December 05, 2008

UNDP blocks Kosovar Women's Participation

IANSA women report: "On UNDP's Prevention of Kosovar Women's Participation in Politics and Violation of UNSCR 1325"

"At the "International Conference on Women and Governance in Eastern Europe and CIS" in Istanbul on 1-3 December 2008, organizers from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) refused to allow the Executive Director of the Kosova Women's Network (KWN) Igballe Rogova to deliver the speech she had prepared.

Organizers told Rogova she could speak only if she removed from her speech all references to the six points proposed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon regarding Serbia's administration of Serb majority areas within the Republic of Kosovo.

Conference organizers also said the conclusion of her speech was "too political," which read:

'Members of the international community continue to undermine our efforts toward democracy. We are being told to act democratically by the very same people, the very same governments and international institutions that are simultaneously undermining our democracy. True democracy in Kosova, including women's participation in that democracy, will only come with true recognition of and respect for our national sovereignty, including respect for our ability as citizens to hold our leaders accountable through democratic means.'

The conference organizers' censorship of Rogova's speech ironically undermined the purpose of the session (entitled "The Enabling Environment for Women's Political Participation: Kosova Women on the Frontlines of Democracy Building") and the aim of the conference. The UNDP organizers undermined one of the most fundamental democratic rights: freedom of speech, as well as women's participation in democracy-building in Kosovo and the region.

Evidently the UNDP organizers believed that women are allowed to participate in politics only so long as they are not too political or they avoid serious political issues.

However, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security, women have a right to make their voices heard. UNSCR 1325 "Urges Member States to ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflict" (Art. 1).

Further, the Resolution, "Calls on all actors involved, when negotiating and implementing peace agreements, to adopt a gender perspective," including in regards to post-conflict reconstruction, as well as "local women's peace initiatives and indigenous processes for conflict resolution, and that involve women in all of the implementation mechanisms of the peace agreements" (Art. 8).

This was yet another incident of representatives of the UN forbidding Kosovar women from voicing their concerns, priorities and interests in regards to agreements being negotiated about Kosovo. Since political negotiations affect the lives and futures of the women of Kosovo, women have the right to make their voices heard.

Further, greater attention to the views of women may open the door to alternative solutions and ways to move forward following stalemates arrived at by the (to date) male negotiators. Women bring new perspectives to war, peace and security. By silencing our voices, UNDP may even be contributing to the prolongation of conflict.

KWN has sent a statement to UNDP in Kosovo, as well as UNDP headquarters in New York, urging them to take urgent action to address these violations of women's rights.

KWN has requested an official public apology from UNDP headquarters for the actions of its representatives.

In the statement, KWN has also encouraged active efforts on behalf of UNDP to ensure implementation of UNSCR 1325 now and in the future.

Until KWN receives a response, the network of more than 85 women's organizations located throughout Kosovo has temporarily discontinued all cooperation with UNDP."

IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms) has a women's portal.
Source of this statement: women in black international listserve