Women at the Flash Point -2: Security and Governance Concerns

CSW 54: Women at the Flash Point: Security and Governance Concerns. UNSCR 1325 and the Good Practices from Afghanistan

The aim of this session was to highlight the impact of recent international security and governance strategies and the challenges posed to Afghan organizations. It was a follow up to meetings held at conferences on Jan 14, and the Kabul Conference in July.

It was sponsored by Gender Concerns International, and included the head of the Gender Division with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Robert Dijksterhuis, the head of the Dutch Delegation to the CSW. Holland was one of the first countries to develop an Action Plan for 1325, and he spoke briefly about it. I have contact information, plus a contact from Norway, who has also made progress and have developed Action Plans on 1325.

Sara Taylor spoke - she is the executive coordinator for NGOWG on Women, Peace and Security in New York.

But the real highlight was to hear Afifa Azim, from the Afghan Women's Network. She spoke of their work, studying the laws, and changing them to reflect the rights of women. True that there has been some progress - girls in schools, some women elected. But remaining challenges. Assassination for example. Often seen as women working on women's affairs. Lesser seats now for women. Yes a negotiated peace is needed, but not at the price of human rights for women. Women MUST be involved in the peace negotiations.

Need the international community to take action. This is the 10th anniversary of SC1325. This has been good to build on too - SC 1880, 1888, and 1889. Why are we not seeing more impact??

Major disconnect in accountability. Enforcing accountability needed. Without empowerment of women, can't get to core problems. At the London Conference,they had to advocate to get a mere 3 minutes at the London Conference. Won't be involved in May. Do governments understand, we can't sacrifice women's rights for peace. International community must understand that women's voices must be heard, that they are protected in order to participate.

Afghanistan is one of the worst countries in the world to live in for a woman - 1 in 8 die in pregnancy. Easy to paint women as victims - but can be empowered and participate equally. Easy to focus on the guys and the guns.

"I thought once we had peace, we would have gender equality, but then I discovered without gender equality, there will be no peace".

Robert Dijksterhuis spoke about the Dutch approach - DDD - Defence, Diplomacy and Development.

16 countries to date have Action Plans. Need accountability - and resources. UK and the Netherlands were the first countries to have Action Plans (for 1325)

Moving towards how to live with the Taliban.

Need to be concerned for women if have to return to living under Sharia law. Will it be a sustainable peace. Need to talk to women too about the guns - they know where they are.

Need to ensure that the UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) is being fed all the information - and have an expert in women's human rights doing the briefing.

The final words from Afifa Azim - "Don't forget us again."