Posted on 09/19/2005 2:42:36 AM PDT by gpapa
Edited on 09/19/2005 2:51:40 AM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
In his first public undertaking as U.S. ambassador, John Bolton is pressing for sweeping institutional reforms at the United Nations. His approach is presumably intended to enhance U.N. efforts at peacekeeping, fighting terrorism, nuclear disarmament and democratization.
As 175 world leaders convene for the largest gathering of its kind to discuss reforms, let's recognize a key reality: Sustainable peace requires a model of ``inclusive security'' in which all stakeholders, especially women, participate in peace processes.
Just five years after Resolution 1325, which called for protection from female gender-based violence as a weapon of war and recognized women's leadership in peace, women remain largely excluded. A paltry two of 17 special representatives heading U.N. peacekeeping missions are women.
It's critical to have women in leadership positions to inspire others on the ground.
What do women bring?
First, they're community leaders with formal and informal authority. They lead non-governmental organizations and other citizen-empowering movements that promote democracy. At only 26 years old, Aloisea Inyumba drove a village-level initiative that helped stabilize Rwanda after the 1994 genocide. She also spearheaded a national adoption campaign.
Second, women bridge ethnic, religious and political divides. Catholic and Protestant women in Northern Ireland won the Nobel Prize for organizing marches to end violence.
Third, women are less threatening than men. Jelka Kebo in Bosnia says that because women were assumed not to have fired the guns, they were able to work on postwar reconciliation long before the men.
Fourth, women are highly invested in stopping conflict. When rape is used to terrorize, they become targets. But they also watch as sons and husbands become combatants or prisoners of war.
Finally, living and working close to the roots of conflict, women have their fingers on the pulse of the community. In Kosovo, Vjosa Dobruna, a physician, transformed herself into a one-woman response unit. She made a local cafe her office, using her cell phone to launch initiatives.
Given the United Nations' inability to follow through on its promises to include women in peace efforts, firmer measures are needed, such as setting aside a proportion of positions at all levels of the U.N. family.
Even at 60, the United Nations has become set in its ways. In the days ahead, will it recycle the same old same old, or refresh itself with new players?
Swanee Hunt, former U.S. ambassador to Austria, directs the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
How many Clintinoids are stashed at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government?
Being a woman didn't stop Magie Thatcher from taking it to the Argies.
"Village-level".."helped stabilize Rwanda"
Let me get this straight a Village level effort that Helped stabilize Rwanda.
This is the basis for an international success? Assisting on a village level in a success like Rwanda? Wow, the bar is set pretty low IMHO.
It is sexist to think that women are somehow different than men at this. One need only look to the Junior Senator from New York to see that women are every bit as corruptable as men.
What is the total number attending?
A good house cleaning and a few well aimed frying pans might do the trick.
"women are highly invested in stopping conflict"
Damn, on first glance I thought it said "women are highly invested in SHOPPING conflict".
To be serious, instead of invoking visions of Madam Thatcher and Condi, Mary Robinson came to mind. Not exactly awe-inspiring.
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