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NGO Recommendations Regarding Implementation of the Brahimi Report

NGO Recommendations Regarding Implementation of the Brahimi Report

October 2001

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security welcomes the recommendations emerging from the Brahimi Report on UN Peace Operations. The Brahimi report offers a number of conceptual, structural and practical opportunities for improving and enhancing the work of UN Peacekeeping and Peace Support Operations (PK); however, a number of critical issues must still be addressed. In particular, the gender dimension of peacekeeping and peace support operations must be highlighted, including the potential positive role of women and the impact of conflict on women and girls. Implementation should include the following:

  1. Create a Gender Unit at the Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) headquarters funded under regular budgets;
  2. Appoint a senior gender adviser in DPKO to serve as a gender focal point for field missions and liaise with local gender experts associated with local women's groups, funded under regular budgets and filled as a matter of urgency;
  3. Request the SG to include senior level representation on gender and armed conflict on the Executive Committee on Peace and Security;
  4. Request the SG to include gender advisors and a mechanism for civil society to have input to the Information and Strategic Analysis Secretariat (ISAS);
  5. Include gender advisors in the Brahimi-proposed Integrated Mission Task Forces;
  6. Request the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) to establish and maintain a global database of expert women peacemakers with experience in conflict prevention and mediation as well as and traditional peacemaking processes to be drawn on for missions and peace processes;
  7. Request DPKO to develop, operationalise and maintain a comprehensive database of female candidates with military and civilian qualifications, building on the Liechtenstein Initiative and organise a standby cadre of gender experts ready for rapid emergency deployment;
  8. Review and update PK standard operating procedures/code of conduct to comprehensively address gender;
  9. Appoint UN Protection Advisers charged with mobilizing immediate community and international support for the protection of women and girls experiencing violence;
  10. Ensure that all women and men benefit equally from the reconstruction initiatives, specifically that the needs of female ex-combatants and civilians are met in demobilisation and reconstruction programmes (building on S/PSRT/2000/25);
  11. Ensure that refugee and IDP women participate fully in the design and management of humanitarian activities, so that they have equal access & benefits of all services, including education & micro-enterprise programmes (building on S/PRST/2000/25).