WUNRN
European Commission
3/8/2008
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WOMEN
STABILISING AN INSECURE WORLD
By Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Margot
Wallstrom, European Commission
The role of women in promoting peace
and security is increasingly acknowledged, with UN Security Council Resolution
1325 on Women and Peace and Security as a crucial reference point, though much
still remains to be done at all levels to implement this resolution.
On the eve
of the International Women's Day more than 50 international women leaders will
meet in Brussels to discuss the role of women in stabilizing an insecure world.
As we write
this, in the spring of 2008, it is hard to imagine a world without war. Every
day, we hear reports of new conflicts, of escalating tensions and violence. And
in any situation of insecurity, from war to health threats to climate change,
women are often disproportionately affected because of their traditionally more
vulnerable position in the society.
Eighty
percent of the world's refugees are women and children. Sexual violence and
rape are prevalent in regions of war as well as in refugee camps. We cannot
talk about the role of women in conflict resolution without acknowledging this
terrible reality.
At the same
time, we need to remember that women are also key actors promoting peace and
stability. Security cannot be effectively discussed or achieved without the
involvement of women.
Women's
participation is crucial not only in the more traditional "hard"
security spheres like war efforts, peace-building, post-conflict reconstruction
and counter-terrorism, but also countering "softer" human security
threats such as global epidemics, psychological health during and post-war, and
the emerging concerns of climate change and environmental degradation.
Yesterday,
more than 50 women leaders from all continents met in Brussels at the
invitation of commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to discuss about "Women:
stabilizing an insecure world".
Female heads
of states, ministers, and heads of international organizations, business
leaders, and civil society activists have discussed the twin themes of security
and women's empowerment.
This
international conference for women political leaders builds on recent
initiatives including the meeting hosted by US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice last September in New York and the International Women Leaders Global
Security Summit last November, hosted by the Council of Women World leaders where
Commission vice-president Margot Wallstrom is chairing the Council Ministerial
Initiative.
We believe
the key to a stable world is sustainable development. It is about stabilizing
an insecure world and finding the right combination of economic growth and
social progress, while at the same time caring for our planet.
Without
education you cannot have social stability. Yet there are currently about 100
million children not getting any education at all - and more than 70 million
are girls. That we have to change.
Another
important instrument to stabilize the world is the UN Resolution 1325 on
women's role in peace building and security that links gender equality to
global security and acknowledges the importance of women's voices in building
lasting peace.
This
resolution is a milestone on the road to more gender-sensitive peace processes
and security policies. Though the implementation of the resolution is a
long-term political process it must receive more attention throughout the
European Union and in the various member states, in particular among decision
makers in the fields of foreign, defense, security and development policy.
Since the
adoption of the resolution in 2000 awareness of the importance of including
women in peace and reconstruction process has grown. Yet implementation of its
mandate remains sporadic and ad hoc.
Women make a
difference, in part because they adopt a more inclusive approach toward
security and address key social and economic issues that would otherwise be
ignored.
Women can make
peace agreements and post-conflict efforts more viable, effective, and
practical by engaging in a wide variety of actions, including but not limited
to participating in peace talks; rehabilitating children associated with armed
groups; convening people across conflict lines to discuss common concerns such
as access to clean water; and advocating budget priorities that emphasize
social services rather than military expenditures.
Women also
have a great deal to offer to the planning and execution of weapons collection,
demobilization and reintegration programs. Women's organizations are very
active at the community level in both disarmament and reintegration
initiatives.
Whether
persuading fighters to disarm, collecting weapons or providing psycho-social
assistance to former combatants, women's civil society groups are attempting to
address the proliferation of small arms as well as the impact and needs of
former combatants.
But despite
the general consensus to protect and empower women, they remain marginalized in
decision-making, peace-building and peacekeeping operations.
Under-representation
of women in politics still persists worldwide, including in Europe. Only 6
percent of ministers worldwide and 10 percent of parliamentarians are women.
And we all know that the famous "glass ceiling" is still in place, be
it in politics or economy.
Baring women
from full participation at the decision-making levels are significant barriers
to achieving Resolution 1325's goals. There is also a widespread problem of
simply viewing women as victims and not recognizing their potential as active
participants in the process of building a more stable and secure world.
Benita
Ferrero-Waldner is EU commissioner for external relations and European
neighborhood policy Margot Wallstrom is vice-president EU Commission,
responsible for institutional relations and communication
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