From #GenerationEquality to the G7, commitments are nothing without implementation

As the UK prepares to host the G7 summit, Palestinian activist and Karama member Amani Aruri reminded UK parliamentarians that to achieve the global development goals, they must fulfil existing commitments for women, peace and security.

Amani spoke as part of an event hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs), a cross-political party body drawn from the UK’s legislature focused on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Chaired by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger CBE and Theo Clarke MP, Amani spoke alongside the acting Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK, as well as Sarah Douglas, UN Women’s Deputy Chief of Peace and Security, and Maguerite Moleux, of the French Embassy to the UK.

Speaking on behalf of the Karama network, Amani explored why the proper implementation of the women, peace and security agenda is so important for achieving the SDGs - particularly for the Arab region, which is disproportionately affected by conflict. Amani discussed the work she and Karama have been doing as part of the Generation Equality Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA) Compact.

Amani emphasized that the international community must live up to the commitments governments have made and UN Security Council resolutions that have been agreed, not only as part of the women, peace and security agenda, but to human rights and international humanitarian law - noting in particular the continued occupation of Palestine, and the recent and historic human rights violations carried out by Israeli occupation forces.

Amani Aruri addresses the discussion on Generation Equality and the WPS-HA, hosted by UK parliamentarians

Read Amani’s full remarks:

The Arab region represents just 5 percent of the global population, but it bears witness to a hugely disproportionate level of conflict - representing half of global deaths in conflict, and origin of 60 per cent of the world’s refugees.

Some countries in the region are still experiencing protracted conflicts, specifically Syria, Libya, and Yemen. Others continue to suffer from the long-term impacts of past conflicts, such as Iraq and Sudan. Political unrest, military rule, authoritarian governments and failure to ensure the rule of law are also causing internal instability and further exacerbating the crisis in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights, On top of all of that, Palestine is still under the prolonged Israeli occupation.

This is a context in which women are already marginalised in and excluded from decision making far more than any other region.

The current situation under the pandemic highlights that women are experiencing increased violence and threats to their socio-economic independence, and illustrates the importance of participation of women in process, design of programmes, and in decision-making. Without this, the resulting solutions are proving not to be gender responsive.

In their efforts to deal with the crisis, governments did not consult adequately with women’s groups, despite the evidence of increased violence and the disproportionate negative impact of the crisis on women. This has resulted in programmes that fail women and their needs. For example, governments did not adequately address the need for measures to prevent and protect women from violence, despite the evidence that women are reluctant to leave the home to report cases of violence, for fear of stigmatisation and risking exposing themselves to their community

• International Community

Security Council resolutions adopted under the WPS Agenda so far do not refer to foreign occupation as a threat to peace and security. The reality of the Israeli occupation of Palestine shows that the very existence of the occupation is a threat to women’s peace and security. Israeli authorities adopt a host of laws, policies, and measures touching on almost every aspect of daily lives. They are by their nature violent, obstructive to human development, contrary to human rights, and violate international law. 

The international community of intergovernmental bodies and states must hold the Israeli occupation accountable for its crimes and other violations under international law committed against Palestinian women, which threaten their peace and security. 

Women and girls in conflict countries have limited access to education, low quality of education, early dropouts, unsafe educational environments,,refugee internal displacement,destruction of infrastructure including roads, hospitals, clinics, and schools, and increase in extreme poverty in the world, are further compounded by prevailing cultural and social norms that are biased against women and girls and value violent masculinity. Such norms are often protected and exacerbated by official discriminatory laws, regulations, policies, and practices.

These are among a host of circumstances that are causing heightened vulnerabilities for women and girls and lead to human rights violations such as rape and sexual violence, child marriage, and restrictions on mobility and access to education and health services, as well as limits on economic participation and security, and decreased participation in public life. 

In the face of all these challenges, civil society organisations continue to be a main source of provision of services and support to women and girls, despite state measures aimed at shrinking spaces for civil society, manifested by restrictions on freedoms of association, expression, and assembly, and attacks on human rights defenders, feminist activists, and feminist organisations. 

Feminist movements in the region are flourishing and realising great achievements despite the enormous challenges they face. Women and girls in MENA have made great strides in pursuit of progress and are moving forward towards even more, with variations and diversity both within countries and between them.

For example, the activists who make up the Karama network are drawn from a region that faces very particular challenges, especially when it comes to women, peace and security. The proper implementation of the women, peace and security agenda has been a priority for Karama ever since it was established in 2005. 

The network set up the Arab Regional Network on Women, Peace and Security, issuing a 10-Point Manifesto on Conflict & Post-Conflict, held consultation events so that women across the region could contribute to the Global Study and High-Level Review of UNSCR 1325, was the civil society partner for the UN Women and League of Arab States First High-Level Ministerial Conference on Women Achieving Peace and Security in the Arab Region, and as a board member of the WPS-HA compact, Karama has placed women working on the frontlines of WPS implementation on working groups alongside governments, UN agencies, and others. 

The country report for Palestine that was launched in Jan 2021 by Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS), Mercy Corps (MC) Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) and the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid Counselling (WCLAC) outlines the impact of COVID-19 on gender equality, peace and security and makes recommendations for response to this pandemic and to future crises

It emphasized that the virus outbreak has enforced pre-existing inequalities, gender-based violence (GBV) and discrimination in the oPt. To add to the difficulty of the situation, the movement of humanitarian workers has been further restricted since the outbreak, both between governorates and particularly between the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza

In the midst of the COVID-19 response and attempts to keep people at home and socially distanced, some Palestinians were forced to deal with the demolition of their homes. Despite the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) statement in the first week of April confirming a freeze in the demolition of inhabited residential structures in the West Bank to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, demolitions actually increased in the following months.

According to OCHA, the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip between May 10 and May 21 killed 256 Palestinians, including 66 children and 40 women, of whom four were pregnant. 

It is important that this understanding is developed by listening directly to the experiences of women’s organisations on the ground about their work and the ways in which international partnerships can help facilitate it. There is also a need to think beyond the short-term response to urgent needs. Assistance should not be approached in a compartmentalised manner whereby pillars of the WPS Agenda are supported separately. Assistance must emphasise interconnectivity in approach and outcome of supporting the WPS Agenda

There is a need for a new approach to the WPS Agenda by the Security Council, all the systems and bodies of the UN, as well as States and regional bodies

We need to see the rhetoric of the SDGs, 1325, the WPS-HA, turned into reality - and that needs political will.

Amani Aruri remarks to the APPG for the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the APPG on Women, Peace and Security

Generation Equality Forum: an opportunity for governments, multilaterals, and civil society to advance Gender Equality and achieve the SDGs

Wednesday 09 June 2021