UN Resolution 1325: The East Africa Scenario

On October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace & Security, rejecting simplistic views of women as inevitable victims of conflict, and asserting for the first time that women should be included as active agents of peace-building. SCR 1325 is characterized by three key pillars:the participation of women at all levels of decision-making; the inclusion of gender perspectives to prevent and mitigate the impacts of conflict on women, and; the protection of women from violence during and after conflict. While previous resolutions contained broad calls for the protection of civilians, including women, during armed conflict, UNSCR 1325 was distinct in that it recognized¿the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women, and the under-valued and under-utilized contributions women make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building. It also stressed the importance of the equal and full participation of women as active agents in peace and security. This book examines resolutions adopted since SCR 1325 and identifies all references to it, and calls for its implementation.