NGO Working Group for Women, Peace and Security

Upcoming Conference: “Precarious Progress: U.N. Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security”

August 2010

The 2010 Women PeaceMakers Conference coincides with a momentous year, marking both the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 10th anniversary of UNSCR 1325. In anticipation of these celebrations, this working conference is situated to develop, distill and disseminate expert opinion from practitioners and policymakers of all levels. Delegates will reflect on the implementation and challenges of UNSCRs on women, peace and security (1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889) and analyze their practical considerations.

Date: September 29 – October 1, 2010
Location: Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Registration Deadline: 13 September 2010

Conference Website [LINK]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: August 2010

28 July 2010

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the August 2010 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For August, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations such as Iraq, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, and Liberia. In addition, the MAP highlights the need for improved country reporting on women, peace and security Conflict.

Translations of the August MAP into French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese will be available shortly.

Download August 2010 MAP in English [PDF]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: July 2010

7 July 2010

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the July 2010 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For July, in which Nigeria has the Security Council Presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations such as Burundi, Darfur, Kyrgyzstan, and Somalia. In addition, the MAP highlights the need for improved country reporting on women, peace and security; and indicates key women, peace and security aspects of the upcoming discussions on Protection of Civilians and Conflict prevention and settlement of disputes.

Download July 2010 MAP in Spanish - Español [PDF]
Download July 2010 MAP in English [PDF]

Press Release: Global Open Days for Women and Peace are a First Step In Responding to Women in Conflict Countries

15 June 2010

The Civil Society Advisory Group to the United Nations on Women, Peace and Security (CSAG) expressed support today for the “Global Open Days for Women and Peace,” organized by several UN agencies and departments, to hear directly from women in countries affected by past or ongoing conflict and substantively to incorporate women’s rights and concerns in their mission planning. The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security is on the Secretariat for the CSAG.

Open Day events have been held in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Nepal, Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the coming weeks, Open Days will be held in Afghanistan, Haiti, Pakistan, Iraq, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, and the Office of the UN in West Africa based in Senegal, among others.

Download the Press Release [PDF]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: June 2010

1 June 2010

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the June 2010 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For June, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations such as Afghanistan, Burundi, Guinea and Sudan. In addition, the MAP highlights the need for improved country reporting on women, peace and security; supports the upcoming Global Open Day for Women and Peace; and indicates the importance of upcoming discussions on Children and Armed Conflict.

Download June 2010 MAP in Spanish - Español [PDF]
Download June 2010 MAP in English [PDF]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: May 2010

28 April 2010

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the May 2010 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For May, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations, such as Afghanistan, Chad/Central African Republic; Cote d'Ivoire; Iraq; Democratic Republic of Congo; Nepal, and Somalia. In addition, we look forward to the Council’s continuing engagement on specific aspects of the women, peace and security agenda, including ongoing work on the 1325 indicators.

Download May 2010 MAP in English [PDF]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: April 2010

26 March 2010

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the April 2010 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council..For April, in which Japan holds the Presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations, such as the Security Council’s forthcoming mission to Africa, the expected Open Debate on Peacebuilding, and the country situations of Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, Somalia, and Western Sahara. In addition, we look forward to the Council’s specific engagement on specific aspects of the women, peace and security agenda, which will be discussed in the Council as per requests in resolutions 1888 and 1889.

Download April 2010 MAP in English [PDF]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: March 2010

23 February 2010

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the March 2010 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For March, in which Gabon holds the Security Council Presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations, such as the mandate renewals and reports for Afghanistan and Chad/Central African Republic; and the reporting on Sierra Leone, Haiti, and the situation in Guinea. The MAP also recommends ongoing Security Council and Member State support for the recommendations in SCRs 1888 and 1889. Small arms trafficking will also be an area of discussion for the Security Council this month, and we look forward to the Council's specific engagement on the substantial women, peace and security aspects of this issue.

Download March 2010 MAP in French - Français [PDF]
Download March 2010 MAP in English [PDF]

Credit: Public Domain

IPS Article on “New U.N. Envoy to Crack Down on Sexual Violence”

9 February 2010

February 2, 2010 - (IPS) When the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 back in October 2000, it was a historic event: for the first time the U.N.'s most powerful political body dealt with a gender-related issue, explicitly linking women to peace and security. Last week, that resolution completed a full political circle when Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Margot Wallstrom of Sweden as his Special Representative (SRSG) to tackle violence against women and children in the world's battle zones.

"We are looking forward to Ms. Wallstrom getting the U.N.'s house in order, particularly in this tenth anniversary year of resolution 1325," said Sarah Taylor, executive coordinator of the Non-Governmental Organisations' Working Group on Women Peace and Security (NGOWG).

View the full article [External Link]

Press Release: New UN Champion for Women in Conflict

1 February 2010

The UN Secretary-General has announced his intention to appoint Margot Wallström as his new Special Representative for sexual violence in conflict. This could finally focus international action against these crimes, said the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security (NGOWG). “The UN has for too long lacked crucial leadership for its day-to-day work against rape in war,” said Sarah Taylor, Executive Coordinator of the NGOWG. “The new representative has the potential to ensure the UN is more effective in preventing and responding to such crimes; helping to empower women and bring perpetrators to justice.” Please read more in the full press release.

Download the Press Release [PDF]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: February 2010

25 January 2010

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the February 2010 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For February, in which France holds the Security Council Presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations, such as reporting on Central African Republic/Chad, Darfur, Iraq, and Liberia; the mandate renewal and reporting on Timor-Leste; and the ongoing situation in Guinea. The MAP also recommends ongoing Security Council and Member State support for the recommendations in SCRs 1888 and 1889, particularly the forthcoming appointment of an SRSG; development of the Team of Experts; and the proposals to strengthen the UN response to sexual violence in conflict. The February MAP is currently available in English, and will be available in French shortly.

Download February 2010 MAP in English [PDF]
Download February 2010 MAP in French - Français [PDF]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: January 2010

18 December 2009

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the January 2010 version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For January, in which China holds the Security Council Presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations, such as reporting on Somalia, Sudan & Darfur, the mandate renewal of Chad, Cote'Ivoire, Nepal, and the ongoing situation in Guinea. The MAP also calls for Security Council Members and Member States to follow up on the recommendations in SCRs 1888 and 1889, particularly the forthcoming appointment of an SRSG.

Download January 2010 MAP in English [PDF]