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E-BRIEF
This E-Brief is a collaborative work between the Institute of Security Studies, Club de Madrid and Isis Womens International Cross Cultural Exchang
The Women Leadership for Peace and Security in the Greater Horn of Africa Project is supported by the Governments of Germany,
Norway, Belgium and Iceland and the Hunt Alternatives Fund
June, 2010
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The Womens Leadership for Peace and Security
in the Greater Horn of Africa (WLPS) projectis a
partnership by the Institute for Security Studies
(ISS) Club de Madrid (CdM) and Isis Womens
International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-
WICCE) that seeks to enhance the participation and
contribution of women in national and regional
peace and security decision-making.
Despite national, regional and international
commitments, gaps still exist in the involvement of
women and womens organisations in the processesof peace negotiations, peace building and post
conflict reconstruction. The Womens Leadership
for Peace and Security in the Greater Horn
of Africa project therefore seeks to contribute to
womens meaningful participation in peace
processes. In particular, the project seeks to build
womens skills and capacities in peace and security
related issues, foster networking opportunities for
women in the region and create forums in which
women can engage with officials from national,
regional, continental and international institutions
charged with peace and security.
This initiative is focused on the Greater Horn of
Africa: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia,
Somaliland, Puntland, North and South Sudan
and Uganda and targets a group of 40 womenleaders, orG40 as they otherwise referred to.
The project is supported by the governments of
Germany, Norway, Belgium and Iceland as well as
as the Hunt Alternatives Fund
ABOUT USWLPS AND THE G40
,
WLPS MISSIONSG40 convene on five high levelmissions
With the support and collaboration of the governments of Germ
Norway, Belgium and Iceland as well as as the Hunt Alternatives F
the WLPS project has, between October 2009 and May 2
organised five high level missions. The first, to Addis Ababa and
chaired by Club de Madrid members Kim Campbell and MRobinson, focused on the African Peace and Security Architec
whilst the second to Uganda, chaired by Club de Madrid mem
Valdis Birkavs, concentrated on Ugandas Peace Recovery
Development Programme (PRDP). The third mission, also chaire
Valdis Birkavs, was held in Djibouti. It examined (i) critical is
affecting the human security of women in Djibouti; (ii) the impa
regional peace and security issues on Djibouti; (iv) the Security
for Somalia and its implications for women; (iv) IGADs peace
security architecture and its activities to bring peace to
region. Held in Nairobi and co-chaired by Club de Madrid mem
Kjell Magne Bondevik and Valdis Birkavs the fo
mission reviewed (i) critical issues and challenges of impen
elections in the region in 2010-2011, and implications for wom
participation in the electoral processes; (ii) Internationally-ass
plans and processes supporting peace and security in Somalia and
engagement of women in national and international decision-ma
fora: constitutional development processes and policymaking strategies to address the security challenges facing the Som
population. The fifth and most recent high level mission on Suda
post-election strategy workshop held in Nairobi, chaired by V
Birkavs, reflected on the performance of Sudans first multip
elections since 1986, drawing lessons for promoting good practic
electoral conflict management as attention now shifts to the S
Sudan referendum election in January, 2011. Valdis Birkavs
chaired four consecutive missions and continues to be committe
the long term goals of the project.
http://www.isis.or.ug/http://www.isis.or.ug/http://www.isis.or.ug/http://www.isis.or.ug/http://www.isis.or.ug/http://www.clubmadrid.org/http://www.clubmadrid.org/http://www.iss.co.za/http://www.iss.co.za/http://www.clubmadrid.org/en/programa/greater_horn_of_africahttp://www.clubmadrid.org/en/programa/greater_horn_of_africahttp://www.clubmadrid.org/en/programa/greater_horn_of_africahttp://www.clubmadrid.org/en/programa/greater_horn_of_africa8/9/2019 Wlps E-brief
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Subsequent to the post election strategy workshop on Sudan,
hosted in Nairobi, Kenya from the 26th 27th May, 2010 the
G40 developed Key Recommendations for Conflict
Prevention in the lead up to the Referendum in Sudan.
The two day high level mission, led by former Prime
Minister of Latvia and Club de Madrid member Valdis
Birkavs and in collaboration with UNDP Kenya, reflected on
Sudans first multi party elections in 24 years (April 11 th -
15th, 2010) and drew lessons for promoting good practice in
electoral conflict management. The G40 drew from Kenyas
national dialogue and reconciliation process and institutionsand also shared their experience
of engagement in the Sudanese
electoral process, in particular
th r oug h c iv ic and vo t er
education campaigns.
The key recommendations
developed to prevent potential
referendum violence focused on:Raising awareness through an
inclusive national forum, broad
civil society dialogue and civic
education and media, amongst other portals; Enhanced
early warning and quick response mechanisms, including
a strengthened AU and IGAD early warning system at the
local level, utilisation of instruments such as Ushahidi to
collect and distribute crisis data as well as the creation of
rapid response units and database of conflict mediators at alllevelsby the Sudanese government; To ensure protection of
civilians UNAMID must reach all conflict areas so that it
can effectively carry out its mandate. The international
community, AU and IGAD should also maintain a spotlight
on human rights violations in Sudan through pre and post
referendum phases, as well as ensure the protection of human
rights activists and other witnesses of human rights
violations; Coordination and communication through the
creation of a comprehensive strategy/plan of support b
international community, AU and IGAD for a fast cha
political environment. Civil society should coo
activities and an information sharing mechanism in re
to the referendum as well as enga
mapping exercises to determi
coordinated network of institutions
organisations engaged in peace bu
and conflict management; finally the
IGAD, international community
government must promote wom
participation in conflict prevention
peace processes at all levels.
G40 DEVELOP KEYRECOMMENDATIONS FORCONFLICT PREVENTIONSudan high level mission
As the Comprehensive Peace Agreement enterits final stage with wide-ranging implications fothe post-referendum period, far more resources andenergy - both Sudanese and international - need to
be devoted to violence prevention anreconciliation efforts and activities.
G40 Statement on conflict prevention strategies Sudan
G40 members engage with Kenyan Electoral Commissioners to
develop key recommendations during working group sessions in
Nairobi, Kenya.
Club de Madrid member and former prime minister Valdis
Birkavs co-chairs a roundtable with Gladwell Otieno,former head of Transparency International and founding
member of Africa Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG)
http://ushahidi.com/http://www.scribd.com/full/33516466?access_key=key-14649ogeytvj2v1kxb7ehttp://www.scribd.com/full/33516466?access_key=key-14649ogeytvj2v1kxb7ehttp://www.scribd.com/full/33516466?access_key=key-14649ogeytvj2v1kxb7ehttp://www.scribd.com/full/33515560?access_key=key-h59mbl4b6gwcu4xi0r6http://www.scribd.com/full/33515560?access_key=key-h59mbl4b6gwcu4xi0r6http://www.scribd.com/full/33515560?access_key=key-h59mbl4b6gwcu4xi0r6http://www.scribd.com/full/33515560?access_key=key-h59mbl4b6gwcu4xi0r6http://ushahidi.com/http://ushahidi.com/http://www.scribd.com/full/33516466?access_key=key-14649ogeytvj2v1kxb7ehttp://www.scribd.com/full/33516466?access_key=key-14649ogeytvj2v1kxb7ehttp://www.scribd.com/full/33516466?access_key=key-14649ogeytvj2v1kxb7ehttp://www.scribd.com/full/33516466?access_key=key-14649ogeytvj2v1kxb7e8/9/2019 Wlps E-brief
4/6Women Leadership for Peace and Security in the Greater Horn of Africa
On 19th May, 2010 the G40 put forward their assessment
and recommendations on the status of violence against
women in the Horn of Africa to Margot Wallstrm, Special
Representative of the UN Secretary General on Sexual
Violence in Conflict, who presented her five point priority
agenda on sexual violence in situations of armed conflict at
a consultation meeting held with Brussels based civil
society organisations.
Ms. Wallstrm, adding on to her own observations onviolence against women in the DRC, looked to gain further
insight from civil society on the ground working on peace
and security issues. The G40 submitted recommendations
from Sudan, with particular focus on the Darfur region,
Somalia South Central, Puntland and Somaliland.
Batula Mursal, of We Are Women Activists (WAWA) and
G40 member, highlighted the state of anarchy, lawlessness
and political instability due to the lack of a functioning
centralised government which contributes to the causes of
sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in Somalia; the
lack of legal protection for women and children, lack of
laws against SGBV, low level of prosecutions,
inaccessibility of police and judicial services in relation to
remote IDP camps and lack of administrative resources and
equipment by local courts and security forces.
Asha Ahmed, Somaliland Focal Point and G40 member,
paid special focus on the plight of the thousands of womenand girls raped throughout the Somali conflict and the
unprecedented levels of war crimes committed with
impunity against the female population. Ms. Ahmed
reported on the increased incidents of gang rape of women
and girls in urban centres, particularly in the poorer areas
made up of urban displaced, refugee returnees and rural
displaced populations and the lack of reporting of these
crimes.
Ms. Ahmed added that ...perpetrators go unpunished while
the victims are left untreated, un-rehabilitated and without
reparation.
Maha Elzein, Regional Coordinator of Peace Women
Across the Globe (PWAG) and G40 member, stressed the
need for increased participation of women in peace keeping
missions, especially in the case of Darfur where rape
continues to be used as a weapon of war. Ms. Elzein posed
questions as to why, despite the issue of rape as a weapon of
war having been raised at local, regional and international
levels, progress has not been made.
The G40 communicated their observations and
recommendations directly to Margot Wallstrm with
particular emphasis on the G40s two collective
recommendations: 1) the need to fight impunity and the
importance of a legal system to protect women from
violence and 2) the need to build womens capacities in
peace building processes.
Ms Wallstrm went on to highlight the Women Leadership
for Peace and Security in the Greater Horn of Africa project
during the meeting and stated that this was a ...very good
and serious project, with a long term perspective.
G40 SUBMITS
RECOMMENDATIONS ON
SEXUAL VIOLENCE INCONFLICT TO UN SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE
http://www.tucacas.info/somalia/wawa/wawa.htmhttp://www.tucacas.info/somalia/wawa/wawa.htmhttp://www.stoprapenow.org/pdf/StatementofSRSGWallstromSecurityCouncilOpenMeeting27April2010.pdfhttp://www.stoprapenow.org/pdf/StatementofSRSGWallstromSecurityCouncilOpenMeeting27April2010.pdfhttp://www.1000peacewomen.org/eng/ueberuns.phphttp://www.1000peacewomen.org/eng/ueberuns.phphttp://www.1000peacewomen.org/eng/ueberuns.phphttp://www.1000peacewomen.org/eng/ueberuns.phphttp://www.stoprapenow.org/pdf/StatementofSRSGWallstromSecurityCouncilOpenMeeting27April2010.pdfhttp://www.1000peacewomen.org/eng/ueberuns.phphttp://www.1000peacewomen.org/eng/ueberuns.phphttp://www.1000peacewomen.org/eng/ueberuns.phphttp://www.1000peacewomen.org/eng/ueberuns.phphttp://www.tucacas.info/somalia/wawa/wawa.htmhttp://www.tucacas.info/somalia/wawa/wawa.htmhttp://www.stoprapenow.org/pdf/StatementofSRSGWallstromSecurityCouncilOpenMeeting27April2010.pdfhttp://www.stoprapenow.org/pdf/StatementofSRSGWallstromSecurityCouncilOpenMeeting27April2010.pdfhttp://www.stoprapenow.org/pdf/StatementofSRSGWallstromSecurityCouncilOpenMeeting27April2010.pdfhttp://www.stoprapenow.org/pdf/StatementofSRSGWallstromSecurityCouncilOpenMeeting27April2010.pdf8/9/2019 Wlps E-brief
5/6Women Leadership for Peace and Security in the Greater Horn of Africa
Three G40 members and six G40
associates from Somalia attended an
Open Day hosted in Nairobi , Kenya
from the 8th 9th June 2010 in line
with an international initiative of
Global Open Days hosted by the UN
in coordination with this years ten
year anniversary of Security Council
Resolution 1325.
The Open Day saw the Special
Representative of the Secretary
G e n e r a l a n d t h e R e s i d e n t
C o o r d i n a t o r / H u m a n i t a r i a n
Coordinator for Somalia open their
doors to consult with women peaceleaders and peace advocates on
women, peace and security.
Twenty women, as well as UNPOS
and UNIFEM representatives, made
up a preparatory meeting panel that
selected six themes as priorities for
Somali women: women and political
participation, peace and security,
gender based violence, women and
education, economical constraint and
infrastructure and employment.
During the preparatory meeting a
task force was identified to monitor
the implementation of Resolution
1325. G40 member Batula Mursal
was selected as a member of the task
force and will work to represent the
G40 to support UN agencies in
overseeing the implementation of
Resolution 1325 and other Security
Council
Resolutions that concern womens
issues.
The European parliament hosted aconference on Challenges in the
Horn of Africa on the 26th April,
2010. The conference focused on
three key issues; political and
security challenges in the Horn of
Africa, specifically in relation to
Somalia and Eritrea, and t
situation in Ethiopia and Sudan
light of upcoming elections. G
member Asli Duale contributed
the conference writing a note on
situation in the southern and cent
regions in Somalia. Ms. Duale cal
for immediate actions in situatio
involving human safety and secur
and provision of safe havens isola
from war zones. International gua
and humanitarian assistance, no
Ms. Duale, ...are certain to s
lives and shed a beam of hope
millions of people.
Asma Ismail, of the Institute for
Development of Civil Soci
(IDCS) in Sudan and G40 membsubmitted the preliminary report
the Sudanese Group for Democra
and Elections (SUGDE) and
Sudanese Network for Democra
Elections (SUNDE), a coordina
non-partisan election monitor
effort for North and South Sud
Ms. Ismail played a crucial role
the coalitions domestic poll
observation, which saw over 4,3
election observers deployed to o
2,000 polling stations in 25 states
Sudan.
Somali women spoke out on various
women, peace and security issues in
relation to SRC 1325 at the Global Open
Day event in Nairobi, Kenya.
Photo Copyright UNIFEM
GLOBAL OPEN DAYMARKS 10 YEARS OFRESOLUTION 1325G40 make up taskforce
CHALLENGES INTHE HORN OF
AFRICAG40 SUBMITRECOMMENDATIONS TOEUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
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Have you seen our WLPS
Word Bubble? The WLPS Word
Bubble is filled with all the issues that
relate to and concern our project and
G40. As our project grows so will our
bubble! Look out for new additions.
For any enquiries please
contact:
Einas MansourCommunications
einas.mansour@gmail.com
mailto:einas.mansour@gmail.commailto:einas.mansour@gmail.commailto:einas.mansour@gmail.commailto:einas.mansour@gmail.com