implement the activities
contained in the two Platforms have allen short of expectations.
In most cases, the resources allocated for peace initiatives are
insufficient. UNIFEM, UNHCR, ECA and OAU need more resources in
order to be more effective and financially strong enough to carry
out their work. No data was available in the national reports
on the financial resources used for peace initiatives in the respective
countries.
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5. Mechanisms
for monitoring and evaluation
5. 1 Mechanisms
for accountability vis- à vis women as beneficiaries
In addition
to the national machineries and the African peace networks, other
mechanisms have been set up at the international and regional
levels to step up implementation of the PFA.
In 1997, the
United Nations Secretary- General appointed a Special Representative
or Children in Armed Conflict. Through this initiative the Secretary-
General acilitated achievement of the African Platform s calls
for special attention to be paid to the plight of the girl- child.
The African Platform or Action recognizes that the girl- child
in Africa has special needs. The Special Representative s office
will be producing reports to demonstrate the harsh environment
in which the African girl- child is raised.
The establishment
of a permanent International Criminal Court ( ICC) is expected
to promote and protect human rights, especially women rights.
The Women s caucus that includes representatives from African
women s organizations has presented major legal re orms to make
the Vienna treaty useful or women. As sexual violence during armed
conflict has been ignored for too long, providing a legal framework
within the new ICC s jurisdiction to end such impunity is key
to women s protection. The women s caucus sought to incorporate
a gender perspective throughout the ICC statute by ensuring that
structural and procedural mechanisms are incorporated so that
gender- based crimes are effectively investigated and culprits
successfully prosecuted. The establishment of the ICC is a direct
implementation of strategic objective E. 3 145 ( d) o the Platform
for Action.
Itis also
hoped that the establishment of the African Women Committee on
Peace and Development will ensure women s active participation
in peace talks and post- conflict reconstruction. The establishment
of the Committee has taken long. The recommendation for its establishment
was made in 1993 during the Pan- African Women s Conference on
Peace held in Kampala. However, the Committee requires adequate
authority and finance to be effective in making a difference in
the participation of women in the peace process. It is at present
supported by ECA and OAU.
5. 2 Mechanisms
for consultation and dialogue between Governments and NGOs.
The PFA calls
for closer cooperation between Governments and NGO s in the implementation
of the Platform. The development and implementation of the national
plans of action should be a joint initiative and joint action.
This approach has been successfully used by some African Governments
and NGOs.
[Table
of Contents]
6. Results
of recommendations of meetings, conferences and other consultations
organized at the regional, subregional and regional levels
6. 1 Expert
group/ women s leadership forum for peace
From 4 to
8 November 1996, a forum of experts was organized in Johannesburg,
South Africa to deliberate on mechanisms for increasing women
s participation in the peace process. The orum was guided by the
recommendations o the Kampala Platform or Action ( 1994) which,
among other things, calls for the establishment of a Committee
o African Women Ministers and Plenipotentiaries to be involved
in policy and mechanisms for conflict prevention, management and
resolution of the highest organs of OAU and ECA. It was recommended
that the committee should be autonomous and have a joint OAU/
ECA secretariat or a specified period of time.
6. 2 Conference
on peace, gender and development
From 1 to
3 March 1997, a Pan- African Conference on Peace, Gender and Development
was held in Kigali, Rwanda. One of the key recommendations of
this meeting was to call upon OAU and ECA to speed up the appointment
of the Committee of African women Ministers and others to address
conflict resolution at the highest policy level in the continent.
6. 3 Peace
mission to Burundi
In December
1997, a high level African Women s Peace Mission went to Burundi
to acilitate the peace process in that country. This mission helped
to build Burundi s capacity to peacefully solve its internal conflicts.
.
6. 4 The
African Women s Committee on Peace and Development
The African
Women s Committee on Peace and Development ( AWCPD) was set up
in April 1998 and officially launched on 11 November 1998 in Addis
Ababa. The Committee is a joint initiative of OAU and ECA. Among
other things, AWCPD is entrusted with advising the Secretary-
General of OAU and the Executive Secretary of ECA on issues o
mainstreaming women s concerns and a gender perspective in peace
and development initiatives in the continent. There are two main
plans in this broad mandate of AWCPD. The first is to facilitate
the effective involvement of African women in advocacy for alternative
options to war and violence. The other is to promote increased
participation by women in decision- making, particularly for the
prevention, management and resolution of conflicts and other matters
of war and peace, thereby inculcating and nurturing a culture
of peace and peace- building in the people.
As indicated
in the minutes of the first and second meetings of the Committee
held in 1998 and 1999, AWCPD has taken peace initiatives and actions
in several African countries, namely: Burundi, the Congo, Guinea-
Bissau, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, the Democratic Republic o
the Congo, Angola and South Africa.
[Table
of Contents]
6. 5 The
African First Ladies Forum
At the Fourth
World Conference on Women, a significant initiative undertaken
was the establishment of the African First Ladies Forum. The purpose
of this Forum was to examine the peace situation on the continent.
The First Ladies sent a mission to Burundi in 1996 with the aim
of appealing to the leaders to stop the internal conflict there.
The Forum has held several regional meetings. In 1996, in Abuja,
Nigeria, they developed the Abuja Declaration of Africa s First
Ladies on Peace and Humanitarian issues . During their second
forum the following year, they held the First West African First
Ladies Meeting in Accra, Ghana, from 27 to 28 July 1998. The meeting
noted that it was important for the African continent to address
its own problems and that there was need to solve conflicts expeditiously
in order to minimize the high human and economic costs involved.
In their Plan of Action, the First Ladies, inter alia , decided
to work with the ECOWAS Committee of Seven on Guinea- Bissau;
to offer their services to the Government of Sierra Leone; and
to enlist in each country mechanisms and institutions to mobilize
relief and humanitarian assistance for victims of the civil war
in Sierra Leone. The First Ladies also committed themselves to
advocating for and promoting the political, economic and social
empowerment of women. They pledged to orm an inter governmental
group to monitor and periodically review the implementation of
the Accra Plan of Action.
[Table
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6. 6 ECA
regional conference on economic development
In April 1998,
the Economic Commission for Africa held a regional conference
to re lect on its orty years of existence. The Conference s theme
was African Women and Economic Development: Investing in our Future.
Participants noted that in spite of the commitments made by African
Governments at the Fifth African Regional Conference and the Fourth
World Conference on Women, there had not been significant increase
in the participation of women in national, subregional and regional
mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution.
6.7 Inter-
agency workshop on documented best practices of women in peace-
building and non- violent means of conflict resolution
To capture
the unique contribution of women to peace movements and the non-
violent means of conflict resolution in Africa, UNHCR in close
cooperation with UNESCO, UNDP, UNIFEM and UNICEF and the co- sponsorship
of OAU, convened an Inter- Agency Workshop on Documented Best
Practices of Women in Peace- Building and Non- Violent means of
Conflict Resolution, from 24 to 26 November 1997, in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. The main objectives of the Workshop were: ( a) to provide
a orum for established women s peace movements to share information
and experiences on best practices concerning women s contribution
to peace- building and non- violent means of conflict resolution;
( b) to consolidate partnership with national, regional, international,
intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations as well
as individual peace- promoters in order to enhance coordination
and joint action in support of women s community activities on
peacebuilding; ( c) to strengthen assistance to the establishment
of effective mechanisms for mainstreaming women s concerns and
a gender perspective in peace negotiations and peace- building;
and ( d) to support women s active participation in decision-
making processes.
Participants
from various African countries shared experiences on actual conflict
situations. Lessons learnt included the following:
( a) The
necessity of an institutional framework for promoting women
in decision- making;
( b) The
need to promote women s peace movements among neighbouring countries
as regional peace and stability will enhance the likelihood
of continued national peace;
( c) The
need for women to integrate positive traditional conflict resolution
mechanisms in peace initiatives;
( d) The
importance of including grassroots, rural and urban women as
well as women of various religious, linguistic, social and political
groupings in the recruitment of women into peace movements;
( e) The
need for programmes to initiate, strengthen and sustain peace
in the community through peace education in schools;
(f ) The
indispensability of acknowledging and maintaining women s continuing
role in sustaining peace after hostilities have ceased. Thus,
women should not be relegated to the domestic arena.
[Table
of Contents]
6. 8 The
pan- African women s conference for culture of peace and non-
violence.
This Pan-
African Women s Conference organized by UNESCO and supported by
OAU and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania was
held in Zanzibar from 17 to 20 May 1999. The final outcome was
the Zanzibar Declaration: Women of Africa or a Culture of Peace
. It emphasized the importance of:
( a) Women
s participation in Peace Promotion;
( b) Demilitarization and Disarmament
( c) Networking between African Women s Movements and International
Movements;
(d) Communication, Information and Dissemination and ( e) Resource
mobilization.
The Conference
strongly urged the OAU, ECA, ADB, the African Women s Committee
or Peace and Development, all international regional and subregional
organizations such as ECOWAS, SADC and IGAD as well as NGOs, Governments
and the donor community, to support and implement the Zanzibar
Declaration and the Women s Agenda for a Culture of Peace in Africa.
[Table
of Contents]
6. 9
The Sixth Regional Conference on Women: - mid- decade review
of the implementation of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms for action.
( 22- 26 November, 1999) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
6.9.1 Workshop
on the involvement of women in the peace process.
Below are
some recommendations of this Workshop of the Conference:
1. Governments
should secure women s access to decision- making mechanisms, education
and training and access to national resources by:
( i) Increasing
women s access to the decision- making process by appointing
more women to decision- making mechanisms at the national, subregional
and international levels ( including Governments, Parliaments
and subregional, regional and international organizations) .
In this regard, the quota system should be preferred when it
is to the advantage of women, while continuing to promote the
principle of competition between men and women;
( ii) Ensuring
the effective representation of women in military institutions,
appointing and encouraging more women to become officers at
decision- making levels;
( iii) Promulgating
laws designed to give effect to the will of Governments to involve
women in decision- making and, above all, to ensure that laws
are strictly applied.
On Education
and Training, the Workshop recommended:
1. Reforming
the school curriculum to incorporate programmes on culture and
peace for school children ( including respect or property, tolerance
and acceptance of differences, among other things) . These programmes
should be based on the specific cultural experience of each
country.
2. Promoting
in schools in rural areas and in refugee camps the teaching
of the principles of human rights and the content of international
conventions on peace in order to protect young people, in particular,
against indoctrination.
3. Significantly
increasing resource allocation to the education and training
sectors and ensuring that women and men have equal access to
education.
4. Promoting
literacy programmes for women in order to expand their understanding
of their role in development.
5. Promoting
the teaching of African Geography in primary schools and the
preparation of Information, education and communication programmes
to promote solidarity between African countries.
On National
Resources:
Governments
should take practical measures to ensure equitable distribution
of national resources by affording women equal access to these
resources. In that regard, laws and regulations should be adopted
to promote women s land ownership. Financial resources and income-
generating activities should be put in favour of women.
On Dialogue,
Consultation and Sensitization:
1. Encouraging
and promoting women s participation in dialogue and consultations
for peacebuilding. In this connection, all discriminatory laws
and traditional practices that hamper women s involvement in
any consultative process or dialogue should be abolished.
2. Establishing
sensitization programmes for women on their rights guaranteed
by the laws and regulations of each country.
3. Promulgating
laws designed to protect women and children refugees and displaced
persons against the following:
( i) All
orms of conflict- related violence ( rape, forcible recruitment
into armed groups, destruction of property, physical mutilation
and other abuses;
( ii)
Traditional practices which isolate women from peace processes;
( iii)
The dangers inherent in the use of landmines.
[Table
of Contents]
7. Conclusion
It is commendable
that, ive years after the Beijing World Conference on Women, there
have been noticeable developments in the participation of women
in the processes of peacebuilding and conflict- resolution in
Africa. Their input in terms of lobbying, peace missions, conferences,
recommendations and creating forums and networks at all levels
has helped to advance their just cause, their role and their contribution
in the various aspects of peacebuilding. They have showed themselves
to be vital promoters of the culture of peace. Governments, United
Nations Agencies, NGOs, Inter- governmental regional and subregional
organizations and national peace networks have all contributed
human and financial resources and goodwill that have enriched
women s significant strides in implementing the calls of the two
Platforms to involve women in the peace processes on the continent.
It is, however, an ongoing endeavour. Moreover, since the peacebuilding
process still remains a male- dominated area, much remains to
be done to step up and enhance the involvement of women, including
refugee and internally displaced women, in all conflict prevention,
management and resolution processes.
[Table
of Contents]
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Note
about this publication
For this and
other publications, please visit the ECA web site at the following
address: www.uneca.org or Contact Publications Economic Commission
for Africa P. O. Box 3001 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel. : 251- 1- 44 31 68 Fax: 251- 1- 51 03 65 E- mail: ecainfo@
uneca. org
Material in
this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted. Acknowledgment
is requested, together with a copy of the publication.
Written, edited
and designed by Mr. Jean Njeri Kamau,
Emmanuel Nwukor and Seifu Dagnachew. Photographs
provided by Eugiene Aw.
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of Contents]
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