Filling in the GAPS
Over 87 per cent of Afghan women experience domestic violence and live in constant insecurity. Throughout the world women remain marginalised from peacebuilding and reconstruction processes, and their security needs are still not prioritised by the international community.
These are just two of the shocking conclusions in the new Global Monitoring Checklist on Women, Peace and Security published by Gender Action for Peace and Security which looks in detail at Afghanistan, Nepal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka and Northern Ireland.
WOMANKIND’s South Asia Programme Manager, Kathryn Lockett, has written the ‘Afghanistan’ section in which she outlines recent achievements and challenges, and looks in detail at the progress made to date on the country’s implementation of UN Security Resolution 1325. She also makes clear recommendations to the international community.
Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security (UNSCR 1325) |
UNSCR 1325 was passed unanimously on 31 October 2000 and is the first resolution passed by the Security Council that specifically addresses the impact of war on women, and women’s contributions to conflict resolution and sustainable peace. It formally acknowledges women’s right to participate in all aspects of conflict prevention and resolution, post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding — and it recognises their right to protection and called for an end to impunity for conflict-related violence against women. |
Kathryn concludes that progress has been made on implementing UNSCR 1325, and commitments made towards gender equality, but ‘women and girls still face significant obstacles in Afghanistan and it is not clear to what extent agreements and mechanisms have translated into real change for women and girls in the country.’
