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RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA PRIORITY 0387

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 USUN NEW YORK 000892 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO, AF, S/GWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM SOCI KPKO KWMN UNSC CG
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS AND DEBATES WOMEN, PEACE, 
AND SECURITY RESOLUTION 1889 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000892  001.2 OF 005 
 
 
 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On October 5, Vietnamese Foreign Minister 
Khiem chaired the Security Council open debate on the 
Secretary-General's report on Women, Peace, and Security.  At 
the top of the meeting, the Council adopted follow-on 
resolution 1889, which focuses on women's empowerment in 
post-conflict situations.  All Council members, as well as 36 
non-Council members, spoke during the open session.  Other 
speakers included Deputy Secretary General Migiro, Special 
Adviser of the UN Secretary General on Gender Issues and the 
Advancement of Women Mayanja, Executive Director of the UN 
Development Fund for Women Alberdi, as well as 
representatives from the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace, 
and Security, the African Union, and the European Union. 
During the seven hour session Council and non-Council members 
praised the focus on women's involvement in peace and 
security issues, but lamented the lack of progress on UNSCR 
1325, adopted in 2000.  Speakers called for the 
identification of practical ways to assure a central role for 
women in peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding, and 
urged a focus on concrete progress during the year ahead. 
 
Council Adopts UNSCR 1889 
------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Vietnamese Minister for Foreign Affairs Pham Gia 
Khiem on September 30 chaired an open debate on UNSCR 1889, 
concerning the participation of women in all stages of the 
peace process.  After the unanimous adoption of the 
resolution, four non-Council members addressed the Security 
Council to present their respective organization's 
perspective on the adoption.  On behalf of Secretary-General 
Ban Ki-moon, UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro 
stated that women's contributions make a critical difference 
to community survival in post-conflict situations and called 
for the appointment of more women to leadership positions. 
Migiro encouraged Member States to use the tenth anniversary 
of UNSCR 1325 in 2010 to take stock of progress and focus on 
adopting national action plans for the implementation of 
¶1325.  To date, Migiro stated, only 16 countries have adopted 
these plans.  Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on 
Gender Issues and Advancement of Women Rachel Mayanja 
introduced the Secretary-General's report on women and peace 
and security and affirmed that women and girls continued to 
be victims of gender-based violence, both during and after 
armed conflicts.  She cited progress in training and 
capacity-development, including mine-action programs, which 
has resulted in a lower number of women's causalities. 
Mayanja encouraged the Security Council to insist on a 
greater number of women peacekeepers, peacebuilders and 
decision-makers, and she cited expectations that the Security 
Council will convene a ministerial-level meeting in 2010 to 
review progress and invigorate efforts to implement UNSC 
Resolutions 1325 and 1889. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Executive Director of the UN Development Fund for 
Women (UNIFEM) Ines Alberdi stated that women's leadership 
was an integral part of early recovery and peacebuilding 
efforts. She said that post-conflict planners should 
investigate and allocate sufficient resources to meet women's 
specific needs.  Alberdi emphasized the importance of 
developing indicators, as called for in UNSCR 1889, as 
critical for accountability, stressing that, "it is time for 
us all to count the number of women at the peace table, the 
number of women raped in war, the number of internally 
displaced women who never recover their property, the number 
of women human rights defenders killed for speaking out." 
Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, a representative of the NGO Working 
Group on Women, Peace and Security, described her work as an 
advocate for the political, economic and social rights of 
women in Somalia, noting that women bring tolerance, 
compassion, forgiveness and practical solutions to 
reconciliation.  She underscored that without accountability 
for UNSCR 1888 and UNSCR 1889 impediments to their 
implementation will remain. She concluded by urging the 
international community to use the tenth anniversary of UNSCR 
1325 as an opportunity to ensure that women are engaged in 
all levels of decision-making in conflict resolution 
processes.  She also urged the SC to support the Special 
Representative called for in UNSCR 1888 and ensure that the 
new consolidated gender entity is well-resourced. 
 
Council Members Welcome New Resolution, 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000892  002.2 OF 005 
 
 
Lament Slow Implementation of UNSCR 1325 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Delegations unanimously welcomed Vietnam's 
leadership on the follow-on women and peace and security 
resolution, while lamenting the slow pace of implementation 
of UNSCR 1325 since its adoption in 2000.  All SC members 
acknowledged that armed conflict continued to have a 
devastating impact on women and girls and that countries 
should address women's specific needs in conflict and 
post-conflict situations. U.S. Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo 
stated that in spite of the passage of UNSCR 1325, armed 
conflict continues to have a devastating impact on women and 
girls, leaving them, "wounded, traumatized, sexually 
assaulted, socially and economically marginalized or without 
political power."  She described efforts by grassroots 
women's organizations in Liberia, which had a direct and 
visible impact on peace negotiations and post-conflict 
reconstruction efforts, as an example of activism that helped 
break a political impasse. She urged increased numbers of 
women to serve as mediators, special envoys and peacekeepers, 
as well as rapid implementation of Resolution 1888.  The UK 
likened the recent adoptions of UNSCRs 1888 and 1889 to a 
long wait at a bus stop, after which, "two or three buses 
come at the same time." The UK applauded Secretary General 
Ban's appointment of three of the nine women who have held 
the post of Special Representative, as well as the 
appointment of a female Deputy Secretary-General, yet noted 
the absence of a female Special Envoy.  The UK suggested that 
the Council use the tenth anniversary of UNSCR 1325 to 
identify imaginative solutions, make use of the entire UN 
system and work through the Gender Entity to achieve 
progress.  Croatia echoed the UK's comments and emphasized 
that under the leadership of its first female prime minister, 
it will give full support to the women, peace and security 
agenda.  Croatia, along with Burkina Faso, also lamented the 
lack of security for women and girls in camps for refugees 
and internally displaced persons. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  France stated that much has been done to implement 
resolution 1325, such as the UN stepping up efforts to 
protect women in post-conflict situations and including 
elements of the resolution in peacekeeping mandates.  France 
noted the European Union's similar commitment to creating 
policy on violence against women, stating that the UN is not 
alone in its endeavors.  Turkey used the example of 
Afghanistan as proof that raising awareness of 
gender-equality works, noting that 64 percent of Afghan women 
now believe that they should contribute to the post-conflict 
reconstruction of their country.  In its national capacity, 
Vietnam emphasized that the State and society should focus on 
the needs of both civilian and military women in 
post-conflict societies, expressing gratitude for UN 
assistance in Vietnam's reconstruction efforts over the past 
30 years.  Burkina Faso, along with Austria, China, Croatia, 
Japan and Uganda all specifically called for an increased 
role for women in all stages of the peace process.  Uganda 
stated that its government had ensured that resolution 1325 
was used as a reference when the peace agreement was signed 
with the Lord's Resistance Army this year.  Many members of 
the SC, including Burkina Faso, Croatia, Mexico, Turkey and 
the UK extended their support for the resolution adopted by 
the UN General Assembly on September 14, which calls for the 
consolidation of four existing UN offices into one "composite 
entity" focused on women to be headed by an Under-Secretary 
General. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Libya said that in spite of the passage of recent 
Security Council resolutions focused on women's empowerment, 
data from the field indicate that women and children are 
increasingly the principal victims of conflict and the target 
of combatants.  Libya added that the "physical and 
psychological suffering of Palestinian women due to Zionist 
occupation," as well as other crimes committed in Gaza should 
not be neglected.  As president of the African Union (AU), 
Libya noted the AU's plan to declare the coming decade the 
"decade of women," and described its 2004 action plan focused 
on empowering women.  China expressed support for the 
resolution, but noted that the countries concerned have 
primary responsibility to incorporate women's rights and 
interests into peace processes.  China also noted its hope 
that the Secretary General would expeditiously fulfill the 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000892  003.2 OF 005 
 
 
reporting duties outlined in UNSCRs 1888 and 1889.  Russia 
noted its satisfaction with Resolutions 1888 and 1889, but 
noted that women are affected by all types of violence in 
conflict, including terrorism and excessive use of force. 
Russia hoped that the tenth anniversary of UNSCR 1325 next 
year can be used to assess challenges and work towards a plan 
to meet these challenges. 
 
Concrete Ways of Enhancing UNSCR 1889 and UNSCR 1325 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Several delegations noted their support for 
indicators to measure women's participation in peace 
progresses, with France stating that this would be a "first 
practical step" towards progress.  The UK, Mexico, and Uganda 
specifically mentioned indicators, with Uganda encouraging 
states to include indicators within their national action 
plans to implement Resolution 1325.  Mexico stated that it 
was particularly important for these indicators to measure 
the number of women in decision-making posts related to 
peacemaking.  France also called for a Ministerial-level 
meeting in October, as well as  reallocation of resources 
within DPKO and DPA to better accommodate the needs of women. 
 Japan was the only member of the Security Council to 
specifically mention sanctions, stating that "targeted 
sanctions measures should be effectively utilized," to end 
impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence against women 
and girls.  Japan also called for strengthening gender units 
by appointing gender advisors to peacekeeping missions. 
 
Non-Council Members Stress Commitment 
to Women's Empowerment, Need to do More 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) All European Union countries that spoke aligned 
themselves with the statement delivered by Sweden, who as 
European Union President, asked the Council, "After 
almost 10 years, why do we still need to reaffirm our 
commitment to SCR 1325?" Similar to past debates on women, 
peace, and security, which are held yearly, most countries 
said that more women need to be part of peace processes and 
agreements. Luxembourg said that women are "the engines" to 
peace and security at the community level and Norway said 
there is no security where women are not secure. The 
Philippines ended its statement quoting the poet William Ross 
Wallace, "...for the hand that rocks the cradle, is the hand 
that rules the world." Most countries highlighted the role 
NGOs and civil society groups play in promoting women's 
issues both in their own countries and internationally. 
Speakers praised U.S. Permanent Representative Ambassador 
Susan Rice and the U.S. delegation for the passage of UNSCR 
1888 on conflict-related sexual violence, and Ireland and 
Italy thanked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for bringing 
these issues to the forefront of the Security Council's 
agenda. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Nearly all non-Council members mentioned the 10th 
anniversary of SCR 1325 next year with most hopeful more can 
be done in the next 12 months. Switzerland, with the NGO 
Working Group, will conduct monthly analyses of all measures 
taken by the Council related to implementation of SCR 1325 
and present a report on the 10th anniversary, to be called 
"Accountability and Action for the 10th Anniversary of SCR 
1325." The European Union as well as Tanzania plan to hold 
separate ministerial-level events in honor of the 10th 
anniversary. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Belgium, expressing concern that the 10th 
anniversary will be "sad," was the only country to offer a 
sobering assessment of progress on women, peace, and 
security. The PermRep noted that the situation women face has 
not improved in the nine years since UNSCR 1325's adoption 
and called on Council members to emerge from their "New York 
cocoon" and confront reality before it is too late. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Many countries said they look forward to details on 
the new Special Representative of the Secretary General 
(SRSG) on sexual violence (as called for in SCR 1888). Egypt 
said the new SRSG is a "step in the right direction" but 
noted it had preferred that his/her mandate should have 
included all forms of violence--not just sexual violence. 
Other countries mentioning the new SRSG included Belgium, 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000892  004.2 OF 005 
 
 
Canada, Denmark, the European Union (Sweden), Finland, 
Ireland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, South 
Korea, Switzerland, and Tanzania. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Regarding the new gender entity approved by the 
General Assembly in September, most countries said they look 
forward to having the new entity up and running in 2010. The 
African Union, Australia, Denmark, the European Union 
(Sweden), Finland, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, the 
Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, South Korea, and 
Switzerland joined in this call. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Each country that had developed a National Action 
Plan (NAP) on the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 called for 
other member states to follow suit. These included Belgium, 
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, 
and Switzerland. Countries planning to adopt a NAP that spoke 
included Argentina, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. On 
the domestic front, a number of countries spoke about their 
efforts to implement SCR 1325. Argentina announced it was 
organizing, together with UNIFEM, a workshop in Haiti on 
gender and human rights aimed at increasing awareness of 
gender issues within government authorities and the 
population; India highlighted its deployment of a 100-member 
female peacekeeping contingent in Liberia; and Papua New 
Guinea cited its own experience borne out by the conflict in 
Bougainville, which hosted a UN-mandated observer mission 
from 1998 until 2005 that successfully focused on 
peacebuilding and women. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Afghanistan presented a summary of the struggle it 
has faced over the last eight years to keep its promise to 
the women of Afghanistan that what had  happened under the 
Taliban would never happen again. Under First Lady Mubarak's 
leadership, Egypt is strengthening regional cooperation on 
women's issues through the "Suzan Mubarak International 
Women's Movement for Peace," which fosters international and 
regional realization of the dangers women are exposed to in 
armed conflict. Rwanda, according to Denmark, is an excellent 
example of how a country can develop and overcome conflict 
when women benefit from equal rights and decision making 
power. 
 
¶15. (SBU) The Federated States of Micronesia, speaking on 
behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States, linked 
the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations to 
the security implications of climate change.  Micronesia 
noted General Assembly Resolution 63/281 wherein the 
international community recognized an explicit connection 
between climate change and international peace and security. 
 
¶16. (SBU) Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, the European 
Union (Sweden), Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Sri Lanka, 
and Tanzania called for ending impunity of perpetrators of 
sexual violence against women. Australia, Canada, Denmark, 
the European Union (Sweden), Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, 
Micronesia, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland 
referenced the need for an accountability mechanism to 
monitor implementation of SCR 1325 and subsequent, related 
SCRs. Switzerland was the only country to call for sanctions 
as a way to achieve progress towards issues on women, peace, 
and security. 
 
A Few Detractors 
---------------- 
 
¶17. (SBU) Venezuela suggested that the members of the Council 
cannot be judges and cannot employ Article 16 of the Rome 
Statute as a way to stall an International Criminal Court 
Case. In an indirect reference to the United 
States--countries who "occupy others" in unilateral 
wars--Venezuela said that the Council continued to discuss 
items under the General Assembly's purview, which included 
women's issues. 
 
Speakers 
-------- 
 
¶18. (U) The following non-Council members spoke during the 
open debate: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, 
Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, 
Germany, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000892  005.2 OF 005 
 
 
Luxembourg, Micronesia (on behalf of the Pacific Small Island 
Developing States), the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, 
Norway, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Serbia, 
Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri 
Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Sweden 
delivered the statement on behalf of the European Union and 
the Acting Permanent Observer of the African Union delivered 
a statement on behalf of his organization. Note: A transcript 
of the debate is available on the Security Council section of 
the UN website, www.un.org, under "Meetings." 
 
RICE