Hanna’s House Cork November 2009
description
Transcript of Hanna’s House Cork November 2009
Hanna’s HouseCork November 2009
UNSCR 1325Lessons in Peace-building
From Ireland
Bronagh HindsDemocraShe
UNSCR 1325 Improve the Dynamic and Prospects for Peace
• Increase the number of women in decision-making in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts
• Increase participation of women at decision-making levels in conflict resolution and peace building
• Adopt a gender perspective when negotiating and implementing peace agreements
• Ensure women’s needs are taken into account – involve local women’s peace initiatives – protect women’s human rights
• Ensure international missions include women
• Advance and sustain gender mainstreaming
The Challenges of Getting Women into Peace Negotiations
• Violence and violent actors get the attention
• Actors with political power get the attention
• Crowded stage: Multiple factions and players
• Crowded agenda: everyone has something they want
• Sustaining energy: long war – long peace process
• Sustaining action: financial and people resources with dedicated focus
• Power brokers block access
• It is the battle for the heart and soul of democracy
Long War – Long Peace Process
• North Ireland Government suspended & Direct Rule 1972• Sunningdale Declaration 1973 & Power-sharing Executive 1974• Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985• Hume Adams Talks 1990s• ‘No selfish or strategic interest’ 1991• Downing Street Declaration 1993• Forum for Peace and Reconciliation 1994• Frameworks Documents 1995• Multi-Party Talks & NI Forum for Political Dialogue 1996-98 • Good Friday/Belfast Agreement 1998• Northern Ireland Assembly & Power-sharing Executive 1998-2003• Northern Ireland Assembly 2003-2007 (Direct Rule)• Leeds Castle Talks 2004• St. Andrews Agreement 2006• Northern Ireland Assembly & Power-sharing Executive 2007• Agreement on Policing & Justice to come
Engagement Stages & StrategyExample: Northern Ireland
1970/80s: Relationships: grassroots action learning to work across difference, building common ground & networks
1980/90s: Networking: mobilise on women and decision-making, network across national boundaries/internationally
1990/00s: Capacity building: learn about politics & lobbying, policy engagement
Pre-1996: Prepare for Opportunity: connect the civil society women and decision-making agenda with political process
March 1996: Create Opportunity: Lobby political parties/ British&Irish govts to gender proof negotiations
April 1996: Spot Opportunity: Lobby to include women in the election law for peace negotiations
May 1996: Seize Opportunity: Run for election, prepare to enter formal power
Mental ShiftFrom Informal to Formal
“difficulty in joining … sectionalised orsectarian political parties”
“audacity of men sitting around a tableplanning the future of N Ireland without
women present”
LessonsStrategy of the NIWC
• Challenge lack of women in major political parties
• Non-partisan image: suffragette colours
• Positioning: not middle ground party for middle ground solution – inclusive of all interests and inclusive dialogue
• Challenge political culture & style: ‘Say Good-bye to the Dinosaurs’!
• Bind women in: Adopted NI NGO delegation policy positions for UN 4th World Conference of Women in Beijing
• Work from key principles: inclusion, human rights and equality
NIWC Candidates 1997 Councils
LessonsNIWC: a different approach
• Principles:
• Inclusion:
• Accommodation:
• Process:
• Shared Future:
• Culture:
• Problem solving:
• On-the-job learning:
• Outreach:
LessonsNIWC Model of Negotiation
• Assume good faith, honesty and integrity in bargaining
• Build trust, confidence and relationships
• Listen actively – to verbal and non-verbal
• Deal with opposition and resistance
• Lead change in behaviour patterns
• Cope with the unknown and unpredictable
• Think creatively and be innovative
• Frame and re-frame
LessonsModelling Democracy
• Inclusive negotiating process
• Willingness to work towards accommodation
• Joint problem-solving v adversarial bargaining refusing to move from set positions
• Shared effort to search for common ground & advance common interests
• Separate positions from interests, identify specific needs and offer solutions that respond to needs
• Comprehensive and complex agenda that offers opportunity for win-win rather than zero sum
Did women add to 1998 Good Friday Agreement?
• Made proposals on constitution, governance, criminal justice, arms decommissioning, policing, prisoners, human rights & equality – in all strands of negotiations
• Insisted Good Friday Agreement must ‘speak’ to everyone not just political power-brokers: victims, integrated housing and schooling, women and development of local communities.
• 2 unique proposals to extend political participation: electoral reform & citizens’ forum
‘The Constitution’Good Friday Agreement
• “the right of women to full and equal political participation”
• “the advancement of women in public life”
DemocraShe: formed in 2000 to advance these ideals
DemocraShe242 women trained over 3 election cycles
41% female councillors & 50% MLAs
5
DemocraShe: peace & democracy through women in politics
“ The cause of women in Northern Ireland
is essential to the cause of peace”
Senator George Mitchell
Chair, NI Peace Talks 1996 - 98
Speaking at a DemocraShe event on January 29, 2003
Ireland & UNSCR 1325National Action Plan
• Department of Foreign Affairs Anglo-Irish Division – learning lessons Conflict Resolution Unit – sharing lessons
• Ireland’s 1325 National Action Plan
Evolving & informed National Action PlanNAP Reference GroupCivil Society Consultative GroupSpecial Envoy on 1325
• Joint Consortium on Gender-based Violence
Ireland’s Special Envoy on 1325Dame Nuala O’Loan
Ireland & UNSCR 1325Ireland’s International Contribution
• Cross Learning on 1325: N Ireland, Liberia, Timor-LesteBelfast, Dili, MonroviaLessons, Tools & Models, Recommendations to UNShowcasing Cross Learning Approach
• United Nations & InternationalHuman Security NetworkEvents: (e.g. Iceland Women Negotiating Peace)Ireland’s Special Envoy10th Anniversary 1325 in 2010Rotating SCR Members in 2010Showcasing Cross Learning Approach
1325 Cross Learning Initiative – Belfast 2009N Ireland – Liberia – Timor-Leste