November 3, 2004

Promoting Women's Equal Participation in Peace & Security Processes, An International Conference

First major West Coast international conference on meaningful participation of women in policy-making related to preventing, ending and transforming post-conflict communities, hosted by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at the University of San Diego.

When: November 18 - 21, 2004

Convened by: United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), The Canadian Committee on Women, Peace and Security (CCWPS), The Boston Consortium on Gender Security and Human Rights, and the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice

Why: In October 2000, the UN Security Council adopted a unanimous resolution on women, peace and security. Resolution 1325 is a watershed political framework that demands world action to redress the severe inequalities, injustices and violations encountered by women and girls in conflict-affected areas. It emphasizes the key role that women must play in every stage of peace processes - peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building. Four years on, there is a clear need to accelerate implementation of resolution 1325. Women, and a gender perspective, must be an integral part of peace negotiations, planning refugee camps and peacekeeping operations, and reconstructing war-torn societies. Women's participation in electoral and political processes, and their representation in all facets of government must be promoted and supported.

Who: This conference brings together over 100 grassroots leaders, scholars and experts, and policymakers from over 25 countries. From World Bank and INGO representatives and government leaders, to local NGO activists and women who have experienced first-hand the destruction of war, delegates are informed by frontline experiences. Some of the countries represented include: Australia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, DRC, England, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Iran, Israel, Nepal, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Philippines, Sweden, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania

Activities: Delegates will exchange best practices and look to build support to end the rampant spread of gender-based violence in conflict-affected areas. Speakers will focus on violence carried out on women and girls both during and after conflict and in plenary sessions there will be closed working sessions on topics ranging from gender-related issues within peace-keeping operations, electoral and constitutional processes, disarmament, reintegration, and rehabilitation processes, as well as transitional justice.

Invitation for press: Members of the press are invited to plenary sessions (all sessions are in English) and/or to schedule a press interview with a selected delegate. Please see attached list of primary speakers and topics you may wish to cover.

For More Information Contact:

Dr. Dee Aker
Deputy Director
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
University of San Diego
Phone (619) 260-2358
Fax (619) 260-7570
Email: daker@sandiego.edu

Linda Markarian
Conference Coordinator
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
University of San Diego
Phone (619) 260-7568
Fax (619) 260-7570
Email: LindaM@sandiego.edu

Promoting Women's Equal Participation in Peace & Security Processes, An International Conference

Speakers and their topics include:

• Ecomoa Bassey Alaga, Regional Coordinator, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, Ghana on "Women in African peacemaking"
• Patricia Guerrero , director of the League of Displaced Women in Cartagena, Colombia, on "When women's bodies are the battlefield"
• Nancy Ely Raphel , Vice President of Save the Children, USA, on "The short path from conflict abuse to post-conflict trafficking"
• Sarah Martin , Refugees International, Peacekeeping in West Africa (2004) on "peacekeeping: problems and promise for women"
• Dyan Mazurana, author of Women, Peace and Security (2002); Where Are the Girls: Girls in Fighting Foreces in Northern Uganda, Sierra Leone and Mozambique (2004), on "Women in conflict zones"
• Monica McWilliams, University of Ulster (Northern Ireland), signer of Good Friday Agreements on "Overcoming the absence of women's voices at the peace table"
• Luz Mendez, UNAMG , Guatemala, participant in UN Peace Accords, 1996) "Getting to the post accord decision-making bodies"
• Bernedette Muthien , Engender -South Africa on "The links between democracy, human rights, justice and gender"
• Anita Sharma, Director, Conflict Prevention Project, The Woodrow Wilson Center, "Reaching policymakers"
• Shobha Shrestra, small arms and security officer in the Peace and Governance Foundation section, South Asia Partnership (SAP) on "The impact of small arms on women and children in Nepal"
• Vivi Stavrou , National Programme Manager, Christian Children's Fund, Angola, "Girl Child Soldiers in Angola" (2004), on "The world of the girl child soldier"
• Eva Zillen , Kvinna till Kvinna (Sweden), Rethink, - A Handbook for Sustainable Peace

And many others, plus peacemakers in residence at the Institute for Peace & Justice:

Shreen Abdul Saroor, Mannar Women's Development Federation, Sri Lanka

Christiana Thorpe , Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE-Sierra Leone)

And Senator Mobina Jaffer, founder of the Committee on Women, Peace and Security in Canada

Call (619) 260-7568 for full listing of speakers.

SPONSORS : Ford Foundation, Reebok Human Rights Award, Voices of Women, Women in International Security, Angelica Foundation, Heinrich Boell Foundation, United Nations Association: San Diego Chapter, Sun and Moon Vision Productions, Women Waging Peace, International Alert