Det befarar Maud Edgren-Schori, som varit FN:s gender adviser i Elfenbenskusten.

– Jag säger inte att det är så, men risken finns. Om vi fokuserar för mycket på symptomet och alldeles för lite på grundproblemet spelar vi de krafter som vill ha det så i händerna, säger hon och poängterar att fortfarande finns en stor okunskap och mycket kvar att göra när det gäller den grundläggande resolutionen 1325, som antogs för tio år sedan. Den talar om kvinnors rätt till medverkan i förhandlingar, beslut och processer som rör fred och säkerhet.

– Du kan komma med hur många resolutioner som helst men det är 1325 som är grunden, om inte kvinnor deltar får vi varken slut på våld eller någonting annat. Vi måste göra könet synligt för att kön inte ska betyda något. När resolution 1960 antogs var det civila samhället inte involverat överhuvudtaget, säger Maud Edgren Schori.

Hennes erfarenheter från Irak och Georgien visar att kvinnors medverkan fortfarande får stå tillbaka på grund av den rådande okunskapen:

– Hela tiden säger man att ”vi måste göra det viktiga först. Det är oerhört viktigt att ha en generalsekreterare och ett säkerhetsråd som är övertydliga med detta, kvinnors deltagande måste gälla i alla sammanhang.

Därför har hon tillsammans med en rad andra freds- och kvinnorättsaktivister skrivit ett öppet och bekymrat brev till FN:s säkerhetsråd. Nedan publicerar Feministiskt Perspektiv brevet i sin helhet:

OPEN LETTER TO MEMBER STATES OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

Re: Res 1960

7 January 2011

Subject: UNSCR 1960 and the need for focus on full implementation of UNSCR 1325

Excellency,

In October 2010 the world observed the 10th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 on Women and Peace and Security. An unprecedented number of member-states spoke in the Security Council, the majority declaring their commitment to ensuring the equal and effective participation of women in decision making for the prevention and resolution of wars and violence. Civil society also strongly reaffirmed its determination to realize in the coming years the enormous potential of that resolution in this regard.

We believe it is essential to ensure that regular consultations are undertaken with women’s civil society organizations. The implementation of UNSCR 1325 as well as of any subsequent resolutions relating to women and peace and security will only be effective through involvement of women and civil society organizations.

In that context, we are concerned that women’s right to full participation in all matters of peace and security is being overlooked as women are increasingly being seen and treated mostly as passive victims of violence and abuse. We call for women’s full equality and participation at all levels of decision making as envisaged in UNSCR 1325.

Also, as we enthusiastically welcome the establishment of UN Women, we call upon this new entity to include the full implementation of UNSCR 1325, including its financing and accountability mechanisms, as one of its top priorities. We also note with great satisfaction the appointment of SRSG Margot Wallström who has brought a passionate concern for the plight of women in times of conflict.

Rape is the worst crime that women or men can endure and survive. The trauma lasts a lifetime and has ripple consequences of ostracism from family and community as well as physical damage. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) calls rape during war a crime against humanity. It is at once a crime and a symbol of the continued objectification of women and the denial of the power and agency recognized in UNSCR 1325.

The process of the recent adoption of UNSCR 1960 sponsored by governments without consultation with women on the ground is a case in point. It speaks only of women as victims of sexual abuse during violent conflict and does not mention that if women were recognized as participants in decision making they would be less vulnerable to attack. If governments would involve more women and worked harder to prevent wars there would be less sexual abuse. If small arms were regulated and reduced by involving women in
the decision making there would be less sexual violence. If the UN leadership and its member states involved women more systematically in conflict prevention and resolution – the real focus of 1325 – there would be a marked improvement in peace and security for everyone.

These issues of women’s participation, of prevention of violence and reduction of weapons cannot be left out of any resolution on women and peace and security. Reference to the full implementation of UNSCR 1325 must be substantively integral to any subsequent resolutions of the Security Council on women, not just a passing reference in preambular paragraphs to this foundational and fundamental document.

We cannot pluck rape out of war for our attention and let the war go on. We must be passionate about preventing and stopping wars, and about recognizing the equal right of women to seats at all tables where decisions are made. Rape will be reduced when violence is reduced and when women are taken more seriously and treated equally in all decisions on the fate of humanity.
If UN member states, particularly those represented in the Security Council, are serious about their commitments to women’s equality and to stopping rape and violence, they would individually and collectively ensure outreach to women and their full participation at all decision making levels in all arenas where issues of peace and security are being decided.

We thank you for your kind attention to these views with regard to your work on women and peace and security. We are willing to meet with you and discuss future course of action on this issue.

Sincerely,

Cabrera-Balleza, Mavic; Global Network of Women Peacebuilders

Naraghi Anderlini, Sanam; International Civil society Action Network

Adamson, Lyn; Canadian Voice of Women for Peace

Adda-Dontoh, Becky; Mothers for Active Non-Violence – Ghana

Akibayashi Kozue; Feminist Scholar/Activist Network on Demilitarization

Alton, Janis and; Canadian Voice of Women for Peace

Basnet Babita; Sancharika Samuha – Nepal

Bitsure Jeanne; Women Peacemakers Programme, Women and Allies Peacebuilders
Network – Burundi

Bhagwan Rolls, Sharon; femLINKPACIFIC – Fiji/Pacific; International Steering Group, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict

Breyer, Chloe; Rev. Interfaith Center of New York

Dharmadasa, Visaka; Association of War Affected Women – Sri Lanka

v

an Doggenaar, Jan; ICCO and Kerk in Actie – the Netherlands

Dwyer, Tatiana; Global Justice Office, Women’s Division, General Board of Global
Ministries, United Methodist Church

Edgren-Schori, Maud; Former Gender Advisor in Côte d ́Ivoire

Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE) – Costa Rica

Fountain-ISOKO for Good Governance and the Integrated Development – Burundi

Fone, Wenche; Norwegian Church Aid

Garlo, Cerue Konah, Liberia

Gautam, Shobha; Institute of Human Rights Communication and National Women

Security Watch Group – Nepal

Guerrero, Patricia; Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas – Colombia

Geuskens, Isabelle; IFOR Women Peacemakers Program – the Netherlands

Grönberg, Helena; Global Network of Women Peacebuilders

Hans, Asha; Sansristi Center for Gender Development – India

Haartje Maren; PeaceWomen Across the Globe

Hara, Hiroko; Japan Women’s Watch, Asia Pacific

Women’s Watch

Holter, Thora; Norwegian Church Aid

International Peace Bureau

K

anyange, Perpetue; Centre Des Femmes Pour La Paix – Burundi

Korir, Selline; Rural Women Peace Link – Kenya

Kottegoda, Sepali; Asia Pacific Women’s Watch

Jenkins Tony; International Institute of Peace Education

Lauzon-Gatmaytan, Carmen; Asian Circle 1325 – Philippines

Lynch Jake; International Peace Research Association

MacNichol, Sally N. Rev. Dr.; CONNECT, New York City

Matriano, Estela; World Council for Curriculum and Instruction

Mazali, Rela; Activist and Feminist Writer

McPhedran, Marilou; Institute for International Women’s Rights

Mesa, Manuela; centro de education e investigacion para la paz – Spain

Milner, Michele; University of Central Lancaster – UK/China

Nakamura, Mitchiko; Japan Women’s Watch

Asia Pacific Women’s Watch

Nario–Galace, Jasmin; Center for Peace Education, Miriam College – Philippines

Nazim, Afifa; Afghan Women’s Network

Nduwayo, Gerard; International Consultant on UNSCR 1325 – Burundi and Great Lakes
Region Observatorio Género Democracia y Derechos Humanos – Colombia

Okioma, Mary; Women for Justice in Africa – Kenya

Perera, Viola; Women’s Media Collective – Sri Lanka

Pratt, Nana; National Organization of Women, Mano River Women’s Peace Network –
Sierra Leone

Price, Lisa S; Independent researcher/writer

Rana, Bandana; Saathi – Nepal

Rasul, Amina; Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy

Reardon, Betty; International Institute of Peace Education Red Latino Americana y del Caribe para la Democracia – Colombia

Rubimbwa, Robinah; Center for Women in Governance – Uganda

Salamanca, Rosa Emilia; Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica –
Colombia

Samuel, Kumudini; Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era

Sharpe, Albie; Feminist Scholar/Activist Network on Demilitarization

Schori, Pierre; Former Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UNOCI

Shieh, Vincent; President, World Council for Curriculum and Instruction Suralaga, Dewi; Cordaid – the Netherlands

Toupin, Sophie; Center for Peace Missions and Humanitarian Studies at the Raoul Dandurand Chair of Strategic and Diplomatic Studies at the University of Quebec at
Montreal Voice of the Voiceless – Liberia

Wenden, Anita; International Peace Research Association Weiss, Cora; Hague Appeal for Peace Yiping, Cai; Isis International – Philippines

Z

awilski, Valerie; University of Western Ontario, Canada

Zedriga, Lina; Women and Peace and Security Advocate; International Consultant for
Kenya NAP on UNSCR 1325

Chowdhury, Anwarul; Ambassador, Former UN Under-Secretary-General and President of the Security Council (March 2000 & June 2001)

(Organizations listed for identification only)

Copy to:

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations Dr. Michelle Bachelet, Under Secretary-General, UN Women

Ms. Margot Wallström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence

Mr. B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General, UN Department of Political Affairs

H.E. Mr. John McNee, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada in his capacity as the coordinator of the Friends of 1325 with the request to circulate the letter to all members of the group