August 2018
As we believe in sustainable peace and successful long-term development are linked to effective gender equality policies. UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (SCR 1325), approved in 2000, reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peacebuilding, and in post-conflict reconstruction. It calls for equal participation of women in decision-making related to peace processes, protection of women from violence, in particular sexual violence in armed conflict situations, and gender mainstreaming in conflict management and peace building efforts. SCR 1325 was the first resolution that recognized the specific risks to and experiences of women in armed conflict and women’s central role in maintaining international peace and security.
Despite growing international recognition of SCR 1325 as a global norm, on the ground implementation has been slow and challenging. Issues include lack of funding and guidance for grassroots women’s organizations, and challenges evaluating implementation such as lack of timely local and national input. Moreover, gender rights tend to be moved down the list of priorities in precarious transitions from war to peace – by predominately male international as well as national stakeholders.
Therefore, the work on this project in partnership with WILPF and UN Women came from our commitment to advancing Libyan women’s political participation in the political and peace processes taking place on national level. Libyan women have noticed the absence of women in the peace building efforts; they have made concrete recommendations urging international community to include women in the formal peace process designed and facilitated by UNSMIL and/or member states. The consultations covered all three main regions of Libya (Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sabha) where Together We Build It (TWBI) organization along with our 1325 Network in Libya partners took the lead on implementing the consultations. Those consultations included women and youth from different local organizations with focus on gender and age to be inclusive.
Those consultations will feed into the women, peace and security (WPS) strategy on Libya for more gender equality and have the following outcomes:
1. Written policy brief (WILPF) based on the full transcript of the consultations provided by TWBI.
2. Oral statement of 300 words to be read at the Human Rights Council 39 (HRC) (drafted by WILPF, approved and presented by TWBI).
3. Written statement of 1500 words to be submitted at HRC39 (drafted by WILPF, approved by TWBI).
4. Oral brief to Informal Expert Group (IEG) on Libya (drafted by WILPF, approved by TWBI) – TBC
5. Advocacy campaign to promote a comprehensive approach to 1325 (You Are Missing The Full Picture).