Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: May 2014

Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Council is expected to discuss the reports of the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and EUFOR/NATO. Political obstacles and lack of resources continue to impede the process of investigating and prosecuting crimes under international law, including crimes of sexual violence. The Security Council should call on the High Representative to mainstream gender throughout all areas of work. The Council should call on the EU Special Representative to incorporate a gender perspective in regards to the training and capacity building within the EU mission. Further, the Security Council should call on BiH to: take concrete steps to ensure services are accessible to survivors of sexual violence; provide financial and other practical measures to NGOs and public institutions that can deliver support to survivors; and ensure adoption and full implementation of the Programme for Victims of Wartime Rape, Sexual Abuse and Torture, and their Families in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2013-2016; and ensure state-level discussions are aimed at adopting the draft Law on the Rights of Victims of Torture and Civilian Victims of War and the draft Strategy for Transitional Justice. Finally, Security Council members should encourage BiH to adopt and implement the newly drafted SCR 1325 NAP for 2014 – 2017.

Burundi

The Security Council will continue to discuss the situation in Burundi, particularly in the context of the deterioration of the political and security situation. As the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) is set to draw down by 1 January 2015, these developments are concerning. The Security Council should ensure that gender is a crosscutting issue in its discussions, and is a core part of the transition process. Specifically, the Council should also continue to take additional measures to ensure effective human rights monitoring and justice for survivors of crimes, including crimes of sexual violence, and as part of its efforts towards inclusive and participatory transitional justice, should support the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a special chamber for prosecution of international crimes. To prevent more politically motivated violence and reprisals, the Council should support dialogue between the government and the opposition, with the meaningful participation of women.

Côte d'Ivoire

In its discussion of the expected report and mandate renewal of the UN peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the Council should ensure comprehensive information is provided on ongoing impunity, in particular for sexual and gender-based violence, and on barriers to women’s full participation in justice and reconciliation processes, as per SCR 2106 (OP 16c) and SCR 2122 (OP 2c). In addition, the Council should enquire into progress made as to women’s participation in DDR programs as mandated by SCR 2112 (OP 6c), including the socio-economic factors affecting female ex-combatants and associates of ex-combatants, as detailed in SCR 2106 (OPs 16a, b). The Security Council should also promote women’s full participation and protection in security sector and judicial sector reform, as well as land reform, per SCR 2122 (OP 4).

Guinea-Bissau

The Security Council is expected to discuss a report of the Secretary-General on the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) and potential options for readjustment of the scope of the mission’s mandate. Past reporting on UNIOGBIS has served as good practice for the way in which a mission can report on efforts to mainstream women, peace and security across all work within the mission. The current report should follow this good practice by reflecting the ongoing challenges to and giving support for women’s participation in conflict prevention, political processes, peacebuilding efforts, as well as women’s role in security sector reform. The Security Council should support greater space for women’s engagement in efforts to build trust following the coup. The Security Council’s discussion should also discuss gender-specific analysis and recommendations in the context of conversations surrounding revisions to the mandate, ensuring that gender and women, peace and security maintain a cross-cutting issue in any future mission.

In its regular work, the Council should ensure that all country reports and mandate renewals evaluate the level of protection and promotion of women’s human rights, as per SCRs 1325, 1820 (OP 9), 1888 (OP 11), 1889 (OP 5), 1960 (OPs 6, 13), 2106 (OPs 5, 6), and 2122 (OP 2(d)). Member States should inquire about any lack of such reporting.