Engaging the security sector in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security resolutions: International Workshop outcomes and recommendations

With the end goal of achieving a more comprehensive framework of security that reflects local community perspectives; and prevent violent conflicts, the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Chile to the UN and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN, organized the “International Workshop on Integrating and Implementing the UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 and 1820 and the Supporting Women, Peace and Security Resolutions in the Operations of the Security Sector” in New York on April 22-23, 2015.

35 representatives from police, military, defense ministries, gender ministries and civil society from Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands, the Philippines, Spain, Sweden and the United States participated in the workshop. Representatives of UN Women, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Peacebuilding Architecture Review Secretariat and the UN Peace Operations Review Secretariat also spoke at the workshop.

The workshop participants examined how to best integrate UNSCR 1325, 1820 and the supporting resolutions on Women, and Peace and Security in security sector institutions, in the following areas: a) the conduct and behavior of the security sector as they perform their duties in conflict-affected situations in relation to human rights and violence against women; b) the sexual and gender-based violence and discrimination within the security institutions in line with global and national policy framework including the UN’s zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse; and c) the positive impact of security sector’s work on national and community peace and security.

GNWP views the security sector workshop as a logical step towards substantive progress in the implementation of UNSCR 1325, 1820 and the subsequent WPS resolutions. It is imperative to analyze the role of the security sector, specifically the military and police forces, as Security Sector Reform processes are a central entry point in peacebuilding, disarmament, demobilization and reconstruction efforts.

The highlights of the workshop were presented at a panel discussion held on April 23, 2015 at the UN headquarters in New York. In addition to the workshop participants, Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, a member of the High Level Civil Society Advisory Group to the Global Study on UNSCR 1325 and Professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer, Chair of the Philippine Government Peace Panel with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front spoke at the panel discussion. The workshop was financially supported by Cordaid.

Below are the workshop recommendations that will serve as contributions to the Global Study on UNSCR 1325; the UN Peace Operations Review; and the UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review:

COORDINATION OF UNSCR 1325/WPS RESOLUTIONS’ IMPLEMENTATION

• Develop a joint internal action plan and communications strategy on UNSCR 1325 for all related security institutions; and develop relevant indicators for each of those security institutions.
• Develop a more coherent coordination mechanism between UN and Member States on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 at the national level with full participation of civil society.
• Ensure greater collaboration and support from the UN, particularly technical and funding support including but not limited to training materials in different languages.
• Use broader implementation and scope of conflict as used in the CEDAW General Recommendation 30 on Women in Conflict Prevention, Conflict and Post-conflict Situations.

CIVIL SOCIETY CONSULTATION

• Adopt a gendered human security approach in national security plans through constant dialogues with civil society, UN entities and all relevant actors–that address the root causes of the conflict.
• Organize regular intra and inter-dialogues between and among women and men in the police and military on issues such as gender-based discrimination and violence against women and use the data for policy advocacy within the security institutions.
• Facilitate and support dialogues between female members of the armed forces and police forces and women’s civil society groups.

LOCALIZATION

• Replicate the Localization of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 program in more local communities and support local policies that will promote dialogues between the security sector and local populations in order for local communities to define security from their own perspectives.

TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

• Ensure effective and mandatory training on gender mainstreaming, including UNSCR 1325, 1820 and the supporting WPS resolutions, prior to, during, and after deployment of UN peacekeepers.  Member States should guarantee training before and after deployment.
• Ensure effective and mandatory training on gender mainstreaming, including UNSCR 1325, 1820 and the supporting WPS resolutions for the police and military at academy level.
• Evaluate the impact of training of security sector personnel on UNSCR 1325, 1820, including the development and use of indicators, and facilitate global exchange of best practices in training.
• Facilitate regional and national sharing and coordination on WPS training activities among all security sector actors to enhance the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1820.
• Enhance the capacities of female security forces; and increase the gender advisors’ capability, particularly on prevention of violence against women and gender-based violence.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & ACCOUNTABILITY

• Integrate the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 into the individual performance evaluations of security sector officers, as well as the evaluation of security sector units, including post operation evaluations.
• Integrate the implementation of National Action Plans (NAPs) on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 or the resolutions themselves—including in countries with no NAPs—in the Terms of Reference for security sector officers.
• Integrate WPS in high-level leadership development programs for senior security officials.
• Adopt an international accountability framework to end impunity on crimes committed by security sector personnel during international deployments. This includes thorough investigations of crime committed by security personnel, prosecution according to the law of the land, and proper reporting at the national level and to the families of victims.

FINANCING

• Member States should allocate a dedicated budget for WPS within the security sector and devise a budgetary planning system and guidelines that incentivize the effective implementation of the NAP or the resolutions themselves by the security sector in strategic, operational and tactical levels.