Disarmament Diplomacy

Issue No. 61, October - November 2001

News Review

1st Anniversary of Resolution on Women in Peace and Security

October 31 marked the first anniversary of the UN Security Council's landmark resolution 1325 on Women in Peace and Security (see Disarmament Diplomacy No. 52, November 2000). Addressing a UN Inter-Agency Panel to commemorate the event, UN Under-Secretary-General Jayantha Dhanapala observed:

"Without question, disarmament is one of the most important areas in which women have contributed to international peace and security. The strength of this support has only grown in time, and as more is known about the effects of nuclear, biological or biological weapons...the stronger this support will grow. Landmines have also had a devastating impact upon civilian populations, especially women and children. ... Fortunately, awareness and sensitivity to gender perspectives in different areas of disarmament have increased significantly in recent years. The practical experience of the Department for Disarmament Affairs...has yielded many important lessons on gender and disarmament... We have, for example, ensured that women's issues are permanently placed on the agenda of the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa. ... In a new approach linking the voluntary collection of arms with community development assistance - collectively known as 'disarmament for development' - I have personally seen that women can play a key role in implementing such initiatives. ... While we have made significant strides in the process, there are still many challenges ahead. ... Among the specific challenges...are the need to ensure equal representation of women and men on all bodies dealing with disarmament, as experts or representatives of civil society. ... We will work to facilitate the work of women's groups, networks, and research groups organising around disarmament. We will give greater attention to women as a key target group in developing campaigns and awareness-raising materials and mobilising public support for disarmament. We recognise the need for research on developing a better understanding of how gender roles contribute to the development of conflicts and arms proliferation, giving particular attention to the practical and policy implications."

Report: The work of the Department for Disarmament Affairs in implementing Security Council resolution 1325, speech by Jayantha Dhanapala, UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, New York, October 31 ( http://www.un.org/Depts/dda/speech/31oct2001.htm).