Women, Peace and Security : Study Submitted by the Secretary-General Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) Book

This study on women, peace and security was mandated by Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and the preparation was coordinated by the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women in close cooperation with the Inter-agency Taskforce on Women, Peace and Security. It indicates that while women and girls share experiences with men and boys during armed conflict, the culture of violence and discrimination against women and girls that exists during peace times is often exacerbated during conflict and negatively affects women's ability to participate in peace processes and ultimately inhibits the attainment of lasting peace. The study documents over the last 15 years, how the UN system, Member States, regional organizations and civil society increased efforts to better respond to the differential impact of armed conflict on women and girls and recognized women's efforts in conflict prevention and conflict resolution. The study recommends the systematic integration of gender perspectives in all peace accords and mandates of peacekeeping and peace-building missions as well as in the programming and delivery of humanitarian assistance; representation of women at all stages and at all levels of peace operations, in humanitarian operations and in decision-making processes in post-conflict reconstruction; as well as improved compliance with existing international legal norms. The study draws on the collective experience of the UN system: it analyzes the impact of armed conflict on women and girls; it describes the relevant international legal framework; and it reviews the gender perspectives in peace processes, peace operations, humanitarian operations, reconstruction and rehabilitation, and in disarmament, demobilization and the reintegration processes.