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Making UNSCR1325 work for women in Sudan: A Cross Cultural Learning and Exposure Visit to South Africa

Twenty fifteen marks fifteen years of UN SCR1325 on Women, Peace and Security.  The resolution is a landmark international framework that addresses not only the disproportionate impact of war on women, but also the crucial role women play in conflict management, conflict resolution and sustainable peace building.  As part of the activities to mark the 15 years of the resolution, Isis-WICCE in partnership with the University of Johannesburg and ICCO Alliance will conduct a cross cultural exchange visit for women from Sudan to South Africa from June 23 to 25, 2015.

The purpose of the visit is to facilitate experiential learning and practical lessons and skills on how to influence the implementation of UNSCR1325 in Sudan borrowing the rich experience from South Africa. Unlike other countries in Africa, South Africa has a unique experience which stems from the struggle against apartheid. Likewise the South African Women’s Movement is considered as one of the ‘success stories’ on the African continent in terms of the promotion of women’s representation in politics and the security sector.

On the other hand, since its independence in 1956, Sudan has been a battling with armed conflicts in different regions of the country notably South and Western regions which have caused widespread death and destruction. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan especially in the Darfur region has been described by the UN as one of the one “worst humanitarian crisis” in the world and has  been directly caused by systematic and unlawful attacks on civilians by armed groups. The attacks have caused gruesome pain on men, women and children including killings, raped and displacement of millions of civilians of whom 90% are women. According to UN and UNHCR estimates, the attacks have led to the displacement of at least 1.2 million persons.

Why the Cross-Cultural Exchange as a Learning Strategy?

Cross Cultural Exchange visits are part of Isis-WICCE’s a practical, experiential learning process, which opens eyes of adult learners to lives of other communities and of new possibilities; address apathy; enhance dialogues between communities and are a source of new energy and initiatives towards social change. Exchange visits break boundaries and create a new awareness to other realities. In the past, Isis-WICCE has run 10 exchange visits to Burundi (2004), Eritrea (2005), Kenya (2003), Liberia (2005), Nepal (2011), Tanzania (2003), Somalia (2003), South Sudan (2009), Sudan (2005) and Uganda (2011), which exposed women activists and leaders to new possibilities.

This Cross Cultural-Exchange Visit will involve a number of activities and creative methodologies that are tailored to provide practical learning opportunities, best practices and they include site visits, structured discussions, min lectures and case studies analysis among others.

Given the legacy and impact of Isis-WICCE’s previous cross cultural exchange visits as catalysts for social change and a space for new possibilities, we are confident that the learning and new knowledge and skills that will be acquired by women will be translated into practical benefits in the realities of Sudan.

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Delayed progress on Women’s Participation

As the world marks 15 years of the UNSCR1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the UN United Nations Security Council held an Open Debate and a High-level Review Meeting to assess progress made at the global, regional and national levels and renew their commitments to the implementation of the resolution.

Coinciding with the review was the launch of the global study report entitled “Preventing Conflict, Transforming Justice, Securing the Peace: A Global Study on the Implementation of Security Council resolution 1325, commissioned by the UN Secretary-General in preparation for the 15th anniversary review. The report brings together research, which undeniably demonstrates that women’s empowerment and gender equality contribute to the conclusion of peace talks and sustainable peace, accelerating economic recovery, strengthening.

Isis-WICCE Executive Director is honoured to be a member of the High-Level Advisory Group on the global study. During the launch of the report, UNWomen Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, while sharing the highlights of the study stressed that ‘the greatest and most under-utilized tool we have for successfully building peace is the meaningful inclusion of women’. She further noted that the study found that women’s

In the spirit of renewing commitments and improving on the  implementation of the resolution 1325, the Security council Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2242 (2015). Through the resolution, the Council decided to integrate women, peace and security concerns across all country-specific situations on its agenda. It expressed its intention to dedicate consultations to the topic of women, peace and security implementation; convene meetings of relevant Council experts as part of an informal experts group on women, peace and security, and invite civil society to brief during its country-specific considerations.

With this commitment, we hope to see increased meaningful participation and integration of women in peace processes for sustainable peace.

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Uganda Launches the First Women’s Parliament

Isis-WICCE was thrilled to see one of its recommendations from her research study entitled ‘Making a difference beyond numbers: Towards women’s substantive engagement in political leadership in Uganda coming to pass. The study called for the need to build synergy between women political leaders and the women’s movement. This was realized when the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) launched the women’s parliament; the first of its kind in the history of the Uganda parliament.

On July 7, women leaders across class diversities and geographical location converged in the parliament of Uganda. The aim of the convening was to create an all-inclusive platform for women to reflect on the successes Uganda has made to champion gender equality using CEDAW as a yardstick. The chairperson of UWOPA, Hon. Betty Amongi provided highlights of the different policies Uganda has formulated and implemented and successes achieved. These included the Domestic Violence Act 2010, Equal Opportunities Act 2009, Mortgage Act 2009, Land Amendment Act 2005 and Female Genital Act 2003. A few civil society representatives provided data on some of the gaps in Uganda’s implementation of CEDAW. Whereas all speakers acknowledge key successes for Uganda being the enactment of all the said laws, there was consensus that there are numerous issues to be addressed in the implementation process and called on the government of Uganda to protect the rights of all citizens.

It was also noted that the present economic growth analysis that purely measured from a manufacturing and estate point of view has huge gender inequality that need to be considered.

The UN Women Country representative Ms. Hodan Addou congratulated UWOPA and committed to support the initiative. She highlighted two issues that should be considered namely; affirmative action should go beyond women in parliament and include other sectors such as the private sector others. She also called for a strong gender strategy in the electoral process in preparation of the upcoming elections so that Uganda does not reverse its gains.

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