September 29, 2010
Dear Zontians,
Ten years ago, on October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325, the first formal document from the Security Council that requires parties in conflict to respect women’s rights and to support their participation in peace processes. Many civil society organizations lobbied for the passage of the resolution. It calls for prosecuting crimes against women, extra protection for women and girls in conflict areas and involving more women in peace talks and reconstruction planning. Since then two more resolutions, 1820 and 1888, have also been adopted unanimously. Both of these resolutions emphasize and build on Resolution 1325.
Zonta International has supported these resolutions and now, ten years later, we find that women are still pawns of conflict. Sexual violence against women is in the headlines every day. According to UNIFEM, “In contemporary conflicts, as much as 90 percent of casualties are among civilians, most of whom are women and children. Women face devastating forms of sexual violence, which are sometimes deployed systematically to achieve military or political objectives.” We can help to stop this brutality by joining with UNIFEM in Women Count for Peace. This campaign is part of SAY NO UNITE, End Violence against Women.
All Zontians can add their names to a petition which asks governments to support 3 steps to implement Resolution 1325. The petition asks the individual governments to: Prosecute those who command and/or commit sexual violence and exclude them from armies and police forces after conflict; Ensure that women participate in peace negotiations and all post-conflict decision-making institutions; and Increase the number of women in troops, police forces and civilians within international peacekeeping efforts.
You can add your name by going to www.saynotoviolence.org/make-
Yours in Zonta,
Dear Zontians,
Ten years ago, on October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325, the first formal document from the Security Council that requires parties in conflict to respect women’s rights and to support their participation in peace processes. Many civil society organizations lobbied for the passage of the resolution. It calls for prosecuting crimes against women, extra protection for women and girls in conflict areas and involving more women in peace talks and reconstruction planning. Since then two more resolutions, 1820 and 1888, have also been adopted unanimously. Both of these resolutions emphasize and build on Resolution 1325.
Zonta International has supported these resolutions and now, ten years later, we find that women are still pawns of conflict. Sexual violence against women is in the headlines every day. According to UNIFEM, “In contemporary conflicts, as much as 90 percent of casualties are among civilians, most of whom are women and children. Women face devastating forms of sexual violence, which are sometimes deployed systematically to achieve military or political objectives.” We can help to stop this brutality by joining with UNIFEM in Women Count for Peace. This campaign is part of SAY NO UNITE, End Violence against Women.
All Zontians can add their names to a petition which asks governments to support 3 steps to implement Resolution 1325. The petition asks the individual governments to: Prosecute those who command and/or commit sexual violence and exclude them from armies and police forces after conflict; Ensure that women participate in peace negotiations and all post-conflict decision-making institutions; and Increase the number of women in troops, police forces and civilians within international peacekeeping efforts.
You can add your name by going to www.saynotoviolence.org/make-
Yours in Zonta,
Mary Ann Tarantula
Zonta International United Nations Committee, Chairman
