NGO Working Group for Women, Peace and Security

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

January 25 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 [PDF]

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

December 18 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]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: December 2009

November 23 2009

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the December version of our Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For December, in which Burkina Faso holds the Security Council Presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations, such as reporting on Afghanistan, the mandate renewal of MONUC in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the ongoing situation in Guinea, and considerations for the Golan Heights and Cyprus. 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 December 2009 MAP in English [PDF]
Download December 2009 MAP in French [PDF]

NGOWG Criteria for the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Women, Peace and Security

November 9 2009

Considerations are underway for the appointment of the Secretary-General’s new Special Representative on women, peace and security, as requested in Security Council Resolution 1888 (OP 4). 

As it is not realistic to think one person will embody all necessary criteria for this important post, UN system and Member States must work to support this new SRSG, and there must be a concerted effort to give the SRSG a staff who can build the post’s legitimacy and effectiveness. It is essential the SRSG’s office have the knowledge and legitimacy to speak to and act on the content of its mandate: this goes beyond addressing impunity for sexual violence, and includes participation, prevention, protection, and access to services for survivors of sexual violence. The NGOWG believes a qualified man can be an equally effective SRSG, though he may have to work harder to build trust with women’s groups in conflict-affected countries: this is where the support of the system and staffing of the SRSG’s office are key. 

With this in mind, the new SRSG should:

• Have substantial operational knowledge of the UN system, and potentially of a military operation;
• Have the authority to address gaps in UN system. It is vital that this person be taken seriously by all operational UN branches;
• Have legitimacy with the women’s groups this person will have to coordinate with and learn from in order to do the work properly; and have the sensitivity necessary to work with the survivors of sexual violence;
• Ensure women, peace and security matters continue to be addressed in the security arena, and understands the importance of human rights in this context; and
• Have political access, and be able to open doors for funding; political strategizing; and getting governments and other stakeholders to support the mandate. This may be regarding troops contributions and other resources, and mobilizing the justice and health systems in conflict situations.

Download Security Council Resolution 1888 [PDF]
Download the NGOWG Criteria [PDF]

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: November 2009

October 29 2009

In October, 2010, the international community will mark the 10th Anniversary of the adoption of 1325, the first Security Council Resolution on women, peace and security. Throughout the year leading up to this anniversary, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security is producing Monthly Action Points, or MAPs, a series of recommendations that show how each United Nations Security Council President can provide leadership on, and how the Security Council as a whole can systematically meet its obligations to women in conflict. For November, in which Austria holds the Security Council Presidency, our MAP provides recommendations on Protection of Civilians, Counter-Terrorism, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, and Somalia.
Download November 2009 MAP in English [PDF]

Open Letter to Security Council Members Regarding the Situation in Guinea

October 13 2009

In response to recent sexual violence which was aimed at women in Guinea by members of the Guinean armed forces in the aftermath of political violence on 28 September 2009, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security sent a letter to all Members of the Security Council urging them to support an international investigation with special attention paid to sexual violence, as well as other measures in line with the recently adopted Security Council resolution 1888.
Download the Letter [PDF]

Ms. Asha Hagi Elmi Amin on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, addresses the Security Council during its debate on the subject. UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz

Statement to United Nations Security Council by Ms. Asha Hagi Elmi Amin at the Open debate on Women, Peace & Security

October 5 2009

Statement made by Ms. Asha Hagi Elmi Amin on behalf of the NGOWG at the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security. During the debate, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1889 (2009), reaffirming its landmark 2000 resolution 1325; condemning continuing sexual violence against women in conflict and post-conflict situations; and calling for measures to strengthen the participation of women at all stages of peace processes.
Download the Statement [PDF]

UN: Security Council Action Spells Hope for Women in War

September 30 2009

On 30th September 2009, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1888 on "Women, Peace and Security." In response, the NGOWG published this press release: Resolution 1888 on sexual violence in war, adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council today, could substantively improve the situation of women in conflict, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security said. "Nine years ago, the Security Council first recognized specific international obligations to women in conflict situations by adopting resolution 1325. But, these women continue to be targeted for sexual violence, and have largely been excluded from the talks to end conflicts," said Sarah Taylor, Coordinator of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.
Download the Press Release [PDF]

Open Letter to Permenent Representatives to the U.N.: Recommendations on the Security Council Open Debate on "Implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security"

September 29 2009

The Security Council held its Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security on the 5th October, 2009, with the theme: “Responding to the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations for sustainable peace and security.” This year’s Open Debate marked the 9th anniversary of landmark resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Within this open letter, the NGOWG welcomed advancements made in some areas, such as the recognition that women in conflict situations are not only victims, but also powerful agents for peace and security in their communities; and the new efforts to combat the use of sexual violence in conflict situations, and to ensure justice for survivors of such violence. However, they stated that they have yet to see much tangible implementation of the Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security, and there remains a serious lack of accountability for the commitments in these resolutions. Persistent impediments include the lack of strong, high level leadership; the absence of a coherent and systematic approach; and the lack of concrete monitoring of progress and gaps in implementation. The NGOWG put forth several recommendations for the Council members and also reminded them that the 10th Anniversary of resolution 1325 in October 2010 is an opportunity for Governments to focus its efforts on ways to ensure measurable results in the implementation of the Security Council resolutions on Women Peace and Security.
Download the Letter [PDF]

Open Letter to Permanent Representatives to the U.N.: Recommendations on the Security Council Open Debate on "Women, Peace and Security"

July 27 2009

In response to the report of the Secretary-General on resolution 1820, published July 2009, and in advance of the Open Debate which was held on 7th August 2009 on the topic of: "Women, Peace and Security: Sexual Violence in Situations of Armed Conflict", the NGO Working Group has urged the United Nations Security Council to consider several key recommendations including recognizing that sexual and gender-based violence in conflict-affected situations is relevant to the maintenance of international peace and security; requiring that the Secretary-General systematically include comprehensive information on acts of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in all of his reports on conflict-affected situations; to demand an end to impunity for perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence through the creation of not only national justice mechanisms, but also accountability mechanisms within the Security Council itself; and the urge for the creation of position for a high-level representative on women, peace and security within the UN System to be a driver on this issue.
Download the Letter [PDF]