The WiA magazine is Isis International’s longstanding publication which, since the 1970s, has facilitated information exchange among women's movements especially in light of developments recognising women's rights. It is a space for feminists and activists in the global South to articulate and strengthen gender analysis on various issues. The WiA is distributed globally to individual subscribers, women’s organisations, social movements, media institutions, libraries, academe, information and communication technology advocates, development cooperation agencies and government.

Isis is now soliciting articles for the next issue of WiA on Women, Peace and Security: 10 Years After 1325

About the issue

It is no longer shocking news that in situations of armed conflict, women are usually the first to be affected. Women carry the ever increasing burden of caring and providing for their families, the wounded. They are forced to adopt survival strategies at the margins of war economies. Women too continue to become victims of rape and sexual harassment; human trafficking and gender-based violence not only during war but also in post conflict situations.

As women are the first victims of war, they must then be recognised as key actors in its resolution. It should also not be a surprise that throughout history, women have also found innovative ways to organise and mobilise resistance to war and conflict. Women have organised quite effectively in order to make their voices heard and call the attention of the international community not only to put an end to violence and conflict but also to urgently address the impact of armed conflict on women, and to demand a role in rebuilding their war-torn communities.

It is for this reason that the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000 was a celebrated event. More than defining efforts and achievements towards recognising the impact of war on women, Resolution 1325 is a landmark and political framework that acknowledges the importance of women's participation and the inclusion of gender perspectives in decision-making, conflict resolution, humanitarian planning, peacekeeping and post conflict peacebuilding.

Yet 10 years after this milestone there is a need for serious reflections about how and to what extent have member states translated the language and aspirations of 1325 into concrete action. Has its potential as a useful operational tool been realised?

While there have been gains in the last decade such as the recognition of the differentiated impacts of armed conflicts on women and their valuable contribution to peace processes; and the adoption of other key resolutions – 1820 on sexual violence in conflict and post conflict situations (in 2008), 1888 on addressing sexual and gender based violence as a weapon of war (in 2009), and 1889 emphasising women's participation in all levels of decision making and peace processes and calling for the establishment of a monitoring and accountability system (in 2009); there have been setbacks in some aspects.

Out of 192 member states, only 25 have developed national action plans towards its implementation. Moreover, statistics show that even with 1325 and its succeeding resolutions, women make up less than 8% of participants in formal peace process. Even more glaring is the continued occurrence of sexual violence in conflict situations. These gaps demand stronger and more coordinated responses to issues of women, peace and security as well as a shift in focus from policy and planning to critical analysis of progress and impact — ten years after, how far have we gone and how much more should be done?

This issue shall cover:

• Updates on achievements, gains and recommendations at the community, national, regional or international contexts on women, peace and security issues since the adoption of UNSCR1325;
• Feature stories of women change makers in the area of women, peace and security;
• Case studies / best practices towards increasing participation and contribution of women in peacekeeping, peace building and reconstruction processes; and
• Emerging issues and responses in international peace and security relevant to the adoption of UNCSR 1325

Guidelines:

For those interested to submit articles, kindly send us an ABSTRACT of your work on or before May 30, 2011. The abstract should be written in English and must be no more than 300 words.

You will be notified if your abstract has been approved. Full article must be written in English and should be between 600 to 3000 words. Deadline for submission of FULL ARTICLE is on June 15, 2011.

Please send your abstracts/articles and photos to Anna M. Dinglasan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To review the past issues of the WiA, please visit Isis International website at www.isisinternational.org