Crisis Prevention and Recovery Newsletter

Gender equality means that the different behaviors, aspirations and needs of women and men are considered, valued and favored equally. Achieving gender equality is one of UNDP’s core commitments. In 2006, UNDP endorsed an Eight Point Agenda for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in Crisis Prevention and Recovery. In the context of the seven-year anniversary of UN Security Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, this issue of the Newsletter highlights some of UNDP’s programming achievements and policy developments in this area.

Gender in the DRC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) suffered enormous loss of life and widespread human rights violations during the two wars that occurred since 1996. In particular, women and girls were often the victims of rape, sexual violence, forced prostitution and the forced infection and transmission of HIV/AIDS. Read more...

Conflict Prevention and Gender

The Northern Border Zone of Ecuador (NBZ) is an area of special vulnerability due to its historic marginalization coupled with the spillover effects of the humanitarian crisis and violence that exist across the border in Colombia. Typical of many conflict situations, women in the NBZ often face greater vulnerability than other members of the overall population, including high rates of domestic violence, under-age prostitution, sexual violence and limited access to basic social services and economic opportunities. Read more...

Ensuring the inclusion of women in conflict prevention

UNDP helps address the structural causes of violent conflict through development programmes that take into account possible drivers of conflict and the diversity of societies, and ensure the participation of women and youth. As part of these efforts, the Conflict-related Development Analysis framework has been used to strengthen the capacity of local actors to jointly analyze problems and identify common solutions. In countries such as Colombia, Fiji, Indonesia, Niger, Nigeria and the Solomon Islands, emphasis has been placed on supporting nationally owned, participatory conflict analysis processes—where dialogue among key stakeholders develops a common vision of peace. Read more...

Gender and Mine Action

Mine action was developed in the late 1980s to address the humanitarian and development problems associated with landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). It began as an engineering exercise that was focused on identifying and destroying weapons. However, it became apparent that the problem had more to do with the interactions of people and a mine-contaminated environment than it did with the technical characteristics of the weapons. By bringing human behaviour into the equation, mine action practitioners began to examine gender roles among affected populations and how gender might determine the degree of risk. Read more...