Critically Examining UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security

Abstract

Here, we introduce the articles that comprise this special issue of IFJP, entitled, ‘Critically Examining UNSCR 1325’. The aim of this special issue is to examine the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and its implications for women's activism and for peace and security. Given that the articles in this volume approach UNSCR 1325 from various perspectives and in different contexts, our aim in this introduction is to point out a number of conceptual, policy and practical issues that are crucial in the debates around UNSCR 1325 specifically, and women, peace and security more broadly. We do this in four parts: first, problematizing the resolution in relation to changes in global governance; second, examining the Resolution's assumptions about (gendered) agency and structure; third, examining the Resolution's assumptions about the links between conflict and gender; and, fourth, comparing different contexts in which 1325 is implemented. To some degree, differences between contributors may be accounted for by different understandings of feminism(s) as a political project. Different feminisms may underpin different visions of peace and, consequently, different projects of peacebuilding. Ultimately, this volume, while answering the questions that we originally posed, throws up new questions about transnational feminist praxis.

Keywords:

• UNSCR 1325
• gender
• security
• women
• war
• peace
• participation
• violence

Notes

While pointing out possible potentials of UNSCR 1325 authors, of course, also highlight contradictions and/or shortcomings inherent in the resolution. See, for example Hill (2002), Hill et al. (2003), Cohn (2004, 2008), Cohn et al. (2004), Whitworth (2004), Cockburn (2007), Anderlini (2007).

See Enloe (1993, 2001), Cockburn (1998), Lorentzen and Turpin (1998), Sorensen (1998), Jacobson (1999), Jacobs et al. (2000), Meintjes et al. (2001); among others.

These 25 countries are Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, DRC, Holland, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Liberia, Nepal, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda and the United Kingdom. See http://www.peacewomen.org for updates.

For such critical enquiries see, among others, Orford (2002), Otto (2009, 2010), Chinkin and Charlesworth (2006), Shepherd (2008) and Cohn (2008).

This edited volume emerged from a series of panels organized at the international joint meeting of the Brazilian Association of International Relations and the International Studies Association, July 2009, in Rio de Janeiro. We would like to thank all the participants in those panels for the stimulating discussions that led to this special issue.

See Anderlini (2007), Whitworth (2004), Hill et al. (2003) and Cockburn (2007: 132–43) for a more detailed account on the build-up to the passing of UNSCR 1325.

See http://www.peacewomen.org for an up-to-date account of activities and strategies developed to support and enforce the implementation of 1325 in different country contexts.

For full details, see UNSC (2008, 2009a, 2009b).

For such critical evaluation see, for example, NGOWG (2004, 2005) as well as Abbas, Aroussi, Farr and Owen in this volume.