1325 Background

Resolution 1325 explicitly recognizes other resolutions as the backbone of this one:

Resolution 1261 – August 26, 1999 On Protection of Civilians in armed conflict

http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N99/267/94/PDF/N9926794.pdf?OpenElement

This resolution recognized the hardship that civilians go through during armed conflict and that civilians in particular suffered the most causalities. It advocates for the free passage of civilians and UN workers in various conflict zones. It also advocates for involvement of the secretary-general on issues of peace-making. The resolution also cites various treaties to be used as guidelines for various nations, such as the Geneva Conventions.

On women this resolution stated:

-recognized acts of violence that are particularly made against women and children [p 1]
-underlined the needs of children, explicitly singling out “girl-child” [2]
-“welcoming the ongoing work within the United Nations system on theimplementation of a gender perspective in humanitarian assistance and on violence against women” [p 2]
-made general appeals for nations to respect various human rights treaties, within those the gender issue is addressed

Resolution 1296 On Protection of Civilians in armed conflict

http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=S/RES/1296%20(2000)&Lang=E&Area=UNDOC

This is very similar to UN Resolution 1261, the main extension being is speaks more about deliberate targeting of civilian populations.

On women:

Article 10. Expresses its intention, where appropriate, to call upon the parties to aconflict to make special arrangements to meet the protection and assistancerequirements of women, children and other vulnerable groups, [p 2]
Article 19. Reiterates the importance of compliance with relevant provisions ofinternational humanitarian, human rights and refugee law and of providingappropriate training in such law, including child and gender-related provisions, [p 4]

Resolution 1314 on Children and Armed Conflict

http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N00/604/03/PDF/N0060403.pdf?OpenElement

Speaks about children being used in conflicts as child soldiers and also underlines women’s and children’s rights. Also applauds the adoption by the General Assembly on 25 May 2000 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, going further to speak to integrating youth in peace-building strategies.
(Much of the resolution speaks to the conflict in Sierra Leone and its use of child soldiers).

On women:

Women’s issues are inexorably tied to children’s issues as the world over women are the primary caregivers for children. All resolutions affecting women will affect children and vice versa.
Article 16.(b) Consider including child protection staff in their peace and fieldoperations and providing training to members of their peace and field operations on rights and protection of women and children;(e) Integrate a gender perspective into all policies, programmes and projects;[p3]


Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/declar.htm

This declaration was from the fourth UN conference for women in 1995, articles within this declaration reaffirm equal and inalienable rights for woman in various sectors of society.

Article 28 in particular is key to my study of UN Resolution 1325:'

“Take positive steps to ensure peace for the advancement of women and,recognizing the leading role that women have played in the peace movement,work actively towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, and support negotiations on the conclusion, without delay, of a universal and multilaterally and effectively verifiable comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty which contributes to nuclear disarmament and the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects;”


The twenty-third Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly entitled
“Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-FirstCentury”

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/followup/beijing+5.htm

summary of this one to come…