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The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) bridges the gap between policy discussions and implementation and action on the ground on women, peace and security issues.
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Network of Women Peacebuilders Newsletter | Issue 12
CEDAW Committee Holds Consultation on a General Recommendation on Women in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations
By Selamawit Tesfaye
The 49th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was held from 11-29 July 2011 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In addition to the usual hearing of country reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the session included a general discussion on a General Recommendation (GR) on Women in Conflict and Post-conflict situations.
The purpose of the general discussion, which was held on July 18th, was mainly to begin the Committee’s process of elaborating the proposed GR on Women in Conflict and Post-conflict Situations. When adopted, the GR will provide appropriate and authoritative guidance to State Parties on the measures to be adopted to ensure full compliance with their obligations to protect, respect and fulfill women’s human rights during times of armed conflict and in all peace-building processes, which includes the immediate aftermath of conflict and long-term post-conflict reconstruction. Additionally, a GR on Women in Conflict and Post-conflict Situations would require Member States that have ratified CEDAW to report on their implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 and 1820. GNWP together with a number of other NGOs and academic institutions* has been actively involved in lobbying for the GR as a way to institute a complementary mechanism to promote accountability to UNSCR 1325 and 1820.
The discussion was well attended by United Nations specialized entities and bodies, non-governmental organizations and other interested organizations and individuals. A number of keynote speakers and civil society groups also addressed the Committee. Among them were Ms. Margot Wallström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict. In addition, a number of other United Nations agencies and civil society groups addressed the Committee through oral statement and put forward a range of persuasive arguments and issues to be considered in the GR. Over thirty-five written statements were also submitted to the Committee, including one from GNWP, which emphasized women’s participation in peace negotiations and decision-making. (Click here to access GNWP’s statement.)
The main issues highlighted in the oral and written statements included the root causes of sexual violence against women; the issue of stigma; single-headed households; access to justice for women victims of violence; the prevention of conflict; the transfer of reparations; ending impunity; the scope and applicability of “discrimination” as it is set out in the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); the impact of conflict on various groups of minority women (including the disabled, ethnic minorities, widows, and stateless women and refugees/internally displaced persons); the extra-territorial applicability of CEDAW; the reintegration of female combatants and ex-combatants including a gendered dimension to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs (DDR); obligations of non-state actors during conflict and post-conflict settings; ensuring the participation of women during all faces of post-conflict reconstruction; and ensuring a holistic approach to women’s human rights in conflict.
The discussion was a successful forum for various stakeholders to put forward their main concerns for the Committee’s consideration. This was acknowledged by Ms. Pramila Patten, Member and Chair of CEDAW Working Group on women in conflict and post-conflict situations who thanked everyone for their remarks and noted that the CEDAW Committee would continue to hold more consultations at all levels, including in the regions before the adoption of the General Recommendation. GNWP will continue to actively engage in the discussions.
*International Women’s Rights Action Watch – Asia-Pacific; Women’s
Media Collective – Sri Lanka; Women’s International League for Peace and
Freedom; International Alliance of Women, Amnesty International, Global Justice
Center, Human Rights Watch, Peace Women, and WILD for Human Rights- UC Berkeley
Law School