High-Level Round Table on
Women and the Human Right to Peace
24 February 2011
(Ambassador Chowdhury is the former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and President of the UN Security Council - 2000 and 2001.)
Presentations:
H.E. Dr. Abdul Momen -Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations
Women's involvement and participation in decision-making at all levels of peace are essential.
Referred to UNSCRs 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889
(UNSCR = United Nations Security Council Resolution)
These resolutions deal with liberty and security, protection from weapons of mass destruction, genocide, amongst other including the right to be free from poverty
Dialogue and peace are needed amongst different cultures
Passed Human Rights Commission bill
Protection and promotion of human rights
Ms. Cora Weiss - President of The Hague Appeal for Peace
It was a "revolution" when Ambassador Chowdhury was President of the Security Council and supported 1325.
1325 was drafted by "mere mortal women" and was more supported and substantial than those that are UN headquarters driven
Declaration of Human Right to Peace):
Civil Society initiative
"When we dream together the dream becomes reality."
Can organize and be the monitors of the Human Right to Peace at all levels including grassroots
The most realistic and far-reaching document on peace
Relates to many groups in our "splintered world" - e.g. nuclear disarmament groups, gender equality groups etc.
Not specifically geared to women
Most resolutions are focused on something specific but this one is very holistic - e.g. the right to dignity without discrimination, prohibition of private-driven security
Acknowledges women's participation at all levels of decision-making
Calls for the full implementation of 1325
Recognizes many charters and declarations including Declaration of Human Rights and those following it (available in pocket-sized versions)
We should prevent this Declaration from being tagged "peace" or "human rights"
"It is meant for the democratic survival of humanity."
David Fernandez Puyana - representative of the SSIHRL in Geneva
(SSIHRL = Spanish Society for the International Human Right to Peace
David has been the liaison for CFUW over the past several years when we supported The Luarca Declaration and the process towards the Human Right to Peace.2010 - Declaration of Human Right to Peace adopted by UN General Assembly
Support of over 900 CSOs(Civil Society Organizations) and also private institutions
Human Right to peace will fit in with the 3 Pillars
Drafting group of 4 members gave recommendations and will seek input
Importance of civil society organizations
All encompassing Declaration
Women's participation at all levels of peace processes
Ms. Bineta Diop, ED Femmes Africa Solidarite, Co-Chair Civil Society Advisory
Group to the UN on Women, Peace and Security
Right to peace is enshrined in the Declaration of Human Rights - however, the right to peace and full respect of human rights are still challenges for humanity
Implementation is critical
African Context:
Protocol on African Charter - drafted by women CSOs
27 countries have ratified the Protocol - Article 10 says women have right to peace and to the participation in the achievement of peace
Key issue is implementation - just as implementation is still the issue with 1325. "Do we see women at the peace tables?"
Needs to be recognized like the right to food security, the right to non-discrimination, the right to be safe in one's country - and be funded as those rights are.
We need to connect 1325 to the Declaration on the Human Right to Peace
"The best way to protect is to prevent."
Mechanisms of protection at international level are needed
How do we ensure that Member States are honouring their ratifications of conventions like CEDAW?
No one believed that the Security Council would adopt 1325
We need the right to intervene in order to bring peace to countries
Need to look at justice mechanisms in countries
We can prevent violent conflict
"If applied, the Right to Peace would help bring the perpetrators of rape in Africa to justice. That would bring peace to the women."
Ms. Lois A Herman, Coordinator for Women's UN Report Network (WUNRN)
What does it feel like to have your daughter raped on her way home from gathering wood; to have your home destroyed by war?
There is a big gap between the words in the Declaration of the Right to Peace and what is going on in reality. (Showed slides of women in Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Sudan... who cannot come to the CSW55)
Whole long list of Human Rights of women impacted by war, conflict and peace.
Women become a weapon of war.
"Comfort women" - e.g. in Japan
UNSCRS 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889 are tools that we can use anywhere in our countries
Military spending versus Gender Equality - "huge, huge"
Who are the feminine faces of war? - Bosnia - many of them widows, but the world moves on and ignores them
Displaced Women and Children - e.g. Pakistan where they are also impacted by climate change, flooding, earthquakes
Women in Conflict - e.g. Georgia
Rape epidemic raises trauma for women in the Congo
Mothers of the "Disappeared" - Argentina - husbands have disappeared but not declared dead and so the women do not receive benefits and live in poverty.
International Tribunal on Crimes against Women - Burma
Girl Child Soldiers
Ms. Mikiko Otani, Attorney and International Human Rights Lawyer
In Asia-Pacific area we have strong support for peace but need support in the context of all the other conventions
Strengthen the legal aspects of the Human Right to Peace
Peace is necessary for the realization of all rights.
High time to get the Member States to recognize the right of peoples to peace and to adopt the Human Right to Peace.
Needs to be pushed as a civil society initiative.
Are there initiatives to help women to get into positions at the peace tables?
www.gnwp.org Global Network of Women for Peace
Comments from the Floor
No comments:
Post a Comment