REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AGREE TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION TO EMPOWER WOMEN IN PEACE PROCESSES

VIENNA - Some 50 representatives of the United Nations and European-based regional organizations agreed today in Vienna to strengthen their cooperation to empower women in peace processes and to better combat violence against women. Focused on the theme of “Gender and Comprehensive Security”, the meeting was part of the regular process of consultations between the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) known as the “Tripartite Process” and took place within the context of the 10th anniversary of the Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

In his opening remarks on behalf of the United Nations, UNOG Director-General Sergei A. Ordzhonikidze highlighted that despite the expectations of Security Resolution 1325, progress in integrating women in peace processes had been slow. He pointed to the need to enhance monitoring, as the lack of accurate and sufficient data prevented effective responses. Stressing that lack of justice remained the rule rather than the exception for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, he called for an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes. Mr. Ordzhonikidze also encouraged international organizations to strengthen capacity, among local actors and within their own ranks at all levels, to enable women to take part in a meaningful way in peace processes. Remarking that women worldwide remain under-represented in decision-making, the Director-General urged the international community to place the empowerment of women at the top of the political agenda. “It is imperative that we step up efforts for the empowerment of women more generally if we are to have any hope of integrating them fully in peace processes and putting a stop to sexual and gender-based violence”, he concluded.

OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, who chaired the meeting, noted the importance of integrating the gender dimension in the international response to the many conflict situations across the world. The Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms. Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, underscored the relationship between the integration of women into political decision-making and long-term peace and stability.

In a joint communiqué, participants identified a number of areas for future cooperation to accelerate implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325. These included improving the coordination of field-level activities, enhancing the role of Gender Advisers, strengthening national networks that link government representations with non-governmental organizations and other local actors, as well as working jointly on the integration of a gender perspective into early warning systems. In combating violence against women, the participants pledged to work towards greater involvement of men as agents for changing attitudes and behaviour that perpetuate violence. The development of indicators to better evaluate change, support for implementation of national legislation and development of international instruments, and the initiation of twinning projects on violence against women to promote good practices were identified as further avenues for reinforced collaboration.

Background

Initiated in 1993, the “Tripartite Process” provides an informal forum for the participating organizations to share information and improve practical cooperation by drawing on each other’s expertise and know-how. The chair of the process rotates among the three conveners: the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The European Union (EU), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who participate as affiliated members, were joined for this meeting by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). A wide range of representatives from the United Nations system also participated.