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Outcomes of the National Consultative Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Missions
South Africa hosted a Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Keeping from 29-30 September 2008 at the South African Defence Force’s Peace Mission Training Centre (PMTC) in Pretoria. The workshop was coordinated by the Interdepartmental Working Group on Gender Mainstreaming which consists of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Defence (SANDF), Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and South African Police Services (SAPS).
Present at the Workshop were: Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, Ms. Rachel Mayanja and a representative from the Commonwealth, Ms. Elsie Onubogu. Other organisations that attended the workshop included South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID); African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD); Institute for Security Studies (ISS); Pax Africa; Commission for Gender Equality (CGE); SANCO; Africa Institute of SA (AISA).
The aim of the workshop was to initiate a dialogue with civil society to develop and coordinate a National Action Plan (NAP) to facilitate, monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation of UNSC resolution 1325 (2000). The UNDKPO gender project entails that countries review the alignment of national policies with objectives of UNSC Resolution 1325 (2000); review national strategies and programs that influence and support recruitment of women to peace keeping missions including representation of women in mission leadership.
The workshop has come up with a jointly accepted National Action Plan (NAP) based on the following pillars:
The White Paper on Peace Missions which will be approved by parliament soon, will be the basis for the implementation process involving all stakeholder. It will ensure development of a Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism, accountability and a time line.
- Training and Capacity Development
Developing a career trend that meets the needs of women is very vital if we are to achieve gender equality in peacekeeping by 2015. This entails the provision of gender mainstreaming courses to peace keepers, women observer training and training in developmental peacekeeping. Providing training to the civilian dimension of peacekeepers will that issues such as rape and HIV counselling and socio economic development initiatives such as healthy and family issues is dealt with.
- Recruitment and Deployment of women peacekeepers
Raising awareness to promote the recruitment of women will ensure that more women are attracted into the Defence Force. The need to increase Women representatives in policy decision making positions is also very critical if we are to attain the 50/50 ratio representativity.
- Condition of service for women peacekeepers
Encouraging a gender friendly operational environment will ensure retention of women peacekeepers. The fulfilment of women’s practical genderneeds, transformation of gender roles and the integration of gender into all peace programmes must form the basis for a conducive operational environment.
The NAP will consider these measures to ensure national gender policies are in alignment with global and national commitments.
A Timeline for the implementation of policy programs and progress reports would be determined by South Africa’s Policy on Peace Missions, the White Paper, which will be approved by parliament soon.
A final NAP will be forwarded to the UNDPKO and presented in October 2008 during SA’s presentation of its documented ‘Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Peacekeeping’.
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
2 October 2008
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