Make Every Woman Count
5.2. Laws, Policies, Strategies/National Action Plans During the AWD, some countries (Angola, Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Sudan and Zimbabwe) undertook constitutional reforms that address aspects relevant to women, peace and security. The majority include provisions that address the role of the State in ensuring peace and security, establishing peaceful relations with other nations and adopting peace agreements and the role of national security forces. In Burundi and DR Congo, the respective constitutions guarantee the right to peace and security. The 2013 (rev. 2017) Constitution of Zimbabwe obligates the State and every institution and agency of the government at every level, as well as each person, to promote national unity, peace and stability (Article 10).1649 The 2012 Constitution of Somalia includes a provision on security forces and gender; Article 127(2) on the principles for security forces states that, “every Somali citizen is entitled to be considered for positions in the national armed forces at all levels, without discrimination, and the rights of women shall be protected in this respect.”1650 Of particular note is the 2019 Constitution of Sudan. Under Chapter 15 on Comprehensive Peace Issues, during the transitional period the State agencies shall work on implementing duties, such as applying UNSCR 1325 and relevant AU resolutions regarding the participation of women at all levels in the peace process and applying regional and international charters regarding women’s rights. Furthermore, agencies shall conduct “legal reforms that guarantee women’s rights, by repealing all laws that discriminate against women, and protecting the rights granted to them by this Constitutional Charter.”1651 Several countries have enacted policy reform in relation to women, peace and security, most commonly through the implementation of a national action plan (NAP) for the implementation of UNSCR 1325. NAPs are critical for translating the aspirations of the women, peace and security agenda into practical interventions and require the involvement of CSOs and government institutions. Out of the 55 African countries, 25 have adopted a NAP. Of those, seven (Burundi, DR Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Rwanda) adopted a second NAP during the Decade, while Mali implemented its third NAP in the same period. Sudan is the latest African nation to adopt a NAP, on 10 June 2020.1652 The consultation of CSOs in the development of NAPs is sometimes narrow and, in some countries, there has been limited dissemination of the NAP; furthermore, CSOs may lack the capacity to monitor and evaluate the implementation of NAPs systematically.1653 Many countries have early warning systems on conflict detection but these do not necessarily incorporate gender-responsive indicators.1654 Over the Decade, a number of countries, including Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, implemented legal and institutional reforms that are considered important for the women, peace and security agenda. Several reforms have focused on establishing national peace and reconciliation commissions. In 2016, through Decree 2016-373, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire established a national committee to combat sexual violence related to the conflict. In 2015, the Government of Central African Republic adopted Organic Law 15-003 establishing the Special Criminal Court. The mandate of the Court includes investigating and adjudicating serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed on the territory after 1 January 2003.1655 The Court specifically focuses on genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.1656 There are good examples of women’s successful initiatives around conflict management and peace-building. One such example is the Women’s Situation Rooms (WSRs) that monitor electoral processes to ensure that situations that could potentially trigger conflict are detected early on. The WSR initiative started in Liberia in 2011, and peace activists and organisations in countries such as Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Uganda have adopted this practice.1657 Local protection committees in several African countries are increasingly being acknowledged as successful peace-building architecture for community members, addressing local conflicts through alternative dispute resolution methods in day-to-day life.1658
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