The Arab Regional Network on Women, Peace, and Security,
which was launched
in October 2013 and is composed of women from 14 countries from the Arab
region, met in Amman, Jordan, during
1-3 April 2014 to deepen understanding of causes and consequences of issues
related to women, peace, and security, and establish strategies and indicators
for protection, prevention, participation, and promotion of women’s safety,
inclusion, and security in peace and transition processes and conflict
situations within the region.
In light of ongoing situations within the region (e.g.
violence and discrimination against refugee women, violence against women
committed as tools of war, women’s exclusion from peace talks and transition
processes, women’s political exclusion from constitution-drafting committees
and government bodies, and women’s lack of protection under national laws), the
Arab Regional Network on Women, Peace, and Security strongly urges governments
of the Arab League, the European Union, and the United Nations Development
Programme and other UN bodies to consider and implement our 10-Point Manifesto:
- To develop national plans to implement requirements of
UN SCRs 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889, and 2122 on women, peace, and security and
create the necessary mechanisms and measures to enforce them, by virtue of
a participatory approach with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the
Crisis Management Unit at the League of Arab States, provided that women
are main and active participants in this approach.
- To involve women in the national, regional, and global
committees, task-forces and consultations pertinent to conflict
resolution, peace building and reconciliation processes.
- To adopt a gender-sensitive approach in drafting of
policies and national strategies in conflict and post-conflict situations.
- To review the educational system in the Arab region
from a gender-sensitive and human rights lens, ensuring promotion of a
culture of peace and non-violence.
- To foster professional media and communication policies
and codes of conduct sensitive to gender, peace, and security.
- To call on national and local governments to adopt
gender-responsive national and local budgets and ensure gender responsive
recovery.
- To urge the Crisis Management Unit at the League of Arab
States to incorporate a gender dimension in all program components.
- To ensure that women representatives are present on the
ground as an integrated and respected part of groups and institutions
tasked with creating security and stability, including women envoys and
peacekeepers.
- To ensure that women representatives and gender experts
are included in Expert Assessment Teams sent to evaluate countries in
conflict.
- To ensure that women’s organizations and networks are
strengthened to ensure responsiveness and accountability on gender issues
in conflict and post-conflict situations.