This year, the day focussed on demonstrating the links between Gender Based Violence (GBV) and the Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger (MDG 1).

Addressing the event were:

• Dr. Nata Duvvury: Dept. of Gender, Globalisation and Development, NUI Galway
• Lina Abirafeh: GBV Co-ordinator for the UN Humanitarian Response, Haiti
• James Okoth: FAO, Uganda
• Gertrude Kabawzi: National Gender Co-ordinator, Concern Universal, Malawi
• Dr. Julia Kim: Image Project South Africa/UNDP
• Savio Carvalho: Demand Dignity Campaign, Amnesty International
• Martha Nemera: Executive Director, Women Support Association, Ethiopia.

More details to follow.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The three main themes of the day were:

1. Community Based Responses to GBV,
2. GBV and Education, and
3. Engaging Men.

Download Learning Briefs

Brief 1: Community Responses

Brief 2: GBV in Schools

Brief 3: Engaging Men

Download Issues Paper

Issues Paper: Keeping Gender on the Agenda: Gender Based Violence, Poverty and Development

COMBATING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE MUST REMAIN A PRIORITY DESPITE GLOBAL DOWNTURN

It is crucial that international development programmes, which promote gender equality and reduce the instances of gender based violence, are prioritised even in the face of global recession. That’s according to Mary Robinson, who today (06.11.09) launched “Keeping Gender on the Agenda – Gender Based Violence, Poverty and Development”, a publication of the Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence.

Since 2005, a consortium of 16 organisations¹ – comprising human rights, humanitarian and development organisations, together with Irish Aid (the Government’s Overseas Aid Programme at the Department of Foreign Affairs) and the Defence Forces – has been working to tackle gender based violence in its development and human rights work. Mrs Robinson acts as a special advisor to the consortium.

According to Mrs Robinson: “The global recession may expose more women in the developing world to the risk of gender based violence, as household incomes shrink and programmes to combat gender inequality are compromised. Failing to address Gender Based Violence and gender equality can have significant economic and social costs which undermine international development efforts. Increased levels of gender based violence could have far-reaching consequences, including higher levels of malnutrition among children, increased levels of HIV and AIDS and reduced participation of women in economic development.

“Investing in the prevention of gender based violence and incorporating responses to it in national development plans and poverty reduction strategies will have long term benefits for individuals and societies. Leadership and continued action is essential to ensure continued investment and scale up of effective responses to gender based violence,” she said.

The paper, written by Dr Nata Duvvry of NUI Galway, launched by Mrs Robinson examines the cost of gender based violence and shows how failure to address it will impact on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. For instance, the paper cites a study of women in antenatal clinics in South Africa which found that women reporting violence were 50 per cent more likely to be HIV positive. This undermines the Millennium Goal which centres on combating HIV and AIDS.

“Gender based violence inhibits successful development: it affects productivity, health and the wellbeing of women and children. Unless we address gender based violence in our international policy, the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved,” said Mary Robinson. Also speaking at today’s event was, Minister for European Affairs, Dick Roche TD; Finola Finnan, Trócaire’s Programme Leader HIV and Gender Equality, who acts as Chairperson of the Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence, and Dr Nata Duvvury, Co Director of the Global Women’s Studies programme at NUI Galway .

In his address at today’s event Minister Dick Roche TD, Minister for European Affairs, also stressed the importance of continuing the Joint Consortium’s important work in addressing – what he described as ‘the scandal’ – of gender based violence. Minister Roche said: “we are very conscious that focusing on gender equality, and such violence as a key manifestation of gender inequality, significantly strengthens the impact of our development efforts. We must maintain our commitment to this critical development and human rights issue.”

According to the Chairperson of the Joint Consortium, Finola Finnan , the members of the Consortium remain committed to keeping gender based violence at the heart of their work despite the downturn: “NGOs in Ireland have been greatly affected by the downturn. This, in turn, has impacted on the scale and reach of our development, advocacy and humanitarian programmes. However, after five years of making gender based violence a core focus of our work, we realise the critical importance of maintaining this focus, despite diminishing resources.

“Consortium members continue to be involved in programmes that address and respond to gender based violence, in a number of developing countries. Irish aid agencies, as well as Irish Aid – the Government’s Overseas Aid Programme at the Department of Foreign Affairs – are actively engaged in partnership projects in many countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America where levels of gender based violence are worryingly high.

Dr Nata Duvvury, Co-Director of the Global Women’s Studies programme at NUI Galway said: “Our knowledge of what works in addressing gender based violence has expanded enormously. There are successful examples of responses to address gender based violence that need to be scaled-up and replicated widely. Particularly important is the replication of interventions engaging men and boys who play a key role in the reduction and, ultimately, elimination of gender based violence.”

ENDS.
CONTACT: Catherine Heaney / Martina Quinn, DHR Communications @ 01-4885808 / 087-2309835 /
087-6522033

1. The Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence includes: Action Aid Ireland, Amnesty International, Childfund Ireland, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Defence Forces, Dtalk, GOAL, Irish Aid (Government’s Overseas Aid Programme at the Department of Foreign Affairs), Irish Red Cross, KODE (Kimmage Open and Distance Education), Oxfam Ireland, Plan Ireland, Self Help Africa, Trócaire and World Vision.

This report highlights key messages arising from a one-day conference on Women, Peace and Conflict, hosted by the Irish Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence held in Dublin on 17th November, 2008.

The focus of the Conference was to explore how implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 can address the impact of armed conflict on women and ensure that women are central to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building.

Download Report

Women, Peace and Conflict: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325

Below you can find some video footage from the day.

What do you think?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Listen to what some of the attendees had to say about the conference.

Ireland’s Role

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How can Ireland support the implementation of UNSCR 1325? Listen to some views heard at the conference.

Inez McCormack

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What does it take for a peace process to be successful? Inez McCormack, Northern Ireland Civil Rights Activist and Chair of the North/South Participation and the Practice of Rights Project on how to make a peace process work.

Dame Nuala O’Loan – Part 1

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Dame Nuala O’Loan, Government of Ireland’s Special Envoy to Timor-Lesté and on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, tells the story of Ayesha from Somalia who was brutally raped and sentenced to death by stoning. ‘Ayesha and women and girls like her must never be forgotten and that is why UNSCR 1325 is so important’ says Dame Nuala O’Loan.

Dame Nuala O’Loan – Part 2

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dame Nuala O’ Loan, Government of Ireland’s Special Envoy to Timor-Lesté and on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, talks about some of the challenges and opportunities involved in helping post-conflict countries such as East Timor.

Leymah Gbowee

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Leymah Gbowee of the Women, Peace and Security Network Africa talks about how the Sierra Leone Armed Forces has appointed its first female Brigadier and has introduced training on gender issues for 4 battalions. ‘All this talk of women and gender issues is making a difference’ says Leymah.

On Monday 17 November 2008 the Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence presented a one day conference exploring how United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 can address the impact of armed conflict on women and ensure that women are central to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building.

The conference heard from women around the globe living in areas that have been affected by conflict, and who are involved in peace-building. The conference was attended by over 200 representatives from development, human rights and humanitarian organisations, as well as officials from a range of Government departments. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin opened the conference, which was chaired by former Minister for Overseas Aid, Liz O’Donnell and the keynote speech was delivered by Mary Robinson.

The conference raised awareness and understanding of Gender Based Violence and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. Participants learned from the experiences of women in conflict and peace building and from other countries implementing UNSCR 1325. The conference was participatory in nature and participants encouraged Ireland to take a leading role in the promotion and implementation of UNSCR 1325. A statement on the conference was drawn up which encapsulated the messages of the conference and calls for action for UNSCR 1325 to be implemented in Ireland.

The Consortium’s report Stepping up Ireland’s Response to Women, Peace and Security: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 was launched at the conference and provides guidance for the process of developing a national action plan, its contents and its implementation.

Additional Information

• Women, Peace and Conflict Conference Programme
• Stepping up Ireland’s response to women, peace and security: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325
• Statement on the Conference

Photos from the Conference

Press Articles about the Conference

• Irish Times, 22 November, 2008. ‘What next, Mrs Robinson?’
• Irish Independent, 18 November, 2008. ‘Women can bring world peace – Robinson’
• Irish Examiner, 18 November,2008.
• Irish Times, 18 November, 2008. ‘Martin in pledge on gender violence’

This report built on the work of INSTRAW (2005), the experience of other countries, consulted with with Irish domestic organisations and uniquely charts out a consultative process for the development of an Irish National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325.

The report confirms that existing NAPs have made a difference in advancing gender equality persepctives in foreign, security and development cooperation policies and are considered to be key tools in the implementation of such policies.

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Stepping up Ireland’s response to women, peace and security: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325

Monday 17 November 2008, 9:30am –5pm

Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Dublin 8

A one day conference exploring how United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 can address the impact of armed conflict on women and ensure that women are central to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building.

Keynote speaker: Ms Mary Robinson, Director of the Ethical Globalisation Initiative and Special Advisor to the Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence

Places for this event are limited, to register your interest now please complete the registration form below or for further questions please email vivienne@dhr.ie

You can also download the official  invitation and full conference programme here:

• Conference Invite
• Women, Peace and Conflict Conference Programme

Registration Form

Registration for this event is now closed