On 16th Anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325, SRSG Kubiš Stresses Women’s Participation in Rebuilding Post-Daesh Iraq

In remarks at the opening panel on Thursday 27 October 2016, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq, Mr. Ján Kubiš, stated that “In the forthcoming post-Daesh period, the implementation of the National Action Plan on 1325 presents a great opportunity to translate the vision of 1325 into actions to improve the lives of Iraqi women and girls”.



He added that comprehensively addressing the issues covered by the Action Plan and the impact of conflict-related sexual violence will also necessitate examining women’s political representation and participation in governance structures in the aftermath of the conflict with Daesh. He emphasized that women shall be involved in rebuilding Iraq and called upon their full participation in community, local and national reconciliation efforts.



SRSG Kubiš stressed that the budgetary and fiscal shortfall should not dismiss the responsibility of the Governments in Baghdad and Erbil to fulfill obligations to protect women’s rights. He urged the international community to continue and increase support to the government and civil society in this area.



In a related event held in Baghdad, marking the Global Open Day on 1325, senior leadership of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) met with women leaders and civil society representatives organizations from across the country to discuss protection concerns affecting women due to the conflict with Daesh and the humanitarian situation, particularly facing women and children fleeing conflict areas due to the battle to liberate Mosul. Participants at the meeting called upon the international community to increase access to economic opportunities by women and advocate more women to be recruited into rule of law and security institutions, amongst other key recommendations.



Resolution 1325 is a watershed resolution that, for the first time, acknowledges women's contribution to international peace and security and requires women's participation in all aspects of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. The resolution calls on the United Nations and member states to undertake a range of actions to increase representation and participation of women in decision-making and in preventing, managing and resolving conflict.