The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) bridges the gap between policy discussions and implementation and action on the ground on women, peace and security issues. It is a coalition of women’s groups and other civil society organizations from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, West Asia, Europe and Latin America that are directly involved in advocacy and action for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 and 1820 including the supporting resolutions 1888 and 1889 at the local, national, regional and international levels. The network consolidates and strengthens efforts in bridging the gap between policy discussions at the international level and action for policy implementation on the ground. It is a platform that enables members to share information, experiences and strategies in ways that enhance both their individual and collective outreach and impact.
GNWP members in different countries work in local communities directly affected by armed conflicts. They facilitate community dialogues on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 to identify ways by which these international legal mechanisms may be used to prevent sexual violence and promote and protect women and girls’ rights. They are active in processes around the development of national action plans as well as in various regional and national peace and justice coalitions.
The GNWP has since its official inception in January 2010 initiated a number of projects. In February 2010 GNWP launched an in-country and global monitoring of UNSCR 1325, which aims to build the capacity of GNWP members in monitoring policy implementation; identify and develop a set of global indicators and benchmarks for monitoring progress and results of 1325 implementation from the perspective of women’s groups and civil society; and bring together the individual in-country monitoring efforts in order to come up with a global snapshot of the progress and gaps in 1325 implementation. The participating GNWP members attended an indicators workshop in New York on February 25-26, 2010 where they developed and identified a common set of indicators and benchmarks to assess 1325 implementation. Some members also participated in a consultation organized by UNIFEM, Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security during which the GWNP International Coordinator presented the GNWP in-country monitoring as a parallel and complementary effort to that of the UN Technical Working Group on Global Indicators (TWGGI). GNWP members from Afghanistan, Burundi, Colombia, Fiji, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Uganda are participating in the monitoring project. The outcomes of the in-country monitoring report will be presented at the 10th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 in October 2010.
In partnership with Cordaid, GNWP has commissioned a study on costing and financing UNSCR 1325 implementation. The study aims to analyze the cost of implementing UNSCR 1325 in financial terms. It hopes to respond to the following key questions: How much does it cost to fully implement UNSCR 1325? What resources are available for full implementation? What could be achieved with adequate funding for full implementation? What are the consequences of under funding? The study links to the in-country monitoring project as financing is one of the key indicators for 1325 implementation. In collaboration with the Canadian Mission to the UN, Cordaid and GNWP presented the initial outcomes of the costing and financing study during the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March 2010. The study has generated a lot of interests from various actors including governments, UN agencies and the donor community. It is currently undergoing expert review and more country-specific data are being collected. The final outcomes of the costing and financing 1325 study will also be presented at the 10th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325 in October.
Apart from the major projects described above, the GNWP implements a number of initiatives that continuously advance the women, peace and security agenda. During the 2010 Commission on the Status of Women session it collaborated with county missions to the UN, Cordaid and other NGOs to co-organize several activities, including the showcasing of the Sierra Leone national action plan on UNSCR 1325; a reception and dialogue with Dr. Sima Samar, the chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission; a peacebuilding caucus meeting; and a GNWP members’ meeting.
Together with women’s organization at national level GNWP is currently undergoing consultations on future projects in Burundi, Rwanda, DRC, Kenya and Uganda which would include country and community–level dialogues on draft 1325 national plans; capacity building and local legislation workshops with district officials and council leaders; and additional monitoring workshops.
The GNWP coordinating team members in New York actively participate in activities of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security. They are also members of the UN-NGO Task Force on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse; the New York Lobbying Group on the Gender Equality Architecture; the Executive Committee of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women; and the Planning Committee on the Global NGO Forum on Beijing + 15. They have observer status in the UN Interagency Task Force on Women, Peace and Security and the Friends of Women Peace and Security (formerly Friends of 1325, a coalition of country missions to the UN advocating for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 & 1820). The coordinating team has initiated and participated in various discussions on 1325 monitoring and benchmarking.