Women ’still neglected in global conflict zones’

By Konradus Epa, Jakarta

The recently held Asian Women Peacemakers Conference emphasized the importance of protecting women in both conflict and post-conflict zones as written in the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, adopted almost a decade ago.

The Sept. 29-30 event was attended by 130 participants representing several NGOs from Afghanistan, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, and the Philippines.

The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Multicultural Women Peacemakers Network (MWPN), Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP) and Women Peacemakers Program-International Fellowship of Reconciliation (WPP-IFOR) jointly organized the event with the theme focusing on the interfaith perspective on the role of women peacemakers.

“Efforts to protect women in conflict and post-conflict zones, especially those facing sexual abuse, taking refuge, being discriminated and marginalized based on cultural, religious and ethnic identities are still scarce,” said Yuniyanti Chuzaifah, Komnas Perempuan’s chairwoman, reading the conference’s press release.

Besides protection, participants also stressed on two main issues, namely, promotion and participation.

In terms of promotion, they emphasized the importance of empowering women as peacemaking agents and creating women community leaders. Participation refers to improving womens’ involvement in preventing and dealing with conflicts and in efforts towards repatriation.

They also suggested that each country should draft a national action plan to ensure the implementation of the UNSCR 1325. Each country must ensure the implementation of bureaucracy reformation and the protection womens’ rights.

Shilera Phor from Afghanistan promised that she will make an action plan empowering women in her country. “Women in my country face many problems including education, children and refugees,” she said.

Santina Amaral Fernandez from East Timor had a different opinion. “Women’s role in promoting peace in my country has become better. We talked about peace within our families and before the public too,” she said, adding that she will keep drafting an action plan because conflicts continue in her country.

 
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