Yakin Erturk: The momentum of the 1990’s for women’s human rights has been undermined by the national security agenda and the coming to power of extremist movements. What are the implications of these developments for women's rights to be free from violence?
Dubravka Šimonović: The momentum of the 1990s is not lost. On one hand it has been systematically undermined by the prioritization of the national security and other agendas, and by extremist movements, but on the other hand there is growing recognition of women’s rights as human rights and values of integration of gender perspective and gender mainstreaming in all other agendas. This year we have reaffirmed our commitments to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPA) adopted 20 years ago, and commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Security Council resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325). Today’s Women Peace and Security agenda developed by 1325 and follow-on resolutions has provided a gendered approach to what would otherwise be gender blind peacemaking efforts. This agenda on Women Peace and Security has gained the world attention and has also recently recognized threats related to the coming to power of extremist movements.
The new Security Resolution 2242 (para 14) recognizes the differential impact on the human rights of women and girls of terrorism and violent extremism, and for the first time in a Security Council resolution, reference is made to 'sexual and gender based violence as a tactic of terrorism'. It also introduces new language linking sanctions, terrorist groups and sexual violence. It calls for integration of gender as a cross cutting issue, and encourages consultations with women and women’s organisations. In my view, we should focus more on the prevention of extremist movements and their negative implications for women's rights to be free from violence by taking stronger and faster actions and measures to empower women using the broader framework on women’s human rights.
