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At OAS, Experts Urge Greater Participation by Women in the Strengthening of Peace and Security

A panel of experts on the subject of women and security argued today at the Organization of American States (OAS) in favor of incorporating the gender perspective in the search for solutions to the problems of public security faced by countries of the hemisphere, and urged greater participation by women in the elaboration of public policies that support citizen security.

The 29th OAS Policy Round Table, titled, “Women, Peace, and Security," highlighted the adoption of Resolution 1325 of the Security Council of the United Nations on Women, Peace, and Security, the tenth anniversary of which was celebrated in 2010, and included the presentation of a document prepared by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), titled, "The Implementation of the Resolutions on Women, Peace, and Security in the Reform of the Security Sector."

The Round Table complements the work of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) of the OAS this week during the First Hemispheric Forum on "Women's Leadership for a Citizen's Democracy," which brought together world-renowned experts, leaders, and authorities at the headquarters of the hemispheric Organization in Washington, DC from April 4 to 6.

The panelists focused the debate on the challenges faced by women in gaining access to institutions and centers of power charged with citizen security in countries of the region. They also highlighted the benefits derived from incorporating the gender perspective in public policies and the strategies aimed at resolving the various threats to the peace and security of all citizens. The panel was moderated by Carmen Moreno, CIM Executive Secretary.

Melanne Verveer, United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, cited studies that show that countries in general benefit economically and are more prosperous when women receive the same opportunities. Furthermore, she said that when women participate in the processes of peace, a more lasting peace is achieved.

"Countries that exclude and oppress women do so at their own peril," she asserted. "The development of a country simply is not possible if half the population is excluded. Women are the largest growing economic force around the world. No country, especially one emerging from war, can afford to exclude and suppress women as vital drivers of economic opportunity and recovery."

Anja Ebnöther, Assistant Director of DCAF, an initiative of the Swiss government that has 58 member countries, including three in the American continent, talked about United Nations Resolution 1325 as the main instrument on women and security. According to Ebnöther, the growing number and variety of countries that have developed national plans on this resolution "shows that we all can improve our guidance for states, for regional organizations, the UN system and other stakeholders to address the needs of women and girls during and after conflict, and to promote their empowerment and their capacities."

On Resolution 1325, the President of CIM, Rocío García Gaytán, said that in the Americas only one country--Chile--has a National Plan to implement this resolution. That is why, she continued, "with this session we present an initiative of the CIM to promote the adaptation and application" of this and other resolutions on the same subject "to the unique situation of this hemisphere."

Among other "prioritized activities," the CIM President proposed including a greater number of women among personnel responsible for issues of peace and security within the OAS; to support the formulation of plans of national action on women, peace, and security; and to generate serious dialogue among national mechanisms to promote women and the authorities responsible for peace and security.

In this context, Daniel de Torres, Deputy Director of Special Programs at DCAF, explained how from the gender perspective the security policies of many countries do not make sense, since they only address the problems that threaten half the population. “It is said that men are unsafe on the streets and women are unsafe in the home," he recalled.

Nevertheless, governments invest some 90 percent of their resources, security forces and other means of ensuring peace among the citizenry on protecting those who are unsafe on the streets, that is, men. "This is not only unfair, but sloppy; it is bad policy." De Torres also presented the document, "The implementation of Resolutions on Women, Peace, and Security in Reforming the Security Sector," prepared by DCAF with the objective of orienting politicians, NGO's, and international stakeholders who support the design and implementation of National Plans of Action on Resolution 1325.

Carla Koppell, Director of the Institute for Inclusive Security in Washington, DC, recalled the daunting challenges her team faced during an experience in Liberia—among them overcoming the disparities in education that girls and women had been subjected to—when undertaking the task of recruiting women into the armed and security forces of a new government. At the same time, she recalled the great benefits derived from having greater participation by women in the tasks of fighting crime and safeguarding peace and security.

“What is needed is a comprehensive approach that looks at recruiting, retention, deployment and protection in ways that enable us to leverage all the skills and experiences of men and women interested in serving in the security services,” she concluded.

Similarly, Colette Rausch, Director of the Rule of Law Center of Innovation at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), recalled her own experience starting out her career in the legal field and facing the limitations specific to her gender.

Rausch, who focused her presentation on the obstacles women who work in the security sector face, said the modernization of the security forces and women’s participation can be achieved “by getting women actively working in the justice and security sectors in their home countries as well as in peace operations and to get women into a broad sector of roles.”

Alison August, a specialist in the OAS Department of Public Security, said the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security of the Organization has concluded “a process of strategic planning with the goal of evaluating and reorienting its principal lines of action and bring them closer to the priorities and needs identified by the Member States in matters of security.”

Among “the main results of this exercise” was to “develop an awareness of the need to increase the support and assistance to Member States in the development of their capabilities to identify, combat, and prevent threats to security,” she said. Furthermore, she added that the security body of the OAS “always seeks to incorporate the gender perspective in each of its activities.”

The event, held in the Hall of the Americas at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC was organized by the OAS Department of International Affairs, CIM, and DCAF.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-609/11