Woman and Peace and Security

Report of the Secretary-General

Published by: United Nations Security Council, 2007
Via: UNPulse

The Report of the Secretary-General on Women and peace and security is now available. The report provides an update on the implementation and integration of the UN System-wide Action Plan.

(http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/503/69/PDF/N0750369.pdf?OpenElement)

Race, Riches & Reporters - Do race and class impact media rape narratives?

An analysis of the Duke Lacrosse case

By: Susan Hanely Kosse
Published in: Southern Illinois University Law Review, Winter 2007
Via: SSRN

Focusing on the Duke rape case as a case study, this Article analyzes magazine coverage using a labeling system from a previous study of media coverage of high profile rapes to determine whether race and class shape rape narratives. Part I of this Article is a brief background about narratives generally and their importance in the law. Part II summarizes the existing research on the topic of rape narratives and media coverage of these narratives. Part III analyzes the Duke case narratives and seeks to determine empirically whether race and class played a role in the exculpation or vilification of either party. The Article concludes by comparing the past studies of rape media coverage with this new data to provide insights and conclusions about media rape coverage today. (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=968450)

Online discussion on elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child

How can girls be protected from abuse? Contributions from an international online discussion

By: Schuepp, C
Published by: United Nations (UN) Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), 2006
Via: Eldis

This report presents an overview of a four-week online discussion on the rights of the girl child, conducted in 2006, drawing heavily on direct quotes from participants’ contributions. The discussion covered three main topics, and concluded with the development of recommendations. The opening discussion addressed the issue of protection of the girl child and the situation facing girls in vulnerable situations, focusing on:

• early marriage
• female genital mutilation / cutting
• female foeticide and infanticide
• child labour, especially child domestic work
• sexual abuse, especially of child domestic workers
• girls in jail
  

The discussion on empowerment of the girl child addressed:

• the centrality of girls’ education as a means to empower girls
• changing social and community attitudes and behaviours
• the positive and negative influence of the media
  

The final discussion topic, on monitoring progress, considered problems and practical solutions in collecting and comparing data relevant to girls. The concluding week of the online discussion developed recommendations. Key points were

• the need to prevent abuses and discrimination against girls
• the need for better cooperation between stakeholders
• education of girls is essential, but so is education of society in general
  

The results of the online discussion will contribute to the Commission in the Status of Women in its deliberations on the priority theme, “The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child”, during its 51st session in 2007.

(http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/elim-disc-viol-girlchild/
Online%20discussion%20report_Final.pdf)

Security equality, engendering peace: a guide to policy and planning on women, peace and security

Creating action plans on women, peace and security

By: Valasek K & Nelson K
Published by: United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), 2006
Via: Eldis

In the realm of women’s rights and gender equality the commitments made at the international and national levels remain far from the day-to-day realities of women’s lives. This guide examines the formulation and implementation of concrete policies and plans. It specifically concentrates on the creation of action plans on the issue of women, peace and security (WPS). Designed as a resource for governments, United Nations and regional organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) the purpose of this guide is to help facilitate the development of realistic action plans on women, peace and security through the provision of good practices, specific recommendations and a six-step model process. Conclusions towards implementation include the importance of an inclusive, participatory process for drafting an action plan that includes clear objectives, initiatives, and accountability, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. In addition the guide points out the common challenges to the implementation of WPS plans and policies, including lacks of:

• funding
• political will
• capacity
• coordination
• monitoring and evaluation
  

Therefore awareness raising, capacity-building, coordination, M&E and advocacy initiatives are essential for the successful implementation of WPS action plans.
(http://www.un-instraw.org/en/images/stories//1325guide-finalen.pdf)

The demobilisation and political participation of female fighters in Guatemala

After the war: female ex combattants' political activities in Guatemala

By: Hauge, W
Published by: International Peace Research Institute, 2007
Via: Eldis

This report focuses on how the female fighters of the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) in Guatemala fared in the demobilisation and reintegration process that began in 1997, and to what degree the women became socially and politically active afterwards. The study seeks to explain why there are quite varying levels of post conflict social and political activity among these women in 2006, ten years after the peace accord between the Guatemalan government and the URNG was signed.

(http://www.prio.no/files/file49399_hauge_mfa_female_fighters.doc)

Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in middle and low-income countries: a global review and analysis

How can gender-based violence be stopped?

By: Bott S, Morrison A & Ellsberg M
Published by: World Bank, 2005
Via: Eldis

Worldwide, patterns of violence against women differ markedly from violence against men. This World Bank paper reviews what is known about more and less effective approaches to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. The authors present definitions, recent statistics, health consequences, costs, and risk factors of gender-based violence. They analyse good practice initiatives in the justice, health, and education sectors, as well as multisectoral approaches. For each of these sectors, they examine initiatives that have addressed laws and policies, institutional reforms, community mobilisation, and individual behaviour change strategies. The paper identifies priorities for future research and action including:

• funding research on the health and socioeconomic costs of violence against women
• encouraging science-based program evaluations
• disseminating evaluation results across countries
• promoting investment in effective prevention and treatment initiatives
• encouraging public-private partnerships

The authors point out that the best hope for reducing worldwide levels of violence against women is:

• to mobilise all levels of society - from international donors and national governments, to grassroots women’s organisations, private firms and local governments and
• to maintain a long-run commitment by all these actors to address gender-based violence as an impediment to economic development, a public health problem and a violation of fundamental human rights

(http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2005/06/28/000112742_20050628084339/Rendered/PDF/wps3618.pdf)

The shame of war

Sex violence against women and girls in conflict

By: Ward J, Horwood C, McEvoy C, Shipman P & Rumble L
Published by: UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), March 2007
Via: IRIN

A reference book and photo essay of portraits and testimonies of the sexual violence women suffer when men go to war. It examines the scope and nature of this violence and looks at the different ways the international community is addressing sexual violence against women and girls during and after conflict

(http://www.irinnews.org/pdf/sow/IRIN-TheShameofWar-fullreport-Mar07.pdf)