15 June 2016: Inconsistent levels of political will, resourcing, accountability, dedicated gender expertise and attitudinal change are the obstacles to women’s meaningful inclusion in efforts to prevent and resolve conflict, the UN Security Council noted in a Presidential Statement on ‘Women and peace and security.’

The statement was made at the meeting of the Security Council on 15 June 2016, as the Council considered the agenda item titled, ‘Women and peace and security.’ Implementation of the Council’s resolution on women, peace and security (UNSCR 1325) was the focus of one of three UN high-level reviews taking place during the 70th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session. The other two reviews have addressed peace operations and peacebuilding architecture.

According to the Presidential Statement, the Council proposes measures including: better occupational skills training and greater funding support for entrepreneurship for African women, in order to improve their incomes and livelihoods; increasing the participation of women in mediation and post-conflict resolution; and increasing the consideration of gender-related issues in all discussions pertinent to conflict prevention. The Council specifically notes that regional and sub-regional organizations involved in peace processes should facilitate the meaningful participation of women at all levels of conflict prevention and resolution, and in the implementation of peace agreements. It further calls upon the UN Mediation Support Unit, which provides the mediation support to the UN system, to significantly increase the numbers of women mediators on its existing roster. It also calls on Member States to increase their funding on women, peace and security, including through more aid in conflict and post-conflict situations, for programmes that further gender equality and women’s empowerment and support civil society.

The Security Council welcomes: the adoption of regional frameworks to implement Resolution 1325, including the African Union’s Gender, Peace and Security Programme 2015-2020; women-led prevention initiatives such as the Women’s Situation Rooms throughout Africa, which have helped to prevent or mitigate the eruption and escalation of violence; the initiative of the African Union to build a dedicated roster of women mediators on the continent for the use of both the African Union and the UN; and the work undertaken by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

France served as UN Security Council President in June. [UN Security Council Presidential Statement] [UN News Centre] [IISD RS Story on Resolution 1325 Anniversary] [IISD RS Story on Global Study on Implementation of Women, Peace, Security Resolution] [IISD RS Story on UN High Level Event on Women, Peace, Security] [IISD RS on Civil Society Reflections on Women, Peace, Security] [African Union Programme on Women, Gender, Peace, Security]