RtoP-WPSMissed, and Open, Opportunities

RtoP-WPSFeminist and gendered critiques of the early development of RtoPEngendering RtoP and including women, 2005-presentAreas for improvementSynergy between WPS and RtoPThe path ahead: recommendations

RtoP ContributionsMove from state-centric to human-centric approach to securityquestion absolute sovereignty over the domestic sphereFocus on prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding, rather than only military responseBuilds on human rights framework, and reflects aspirations for human security and expectations for international engagement

RtoP-WPS: Missed Opportunities in 2001No mention of WPS/1325 Women viewed as victims in need of protectionAlmost every mention of women in reference to rapeImplicitly reduced the link between gender and atrocities to an issue of mass rape (and only as a component of ethnic cleansing, not as an atrocity act in itself)

ICISS 2001How does this speak to the women of the world?Can they also see themselves in this agreement?

2005 World SummitClearly laid out 4 crimes, 3 of which are defined in the Rome Statute, with provisions for women-specific acts of violence

Included the prevention of these crimes, and their incitement rather than viewing atrocities as a military response-problem

Reinforced the idea that the international is a communityof populations, and of states who have individual and mutual responsibilities

No explicit reference to women, 1325 or its core themes: participation, prevention, protection, relief and recovery

UNSC: Women and Mass AtrocitiesVictims/SurvivorsConstituents/Decision-MakersEmphasis on rape as constitutive act of genocide, war crime and crime against humanity recognizes the horrific scale of sexual violence against women in conflict, BUT can overlook:Women as agents, citizens/constituents or decision-makers (as did 1325)The many other forms of GBV/VAW and their causes, escalatory paths and prevention strategies

VAW and Mass Atrocities

Sexual violence: rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilizationPersecution on the basis of gender in relation to acts under the jurisdiction of the Court (e.g. torture, enslavement, deportation, severe violations of IL)Persecution means the intentional and severe deprivation of fundamental rights contrary to international law by reason of the identity of the group or collectivity.Women-Specific Widespread or systematic attacks

RtoP and Womens Security: Buttressing Norm, Complementary Commitment

RtoP: Contributing to WPS

Protecting and Advancing Women (and womens rights)as core components of state and international responsibility

the role of women in preventing and resolving conflicts, the mainstreaming of gender perspectives into peace operations, the measures needed to protect women in conflict effectively, and the equitable representation of women in peace and conflict decision-making

Leveraging RtoPEarly WarningGender-sensitive indicators: broaden collective knowledge on how the targeting of women for specific acts of violence contributes to wider instability and insecurity PreventionCapacity building specifically for women and womens participation in political life = core component of the responsibility to preventSecurity Council ResponseMass violence against women is a threat to international peace and security, and the UNSC has a responsibility to take timely and decisive actionSG working group on gender and RtoP

The Path AheadRaise awareness and Build Community: Women constituencies in support of WPS and RtoPLeverage RtoP in WPS commitments: how is RtoP relevant/useful to your work?-As advocacy tool for state responsibility and international assistance-To remind leaders at the national, regional, and international levels that people are the heart of governance and the constituents of policy-Specific policy areas: Protection, Justice (ICC), SALW control, preventionInvolve women in RtoP developmentto shape the agenda, add gender sensitivity, make it relevant to and reflective of the lived experience of women.

Lessons from the fieldWhat causes widespread violence against women?How does this relate to broader insecurity and instability?What resources and assistance are needed to halt escalation?What preventive action should be taken?

TensionsHow to provide direct protection from ongoing atrocities without undercutting up/down-stream structural protection efforts (promotion, participation and advancement of women)? Is there a peace/justice tension?How to galvanize political will and resources without perpetuating the image of women as victims?