Press Release from Global Network of Women Peacemakers

 

 

New York, January 11, 2010 – An open letter (click here for pdf file) to members of the Security Council calling for maintaining the mandates of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women and Peace and Security in all subsequent resolutions on women, especially those calling for the prevention of sexual abuse and rape, was issued yesterday by more than 65 organizations and women from around the world.

The concern that motivated the letter was due to the lack of consultation with women’s civil society organizations prior to the recent adoption of UNSCR1960. The resolution also treats women mostly as victims. The Open Letter states that there is no crime worse for women or men than rape, the trauma from which remains for a lifetime. It further says that rape will be reduced in war time only when greater efforts are made to Prevent the violence, when more women are Participating in decision making and when guns are regulated and reduced.

The letter was addressed to the 15 Permanent Representatives of the member states of the United Nations Security Council and copied to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Ms. Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General of UN Women; Ms. Margot Wallstrom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict; Mr. B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs; and Mr. John McNee, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada in his capacity as the coordinator of the Friends of 1325 with the request to circulate the letter to all members of the group.

 

For more information contact

Mavic Cabrera-Balleza

(212) 729 1062