Hanna’s HouseCork November 2009

UNSCR 1325Lessons in Peace-building

From Ireland

Bronagh HindsDemocraShe

UNSCR 1325 Improve the Dynamic and Prospects for Peace

• Increase the number of women in decision-making in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts

• Increase participation of women at decision-making levels in conflict resolution and peace building

• Adopt a gender perspective when negotiating and implementing peace agreements

• Ensure women’s needs are taken into account – involve local women’s peace initiatives – protect women’s human rights

• Ensure international missions include women

• Advance and sustain gender mainstreaming

The Challenges of Getting Women into Peace Negotiations

• Violence and violent actors get the attention

• Actors with political power get the attention

• Crowded stage: Multiple factions and players

• Crowded agenda: everyone has something they want

• Sustaining energy: long war – long peace process

• Sustaining action: financial and people resources with dedicated focus

• Power brokers block access

• It is the battle for the heart and soul of democracy

Long War – Long Peace Process

• North Ireland Government suspended & Direct Rule 1972• Sunningdale Declaration 1973 & Power-sharing Executive 1974• Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985• Hume Adams Talks 1990s• ‘No selfish or strategic interest’ 1991• Downing Street Declaration 1993• Forum for Peace and Reconciliation 1994• Frameworks Documents 1995• Multi-Party Talks & NI Forum for Political Dialogue 1996-98 • Good Friday/Belfast Agreement 1998• Northern Ireland Assembly & Power-sharing Executive 1998-2003• Northern Ireland Assembly 2003-2007 (Direct Rule)• Leeds Castle Talks 2004• St. Andrews Agreement 2006• Northern Ireland Assembly & Power-sharing Executive 2007• Agreement on Policing & Justice to come

Engagement Stages & StrategyExample: Northern Ireland

1970/80s: Relationships: grassroots action learning to work across difference, building common ground & networks

1980/90s: Networking: mobilise on women and decision-making, network across national boundaries/internationally

1990/00s: Capacity building: learn about politics & lobbying, policy engagement

Pre-1996: Prepare for Opportunity: connect the civil society women and decision-making agenda with political process

March 1996: Create Opportunity: Lobby political parties/ British&Irish govts to gender proof negotiations

April 1996: Spot Opportunity: Lobby to include women in the election law for peace negotiations

May 1996: Seize Opportunity: Run for election, prepare to enter formal power

Mental ShiftFrom Informal to Formal

“difficulty in joining … sectionalised orsectarian political parties”

“audacity of men sitting around a tableplanning the future of N Ireland without

women present”

LessonsStrategy of the NIWC

• Challenge lack of women in major political parties

• Non-partisan image: suffragette colours

• Positioning: not middle ground party for middle ground solution – inclusive of all interests and inclusive dialogue

• Challenge political culture & style: ‘Say Good-bye to the Dinosaurs’!

• Bind women in: Adopted NI NGO delegation policy positions for UN 4th World Conference of Women in Beijing

• Work from key principles: inclusion, human rights and equality

NIWC Candidates 1997 Councils

LessonsNIWC: a different approach

• Principles:

• Inclusion:

• Accommodation:

• Process:

• Shared Future:

• Culture:

• Problem solving:

• On-the-job learning:

• Outreach:

LessonsNIWC Model of Negotiation

• Assume good faith, honesty and integrity in bargaining

• Build trust, confidence and relationships

• Listen actively – to verbal and non-verbal

• Deal with opposition and resistance

• Lead change in behaviour patterns

• Cope with the unknown and unpredictable

• Think creatively and be innovative

• Frame and re-frame

LessonsModelling Democracy

• Inclusive negotiating process

• Willingness to work towards accommodation

• Joint problem-solving v adversarial bargaining refusing to move from set positions

• Shared effort to search for common ground & advance common interests

• Separate positions from interests, identify specific needs and offer solutions that respond to needs

• Comprehensive and complex agenda that offers opportunity for win-win rather than zero sum

Did women add to 1998 Good Friday Agreement?

• Made proposals on constitution, governance, criminal justice, arms decommissioning, policing, prisoners, human rights & equality – in all strands of negotiations

• Insisted Good Friday Agreement must ‘speak’ to everyone not just political power-brokers: victims, integrated housing and schooling, women and development of local communities.

• 2 unique proposals to extend political participation: electoral reform & citizens’ forum

‘The Constitution’Good Friday Agreement

• “the right of women to full and equal political participation”

• “the advancement of women in public life”

DemocraShe: formed in 2000 to advance these ideals

DemocraShe242 women trained over 3 election cycles

41% female councillors & 50% MLAs

5

DemocraShe: peace & democracy through women in politics

“ The cause of women in Northern Ireland

is essential to the cause of peace”

Senator George Mitchell

Chair, NI Peace Talks 1996 - 98

Speaking at a DemocraShe event on January 29, 2003

Ireland & UNSCR 1325National Action Plan

• Department of Foreign Affairs Anglo-Irish Division – learning lessons Conflict Resolution Unit – sharing lessons

• Ireland’s 1325 National Action Plan

Evolving & informed National Action PlanNAP Reference GroupCivil Society Consultative GroupSpecial Envoy on 1325

• Joint Consortium on Gender-based Violence

Ireland’s Special Envoy on 1325Dame Nuala O’Loan

Ireland & UNSCR 1325Ireland’s International Contribution

• Cross Learning on 1325: N Ireland, Liberia, Timor-LesteBelfast, Dili, MonroviaLessons, Tools & Models, Recommendations to UNShowcasing Cross Learning Approach

• United Nations & InternationalHuman Security NetworkEvents: (e.g. Iceland Women Negotiating Peace)Ireland’s Special Envoy10th Anniversary 1325 in 2010Rotating SCR Members in 2010Showcasing Cross Learning Approach

1325 Cross Learning Initiative – Belfast 2009N Ireland – Liberia – Timor-Leste