Monarchy

Resolution 1325 addresses two critical issues—the inordinate impact of violent conflict and war on women and girls, as well as the crucial role that women should, and already do play in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Women’s full participation and involvement is important to every aspect of achieving and sustaining peace and stability within a community. The resolution urges all actors to increase the participation of women and additionally incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts. Parties engaged in conflict must take special measures to protect women and girls from all forms of gender-based violence, especially rape and other forms of sexual violence that are particularly widespread during times of violent conflict.

The four pillars of UNSCR 1325

Each of the resolution’s mandates is related to one of the four basic pillars: Participation, Protection, Prevention, and Relief and Recovery. Each pillar is below as described by the resolution.

PILLARS OF UNSCR 1325

Participation

Calls for increased participation of women at all levels of decisionmaking, including national, regional, and international institutions; in mechanisms for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts; in peace negotiations; in peace operations, as soldiers, police, and civilians; and as Special Representatives of the U.N. Secretary-General.

Protection:

Calls specifically for the protection of women and girls from sexual and genderbased violence, including in emergency and humanitarian situations, such as in refugee camps.

Prevention:

Calls for improving intervention strategies in the prevention of violence against women, by prosecuting those responsible for violations of international law; strengthening women’s’ rights under national laws; and supporting local women’ peace initiatives and conflict resolution processes.

Relief and recovery:

Calls for advancement of relief and recovery measures to address international crises through a gendered lens, by respecting the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps, and considering the needs of women and girls in the design of refugee camps and settlements. Activity 3: Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Activity After completion of this activity, the participants will be able to:

Have a good understanding of the foundation of women in political participation.

Understand deeper, the relationship between women in politics participation and CEDAW and the way it gives women a platform to express their ideas.

Time Needed

Methodology

Materials 1 hour

Group discussion

Marker, flipchart and paper

Key Notes on CEDAW

States Parties shall take in all fields, in particular in the political, social, economic and cultural fields, all appropriate measures, including legislation, to ensure the full development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men.

ARTICLE 3

ARTICLE 5

ARTICLE 6

States Parties shall take in all fields, in particular in the political, social, economic and cultural fields, all appropriate measures, including legislation, to ensure the full development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men.

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures:

To modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women;

To ensure that family education includes a proper understanding of maternity as a social function and the recognition of the common responsibility of men and women in the upbringing and development of their children, it being understood that the interest of the children is the primordial consideration in all cases.

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of women.

ARTICLE 7

ARTICLE 8

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right:

To vote in all elections and public referenda and to be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies;

To participate in the formulation of government policy and the implementation thereof and to hold public office and perform all public functions at all levels of government;

To participate in non-governmental organisations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the country.

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure to women, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination, the opportunity to represent their Governments at the international level and to participate in the work of international organisations.

Activity After completion of this activity, the participants will be able to:

Understand the position of Africa on the protection of women rights.

Understand the impact of the Maputo Protocol on empowering women.

Time Needed 30 minutes

Methodology Facilitator presentation and group participation

Materials Flipchart And Paper, Markers, Tape

The guiding questions may include but not limited to;

Is the Maputo Protocol being domesticated in all countries?

What is the African position on the human right of women?

What is the impact of the Maputo protocol on empowering women?

Hint The Maputo Protocol has given rise to the adoption and promulgation of equally innovative and progressive legislation, policies and other institutional mechanisms to advance women’s human rights at a national level.

To promote the ratification and implementation of the Maputo Protocol, the African Heads of State and Government, adopted in 2004, the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA), in which they committed to ratifying the Maputo Protocol to pave the way for the domestication and implementation of the Protocol alongside other national, regional and international instruments on gender equality and women’s empowerment.