U.N. Security Council Urges Women's Bigger Role in Armed ConflictsThe United Nations Security Council Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution calling for women's bigger role in the prevention, management and resolution of armed conflicts.The move came after the Security Council held a two-day open debate last week on women and armed conflicts. The Security Council encouraged the U.N. secretary-general to implement his strategic plan of action which is aimed to increase the participation of women at decision-making levels in conflict resolutions and peace process, and urged him to appoint more women as special representatives and envoys to pursue good offices on his behalf. The Security Council further urged the U.N. chief to seek to expand the role and contribution of women in United Nations field- based operations, and especially among military observers, civilian police, human rights and humanitarian personnel. The council requested the U.N. chief to provide member states with training guidelines and materials on the protection, rights and the particular needs of women, as well as on the importance of involving women in all peacekeeping and peace-building measures. The council urged member states to ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict. The council called upon all parties to armed conflicts to respect fully international law applicable to the rights and protection of women and girls, especially as civilians, in particular the obligations applicable to them under the Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977. The council urged all parties to armed conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, and all other forms of violence in situations of armed conflict. |
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