UWAN speaks with HE Ambassador Normandin

28 January 2010

Amalle started the meeting by introducing uwan as an active group working together, raising awareness about the issues of sexual violence in the world.  It really has now become a top priority on the radar screen at the un and we wish that this will offer some hope to the suffering women in these coniflict areas by trying to make others understand the situation. 
Stela introduces HE Ambassador Normandin along with his assistants.

Ambassador Normandin began by saying the main key area of concern are the questions of what is being done right now , what can be done and what is happening and what is not happening.

“It is more dangerous to be a woman in an area of conflict than a soldier” this is a recent quote presented to the Security Council.

 Even the natural daily activity for women in these areas to collect firewood can end up in a fierce attack of rape.  Impunity reigns and there are no boundaries or rules for the rapists– what we have therefore, is a general breakdown in village communities..Essentially Violence against Woman has become a weapon of war. 

Dr Mukwege who helps the mutilated women at the Panzi Hospital says the men are humiliated because they cannot defend their women, women are often ostracized and the social unit is destroyed. Henri also mentioned there was sexual violence against men too.   

Until 20 years ago the UN dealt with relations between countries but now the perspective has changed and the issues now concentrate on civilians.  So until 10 to 12 years ago the issue of civilians Canada pushed council to deal with civilians and resolution 1325 in year 2,000 was a landmark in bringing the situation of women in conflict to the fore. This brought on the training of peacekeepers and the participation of women at the peace negotiating table.

Resolution 1820 in 2008 recognized that sexual violence constituted a threat against Peace and security followed by resolution 1888 and 1889 concerning women peace and security.

What is in the works?

Training of peacekeepers and appointment by the Secretary General of a special advocate regarding sexual violence.  

In the DRC, there needs to be an increase in female soldiers and policewomen who symbolically and in practice have a better rapport with women who are affected by rape and violence and encourage the women to come forward and speak the truth about what has happened to them. More gender advisors wouldbenefit as well.
Vetting mechanisms

All new soldiers need to be vetted and need to know they will be made accountable for their actions.  He gave two examples of places 1) Liberia post civil war where the National Army disbanded and in Guinea where very little seemed to be done to combat sexual violence.
He talked also about the abuse by UN peacekeepers and Kofi Annan asked Prince/ Zayed to announce a zero tolerance on sexual abuse and to have a heightened accountability framework on peacekeepers.

Henri concluded by saying things really had moved on in the last ten years as before there was absolutely nothing and no awareness or commitment on these issues.  On the ground however only 7%of womenare involved in peace negotiations and this is far off.                                

In Darfur women are now accompanied to fetch the firewood and in Zaire there are judicial systems now set up.  In Sierra Leone special tribunals have been set up and forced marriages are no longer acceptable.  Unfortunately without a legal system in place DRC is in a poor situation, and with this impunity it is difficult and so much to do.  Educating the young and the women is a big step in the right direction and with this taboo subject we are yet again in a delicate situation.

Understanding why it happens

We can only do so much and the mandate of peacekeepers is to protect civilians from imminent threats or through deterrents.  In order for it to proceed it has go along with the UN and the National Authorities and the key reallyis held by the National Authorities.  There is too much energy placed on peacekeeping issues and should be more on finding a political solution…
There are talks about accountability mechanism and international canvas for impunity still like legal gaps to be filled that need looking at.  For instance Prevention training, measures of accountability, victim assistance etc., and UN strategy to avoid the sexual exploitation by personal on these women.  He believed that things were beginning to turn a corner and the statistics were on the decline as far as sexual violence with the UN staff.   NGO’s on the ground are on the increase   and organizations such as Care, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch along with 13 other agencies are working hard to aid the situation.

Finally he concluded that as experience has shown us since for instance the tsunami natural disaster, there was an increase in civil unrest, there is likely to be an increase in sexual violence there.
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