Eliminating Violence Against Women - Issues, challenges, and accomplishments

Panel on Violence Against Women, and UNiTE Campaign. (issue paper)

The Secretary General attended the beginning of this Panel, to speak about the UNiTE campaign, particularly involving men.

Moderator: Mr. Robert Storaci, Vice Chair of CSW, Italy

Speaker from South Africa, Mr. Dean Peacock, increased violence stats - 27% of men in South Africa acknowledges violence against women.

Real and progressive language in declarations to commitments of including men and boys. Many countries now working with mean and boys. Work becoming sophisticated - in Rawanda, Chile, Equador - ground breaking work being done by men and boys.

Now have evidence based - does it bring about tangible gains? YES, out of Africa, Asia, South America - changes to decreasing levels of violence, HIV/AIDs, SG campaign - no longer can we allow impunity of perpetrators. Reality remains small in scale and limited in impact. Small scale - 4 steps that we can take bring about change -

1. Impact in National Plan - part of SA HIV/AIDs strategic plan - Commitment we need. Advances in Scandinavian countries - involving men in parenting, women reporting more satisfying relations
2. Gender Justice - What SA has done - many good policies, but implementation poor. Laws that men provide maintenance but not enough resources to enforce. Support for NGOs to make sure governments implement.
   
3. Clear principles - lots of questions asked - what really is this work about? Is it just the flavour of the day? Does it divert resources? Protecting men - putting men in charge. Work with men has to be accountable to women's rights organizations. Establish clear parameters
4. Work with men and boys- message is that they have a clear stake - why give up their power - SA highest rates of violence against women, but also highest rates of violence against men.

Speaker from Argentina, Ms. Susanna Chiaotta Effective measures - adoption of national laws, including international agreements.

Laws now include comprehensive laws, violation of human rights, not just in domestic setting, but community. These laws in 6 countries - entail new ways to approach VAW. SGs campaign, since 2006 - indepth study. Inter american system has an interamerican convention - follow up on convention. Gender observatory and monitors status of women. This control mechanism - deals with compliance Report in 2008 includes general and specific recommendations: Legal framework, access to justice, resources, budget. Consensus was sought - human rights, academe, women's groups. In Argentine, women came together. Law - media violence - publication of images and stereotypes - promote discrimination, humiliation, violence, women and young women - pornographic imgages. Media participated. Costa Rica and Guetamala - femicide, psychological violence - punishes forcing women into sexual rleations. 30 years for killing a woman, whether married or not. Human Rights framework. School violence - conducts that lowers self esteem of girls - physical limitations, class. Venezauala,- specific courts that hear violence - have all countries comprehensive violence laws, and effective enforcement. Regards to enforcement - national plans. Brazil - Violence observatory - own budget - be3ing promoted by civil society and the governments. Guarantee of strength - held hearings, for a whole year. Result incorporated social agencies. Alert in Brazilian law, emergency agencies, eradicate femicide, whether carried out by community or the individuals. Important to see a range of agencies working together to implement the law.

Issue is that some countries do not have national intervention plans, some lack important aspects. Limited to family and domestic violence. Clear determination to do away with gender violence in all it's forms. Proper budget - there the commitment is clear - Statistics compilation in the country. Very important. Additional effort to have gender specific stats.

Walter Fullemenn, IDRC, and Red Cross - in the absence of military structures, civilians are at the epicentre of the fighting. Specifically targeted in war fare. Displaced, separation from family, sexual violence, loss of employment.

1. Law protecting women- knowledge and compliance with international law. Must be made responsible - Women have to manage alone, head of households. Travel long distances to find food, water etc. As they move around face rape, land mines. increased by forced displacement. Many lack a trade - with missing husbands, and legal status unclear. Some countries many years, cannot access property, or even remarry. Women playing an active role - found women demonstrate their resilience. Women portrayed as victims of violence, but also women are politicians, leaders of NGOs, peace campaigns. Special skills. Women have initiated economic enterprises. Women involved in all aspects. Sexual violence one of the most traumatic - demoralizes the community. Rape as a deliberate tactic - result in the victim being abandoned. Acts of sexual violence - international tribunals of Bosnia, and Rawanda. Prohibitions must be included in countries. Rape is preventable, and realized. Victims of sexual violence - immediate care - appropriate environment - confidentially. Greater efforts increased in protection and prohibition at all times. Rules apply to peace forces. in International law, including Geneva conventions. Armed conflicts customary law - prohibited in international and natiional armed conflicts. ICC concerned with lack of implementation. Ensuring respect for existing rules. Mechanism for addre3ssing violations - prosecution a further step, ICC incorporating capacities of women in all aspects - programs to respond - urgency to end sexual violence.

International Soroptomists - part of UNiTE campign - many projects in different countries. Attention - concerned about trafficking of human beings, especially women and girls. Too wide for single country to address. Dealing in human beings, and 80% are girls, lot of money. Criminal activities. Root causes of trafficking and victims. implement proper legislation to protect and prevention measures. Close the legal and cultural loop holes, impunity that we still see today.

Acknowledging appointment of Ms. Margaret Walstrom, as Special Representative on ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Conflict Situations.

The Work at the CSW 54

CSW is not just about going to different sessions on many interesting topics, relevant to women's lives. This is a very important part - the sharing, discussion, planning, and strategizing.

It is also about interacting with the official work of the official delegates as they go through their work. Generally there is a work plan on the theme of the CSW and the document, circulated prior to the meetings of the CSW, becomes the Outcomes Document. The draft includes consultations with NGOs.

This year is different - on Tuesday, March 2, the 2nd day of the CSW, there was a declaration that was unanimously adopted by all the countries present (including Canada) for confirmation of the Beijing Platform for Action. In some ways this was good - it did not "open" the document for debate, or going back. Yet it also did not give any new impetus to providing support, an action plan, or even give an opportunity to introduce new and emerging issues that are happening, such as rape as a weapon of war.

That has meant that the Resolutions, introduced at the CSW by member states, has attracted interest, and scrutiny by the NGOs. Some of these resolutions have been introduced at previous CSWs. Wednesday, at 6:00 pm was the deadline for introducing resolutions. The country that introduces the resolution chairs the Committee that will put the final resolution together. Canada's input to the process has been helpful, and the negotiating team has been open for input from the NGOs present here.

Here are the 7 resolutions being debated, and expected to come forward Friday afternoon for final approval:

1. Women, the Girl Child and HIV/AIDs (introduced by several African Countries)
2. Female Genital Mutilation (introduced by the African Group)
3. Women and Children taken Hostage (introduced by Azerbyghan)
4. Economic Empowerment of Women (introduced by Colombia)
5. Palestine (introduced by China)
6. Maternal Mortality (introduced by the US)
7. Strengthening the UN Gender Architecture/Mechanisms (introduced by a number of countries, including Canada)
   

Women in Post Conflict Situations - Iraq

Women subjected to violence in so many ways - special rapporteur on Violence against Women - says every day lives also inludes violence, sometimes this is overlooked. Tend to see the gross abuses and violations.

Iraq - subjected to violations - situation, has become more difficult, because of internal conflicts. Break down of social structures. Happens in all areas where war - impacts women and children. In case of Iraq diring civl regime, civil society was repressed. Women's organizations didn't get together. Now they are trying - it takes time. For this blossoming society - need contact with global women's movement. Need contact with women in other parts of the world. When women are isolated, even more vulnerable to violence. Aim of session - have voices of women from Iraq heard. Moderator worked to get women from Iraq heard.

Woman's - conflict in Iraq has left serious impact on women - Violence against women spread in families, physical and sexual and honour crimes. Women who are subject to abuse in families, also political attacks - Iraqi society tends to deny violence against women. Established organization in 2004. worked in different districts - Established relations with other women NGOs in Iraq.Work on Violence against women - We have indicators as to the extent of the phenomena. Eg. honour crimes - considered very serious, discrimination in employment, rep0orductive rights violated. Many of poor areas, and thru cases in the centre, we have noticed the main figures in the family - father, brother, make decision about marriage - even young girls. Maternal mortality is high. Increase in divorce for young women. Among cases, young women and girls sexually abused in the family. Very small living quarters. Bagdad - high drop out for girls - parents fear sending girls to schooling, because of security and poverty. Hi unemployment especially for women. Preference for male employees. Women in Iraq have achieved a bit. Colleague will speak about it. Still women in Iraq suffer especially when it comes to Violence Against Women.

2003 - started women's NGOs. Before no NGOs in Iraq before. But before women were in many fields of work. Many women well educated. Nature of history - history of wars and violence. Women history of participating in government - in politics. Wasn't a gift of government. Strong Iraqi women. Built their country. Take responsibility for economic - protect society and family. Women more tough to face all these problems. Because of dealing with the difficulties, makes us strong. We have to talk about our problems. For the new generations.

Numbers not only way to give information - need energy from other - give Iraqi women more strength. Solidarity with Iraqi women. It means a lot to us not to feel alone. Someone from Pakistan, Brazil thinking of us - give us more energy to keep working. Solidarity is most important thing we need. Sharing information important. Work in Iraq - where is strategy, statistics, Don't have capacity to give data. Should always be busy with data? or trying to help women - have to keep energy to help women in your country. They will help you, get the datga day to day. one of the challenges we face. We are a rich cou7ntry, have resources. Many families headed by women - because they are widows. Working to rebuild society, have women in government - quota to have women not our goal. Increases to participatgion in parliament and government not our goal.

History of violence in Iraqi women. But women still working to protect their families.

Shelter - not accepted, by society, need to raise awareness in society, and need to protect women.

Reflections - Norwegian Church NGO - challenges we face working with NGO from Iraq. One of major challenges is management - have office in Aman - hindrances with meeting - have to get visas - if in another country - Think about process, may get stuck - kept at the border for 2 or 3 hours, just because Iraqi. You as the organziation - are you safe, did you get out? All the risks that women take when travelling. Think women travelling from the south, flights not dependable. Then flight to the other country. Need much support - restricted by the family. We have partners in south - when they say can't travel, know travel restricgted by family. Donor community - in order to contribute to build, tend to overlook the reality inside - program oriented. Not sensitive to the women. Need coordination - As donors, we have our agenda, and it has to be compatible with their agenda. Listen to their priorities and needs. Should not be so demanding. Ask for status reports - we have to understand they are emerging organizations. these organizations also understaffed. In Iraq very competive market - support them strucutallly. Gettining them into dialogue with their government. Clear gap, and lack of trust. Being westernized - overlapping roles- lack of sharing information. Need some help in analyzing situation. Appreciating how difficult it is for NGOs coming together.

Someone from Al Hakim there - role of women in reconciliation in Iraq, and fighting corruption, queston - someone spoke about importance of statistics. In 1940's women had national machinery in Iraq - Role of women in reconstruction and facing corruption, and 1325. According to constitution, women has right to be 25% in parliament. only in parliament - women want to be in local councils. Women absent from dialogue in reconciliation - doesn't make sense to 78 or 79 in parilaiment and can't participate in dialogue. We should take place in this. They refused to start meeting, when a woman tried to participate. Deal with men,not women. 2008 very bad with corruption. women in local councils - no corruption- Some of members involved in militia, but no women ae involved. No action plan for 1325, but are working on it. Worked with Africa, and got good ideas. Are working on it - and put one together, and embarrass country.

Want to raise awareness amoung women of the issue - Most women NGOs don't know about 1325 - young emerging NGOs, don't have knowledge about international treaties or conventions. So raising awareness of 1325 among society.

Program, strengthening organizing in Iraq, and especially organizations dealing with violence against women. Worked initially in the south. People more vulnerable there - also isolated - importance to connect women from south with other women in the north - providing safe places forf women to meet. Norway NGO has consulted with 5 countries - including with Iraq.

Woman from Sweden spoke out about need for statistics, also problem for visas - Nigerian - making flyers, also sessions at markets. Getting the word out to women. Armenians - in Iraq - protection for Armenian and minority women? Traveling with permission of male member of family. When it comes to travel, have to have male permission. Getting passport, under 40, have to have male member to get passport. By law, not forbidden to travel, family norms - obstacle. In that connection do cooperate with media to hghlight these issues. Widows - have a fund for care taking widows. Not enough. Women NGOs who work with widows. Numbers have increased. Ministery of NGOs. Christians were attached and killed. Many churches burned. Minority of Armenians, and Christians not protected. Killing on ethnic basis. Christian women obligated to wear hijab.

Iraqi constituent, women's participation not below 25%. Face dilemma of women following traditional role. Women NGOs supporting women representatives. Media, NGOs don't have training to work and use media, In 2006 received threat of death. We're alone, no body had mechanism to protect us. Iraqi laws, and constitution, put it in a nice way - by laws, and articles. women have full right to travel - but to get passport - permission from male member of family.

Some of the sights and sounds of New York

The weather has been fantastic these last few days -Nayyar Javid and I have walked and walked - and even went to two shows! Times Square was amazing - and we got cheap tickets to the Broadway Show, Rock of Ages. The music was excellent! Loud mind you, but that's the way it should be played. The theatre was packed.

The second play we saw was an off Broadway one, called Palestine, written and performed by Najla Said - it was a very gripping story, told through the eyes of a Palestinian - American - Her father was Edward Said.

New York is an amazing city - the buildings, the people, the activity - always something to do and look at. And good to have a break from the work at the UN.

No Woman Needs to Die Giving Life

Startling facts - not a health problem - a social and political problem. 3 UN documents - Beijing, Population and Health, and MDGs are UN work. 1/3 of maternal deaths can be avoided by birth control and access to abortion. More than half a million women die needlessly each year from complications related to pregnancy and child birth - one every minute. Most of these deaths could have been prevented by high quality accessible, affordable and timely medical care. See Amnesty International Report - Dying Too Young.

MDG 5 stands as the slowest of all the MDGs. Accelerate funding by SG. not translated into effective actions. Absolute number of deaths in sub Sahara actually increased.

Critical in September, review of MDGs, and ensure meaningful progress proceeds. Alicia Yamin - more than technical - Human Rights approach means preventable maternal morbidity - UN treaty monitoring bodies increase accountability. June meeting of HR council - addressing challenges -

Over 500,000 women die every year. Funding dropped for family planning. Stagnation - comprehensive and affordable health services needed. Amnesty International, ACPD, Human Rights Watch, Center for Reproductive Rights, International Initiative on Maternal Mortality and Human Rights, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, and the Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights.

Aboiola Akiyode Afolabi - Nigeria - Very little progress - Nigeria 10% of maternal deaths in Nigeria, spoke about Malawi, and Rawanda. Policies being developed. Laws not implemented. Set goals, but not realized. Lack of resource allocation. Dont have a gender mainstreaming policy. Lack of information and transparency regarding budget allocation. Issues - patient can't pay for hospital care. Broken Promises Need for Nigeria to establish a blood bank. Hold government to account. Call for action -

Ana Cristina Gonzalez Velez - experience in Haiti - one word - empathy. Feel connected, and to help, to make a change. Seen lots of documents - setting goals, but never achieved. Empathy - created a common language for the elite, not building the empathy needed to prevent the deaths.

4 challenges - result of an understanding of applying human rights perspective to public health.

Avoid affect of religion to public health. 4 aspects to make a difference - power issue, not part of public issue. No journalist or politician have takeen it on. Maternal death - not visible. More campaigns against death sentence than maternal mortality. Accountability - Social mobilization - visible from human rights perspective. 2. political will - lack of women's empowerment, lack of politcal will, lack of resources. Political will emerges from empathy. 3. Human rights perspective - definition of framework - establish coherent legal framework - health education and finance. Services available, and hight quality. Physical and economic accessibility. Go beyond entitlement. 4. Responsiveness to Human Rights framework - need information. From the national and local levels. Stimulate good practices. Avoid unnecessary death. Make maternal deaths visible, and responsibilty and accountability. Empathy and Action -

Carmen Barroso - Speaking about Equador - woman can't take treatment for cancer, because it will put fetus at risk. Linkage between human rights and maternal health.

At top of agenda - die every minute of every day - totally unacceptable. MDGs likely to fail. Universal access - very far from being obtained. How cheap and easy to prevent maternal death. Causes well understood - 4 pillars family planning etc well understood. Violation of women's human rights - 1/3 couldbe prevented by access to safe abortions. Women don't have control over sex - education still a dream.

UN can do a lot - critically important to use these mechanisms. Most women who die - are young women. What can we do now? As civil society organizations to advance the political will. Now is the time for the development arm to systematically apply human rights. CSW and human rightgs opportunity to integrate human rights into development practise.

Three steps - adopt a resolution - a bold resolutions, that incorporates universal access to birth control, empowered to make decisions. 2. Use MDGs summit in sept. to strengthen strategies and policies. and be accountable. 3. Further integration in the HR work. HR Council reviews progress - should require states to report on this at the review. Universal periodic review - information measures that couple can access emergency contraception - Access to safe abortion.

Integrate Human Rights into development. Role of Civil Society - provide information, and participation is essential for sexual and reproductive rights. No woman has to die by giving life.

Donors have to be accountable - how the money is spent - family planning.

Rights of child - ethical implications - potential life, and life. Life should be protected always, but life of women have to be considered as a priority - decision of Supreme Court. Women's life considered essential. On going debate.

Class action for women and maternal health.

Woman from Mozambique - legalizing abortion - Spoke about resolution - amnesty following resolution - been developed by diverse number of countries. Including Human Rights into Maternal Mortality and Health language. State accountability, human rights, and women's empowerment. Reinforces in the human rights initiative from Geneva.

Experience in Columbia - accountability - need social mobilization - basis of the participation. Create spaces - but need accountability measures. Mechanisms to monitor were the corner stone. Right to health under international law, not to be implemented over night, but immediate - plan of action required, evidence based and participatory - plan of action in reducing maternal mortality needs to have steps, efffective monitoring that state is making progress. Indicators - look at financial transparency. disaggregated to see that women most marginalized are getting help. mechanisms for redress - human rights - Circle need to continually build.

Have financial incentives to go to facilities - doesn't make sure facility has resources. Cynical response - not a human rights response.

Women and the Economic Crises in the United States

Radhika Balakrishnan from Women's Global Leadedrship one of the presenters - with a handout on Human Rights and the Economy - 8 page hand out.

Crises - human rights - how do we use human rights - comes from master guidelines. Use obligations to protect - enormity of regulation change that caused it to happen - allowed for crises to happen - violation of state's obligation to protect. Minimum wage is horrible. Asset pricing went really up. Hold state responsible.

Disproportion affect on women, especially in the informal sector. Speaker does media research - immigration and economic recovery - puts out tools to deal with it,.Look at values - shared with state - interests of some parties, not investing in those that already face barriers. After 2000 women were making 77 % of what men were making. For black men - 67%, Black women 54%; Since collapse - haven't contd leadership - important to think of informal economy. Domestic workers, sex workers, peop0le paying lower wages, trying to get more work for less money. more wage violations. Fears of workers - will be deported.

Human Rights - there are very few legal protections communities of colour - have been in crises for quite awhile. has been a crises for quite some time - why is this? hi ratges of poverty, and unemployment - not enough jobs. politicians says that problem is that people don't want to work. Dec. 2009, 15.3 unemployed people, competing for 2.3 million jobs.

When in economic boom, still not enough jobs. Don't have direct job creation. Focus on intersections of race, class and gender.

Assumptions that race, class, and gender plays. Not enough employment - This is now a crises. Look at policies, and how do we evaluate. Obligatgion by the state right to work. Huge amounts of money go to the banks. kept 29 billion dollars in vaults of banks, 729 billion in bank now - we need to tell government we know that. Are they looking for jobs for women.

Fundamental assumption - how have jobs in sex agregagted data- women in service, child care - serious affect. Have been talking about living wage jobs. 2/3 women in sex work said they had otgher jobs, but they didn't pay enough. number 1 was waitress, or security officer job - long term issue. Economic policies - lack of bold leadership. So much disparity for so long - also lack of training. No long term investment. Opportunity statement - Agencies who are recipients of stimulation fund not required about gender and race. Where can we make biggest impact. Enormous amount went into TARP, no requirement for reporting - investment into communities, onerous reporting requirements, and don't really tell us what we need.

Sex aggregated data - Current policy -need a program that affects everyone. by helping everyone, will help those those at lower level. Why they didn't require data - no need to keep track of who benefits because supposed to help everyone. Yet in human rights law, there is a requirement about paying attention to those that are over represented in the disadvantaged. Can't find out who is benefiting. Most people think we need to simulate private sector to create jobs. Doesn't provide jobs in short term. Don't hire more staff immediately. Who gets the jobs?

Fundamental question - Background of situation. Disproportionate impact. Intersectionality. Background - Human Rights lens - Where jobs, and where Recovery Act going. Hold Govt accountable. Have signed on to the convention of Elimination of Racial Discrimination - ratified a convention. Have ratified it. When recovering money doesn't go to State - Getting food stamps, huge - we need to take back the economy. last supreme court decision - plutocracy. Now people getting angry about the deficit.

Activists doing their job - research at opportunities fund - people support human rights approach - split among policy makers - real concern - protect justice for example, but rights that state provide health care.

Recent economic crisis, seeds of crises have been sowed previous years. impact on people of colour, lack of transparency.

Public participation, transparency build into recovery plan. how do we build more robust safety nets?

How do we build more robust safety nets -destygmatize them. Welfare entitlement - reduced to 5 years. Way to measure success - how fast to reduce welfare rolls. Mayor Guiliana administration - food stamps, treating poeple poorly, Social security, everyone has access - not just the poor, stygmatize the poor. Have it there not only for the poor. Targeted programs vs universal progrqams. favour universal programs. Neoliberal - market left on its own doesn't work, Ideology - social safety nets - Assumption, be lazy for 5 years - not appreciating there are no jobs. Whole world wants us to recover so we can buy their stuff.

Safety net issue - talking about safety net - sense thqt state is in crisis - how you deal with the crisis - cut the saftey net. Question about extending employment support - We didn't have enough safety net even when times were good.

Impact on Y - impact on women's organizations who are providing services. Accessing Stimualtion money - those at community level. Support Women's Fund - Women didn't create the crises, but are the victims. Those from immigrant communities - The training that is provided - have to get the training in a field that you are already in.

Questions - how direct service providers affected. Where has the money gone. Role of women's funds. Jobs training fund - match where jobs are. Models of economy? build on greater justice, transparency, human rights records of countries.

Services have been cut - Organizations laying off staff. Urban Fund - money had to go out to existing programs. Green jobs - pathways out of poverty - most of money already distributed. are.org (green economy) applied research - www.arc.org/greenjobs

What model should we look for - new deal - under Roosevelt - but it did leave out women. Didn't assume private sector could create all the jobs. how we learn aboutg what worked.

Model - question what works - hard to answer, know what doesn't work. Try to evaluate government policy based on government agreements on human rights. Why did we agree to live in this system, when we know it doesn't work.

We have a hard time - speaking about our human rights record - history of partnering with horrible countries. Lack of women's voice in economic models -

Question about justice - where can we go as a society and using justice

public discourse - intereted in impact on women - but in mainstream - seeing higher levels of unemployment for men. Need to look at details, and who is poor. in terms of unemployment - male jobs were lost. need to look at informal sector - easier to take corporations to court. after loans crisis, law that says if a certain level of - law - take banks into receivership. Full employment act - require to take steps towards full employment - 2 to 4% unemployment.

www.ncrw.org.
opportunityagenda.org
cwgl.rutgers.edu
urbanjustice.org

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."