Global Monitoring Checklist

GAPS (Gender Action for Peace and Security) launched an innovative Global Monitoring Checklist, a report on women, peace and security at the House of Parliament. The Global Monitoring Checklist monitors the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), Northern Ireland, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and makes recommendation on a more inclusive peace. WILPF was one of the many organisations to push the implementation of 1325, and we were delighted to be invited to celebrate the launch of a very important report. Marie-Clare Faray, WILPF executive member, contributed to GAPS research on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

UN Security Council Resolution 1325
http://www.un.org/events/res_1325e.pdf

With gender perspective in mind, there is a great gap in knowledge for women in conflict situations. Women are usually the first victim, suffering from domestic and systematic violence, where there is a lack of access to justice for criminalisation. In many societies, for example in Afghanistan, domestic violence is considered a private matter which further escalates cultural violence if the news is leaked. Women have lost certain position in politics and is challenged. The UN should set up a mechanism to make government accountable for their obligations.

The report is divided into country of interest and audience it is written for (NGO, policy makers etc) so the information can be utilised to its full potential. It provides practical information and recommendations which can be used to support national governments, the international community and national society actors in their work around peace and security.

For the launch, Lord Malloch Brown, the UK Minister for the United Nations (Africa and Asia), congratulated GAPs on its research and fully supported on strengthening the legislation of 1325 to countries mentioned in conflict. 1325 has attracted a strong constituency of support, however noted that further community pressure is required to action the resolution. Lord Brown emphasised that women's rights are universal rights like the freedom of speech, whereby women universally have the right to basic human rights to be properly protected. There were references to the need of gender relation; using sexuality as a tool of war, violence and oppression in certain situations.

Full report of the Global Monitoring Checklist can be found on: http://www.gaps-uk.org/img_uploaded/Global%20Monitoring%20Checklist%20full%20resource.pdf

The summary report is: http://www.gaps-uk.org/img_uploaded/Global_Monitoring_Checklist_Summary(1).pdf