Commonwealth Seeks Greater Role For Women In Conflict Prevention And Resolution

"Preventing conflicts requires changing mind-sets, and it is only through education that fosters a culture of peace that we can prevent conflicts and avoid their harmful impact on women."

Addressing the UN Security Council in New York on 28 October 2004 on Resolution 1325, he said: "We must promote increased women's participation and representation in peace-building, conflict and post-conflict reconstruction processes. They can play a part in helping to resolve conflict through dialogue."

Mr Cox stressed the importance of the equal participation of women in peace processes and conflict resolution. He said women and children have been targeted in armed conflicts. "Preventing conflicts requires changing mind-sets, and it is only through education that fosters a culture of peace that we can prevent conflicts and avoid their harmful impact on women." 

The Deputy Secretary-General stated that during such times of strife, women and young girls often fall victim to sexual assault, rape, sex slavery, trafficking, forced prostitution, torture, and abduction. Yet they are not provided with opportunities to participate in negotiating peace agreements, reconciliation and post-conflict reconstruction activities. Nor are they involved in finding solutions to the lack of services such as education and health, or in resolving issues such as food security and gender-based violence and crime.

Mr Cox said the Commonwealth Secretary-General's 'good offices' work is supported by efforts of the Gender Section of the Commonwealth Secretariat to integrate a gender perspective into peace and conflict management processes. The integrated approach involves men, women and young people in promoting a culture of peace, and ensures that women play their fair role in conflict resolution and peace-building.

The Deputy Secretary-General emphasised that women in the Commonwealth and beyond play a crucial role in maintaining and rebuilding the social fabric during and in the aftermath of conflicts. He said women must be given a voice at the negotiating table and a chance to play a part in making peace in times of war, and keeping peace when truce is at hand. Mr Cox also noted the positive contributions of women within the Commonwealth and globally, and stressed that their efforts can no longer be ignored. He paid tribute to the women of Bougainville, Fiji Islands, Uganda, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Afghanistan who had faced conflicts in their countries. 

Mr Cox said the Commonwealth's challenge is to strengthen its support for, and deepen its partnerships with member countries and other stakeholders to help prevent and resolve conflicts before they translate into loss of lives and livelihoods. He quoted the words of Secretary-General Don McKinnon that "conflict resolution is about battles that weren't fought, blood that was not shed, children, women and men that did not die."

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 208  3 November 2004

See Also: UNSCR 1325 on women's role in the prevention and resolution of conflicts