Peace Security and Reconstruction

Peace Security and Reconstruction
Workshop on Gender, Peace and Security in southern Africa

The ISS recognises that October 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of the UNSCR 1325 which affirms the importance of women in peace-building and urges member states “to ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict.” Article 28 of the SADC Gender Protocol also tasks SADC states to implement UNSCR 1325. Although SADC countries have advanced in creating the legal frameworks for women’s participation in peace-making, peace-keeping and peace-building, and for their protection and prevention from violence, there is still a long way to go towards creating equitable participation of women in peace and security structures and processes, in protecting women during conflict and in the prevention of gender-based violence.

Against this backdrop, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Gender Alliance will be co-hosting a one and a half day workshop on Gender, Peace and Security in Southern Africa on 22-23 November 2010 at Irene Country Lodge in Pretoria, South Africa. The Gender Alliance will also launch the SADC Gender Barometer and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence at this event.

This workshop seeks to celebrate the achievements of creating peace and security for women in the region, discern their level of participation and to highlight the continued challenges they face.

In particular it has the following objectives:
– To provide a comparative overview of the implementation of UNSCR in Africa
– To obtain an analysis of the conflicts in Southern Africa
– To obtain firsthand knowledge from women in the region on their peace and security challenges
– To share experiences and lessons learnt on promoting women’s participation in peace and security
– To track the implementation of Article 28 of the SADC Gender and Development Protocol
– To launch a Gender Alliance Women, Peace and Security cluster

The workshop will bring together approximately 40 participants engaged in gender and peace-building for robust discussion and debate. This initiative presents an opportunity to formalise the Gender Alliance Peace and Security Cluster and discuss its strategic areas of engagement. It will also serve as one of the platforms to launch the SADC Gender Barometer and the 16 days of Activism in South Africa.