WHEREAS nine elected and appointed women representatives from nine countries from around the world met under the auspices of GlobalPOWER®, a project of the Center for Women Policy Studies, from October 17 through October 21, 2010 in Washington DC, and WHEREAS the theme of this convening was advancing women’s human rights globally, especially the full implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1325 and
WHEREAS the participants deliberated on: the root causes of trafficking in persons, including poverty; environmental and climate change policy; HIV/AIDS; sexual and reproductive rights and health policies; and violence against women
We remind Heads of State, Parliamentarians and the United Nations of the primacy of SCR 1325 regarding women, peace and security and urge them to implement SCR 1325 fully by:
1. Educating decision makers in government and civil society about the content and importance of SCR 1325; 2. Cooperative implementation of SCR 1325 at the domestic, regional and global levels.
In particular, we urge that women are actively involved at the negotiation tables in all areas where conflict resolution is required and that women from the areas of conflict must be included on all negotiation teams.
In the course of domestic, regional and global implementation of SCR 1325, attention must be paid to the issue of trafficking because in conflict situations women’s and girls’ vulnerability to trafficking is greatly heightened.
Similarly, issues of health provision, including HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, and maternal and child health must be addressed if women’s human rights are to be implemented and peace and security are to be achieved.
Further, the issues of climate change and environmental degradation and their impact on women and children must be a prime consideration in implementing SCR 1325, and especially must be a priority in the forthcoming discussions on climate change in Cancun, Mexico in December 2010.
We urge the appointment of a Special Rapporteur for SCR 1325.
Approved and Signed, October 21, 2010, in Washington, DC:
The Honorable Amina Abdalla Member of Parliament REPUBLIC OF KENYA
The Honorable Mary Goudie Member of the House of Lords UNITED KINGDOM
The Honorable Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga Deputy Speaker of Parliament REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
The Honorable Rusudan Kervalishvili Vice Speaker of Parliament GEORGIA
The Honorable Anita Neville Member of Parliament CANADA
The Honorable Elsa Papademetriou Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament GREECE
The Honorable V. Irene Sandiford-Garner Member of Parliament BARBADOS
The Honorable Maryan Street Member of Parliament NEW ZEALAND
The Honorable Doris Stump Member of Parliament SWITZERLAND
Please ensure that your governments are insisting that SCR 1325 is being implemented in all talks.