YouSaid · the spoken record

Smythe

lines on the record: 27
first: 2003-10-29
most recent: 2003-10-29
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-security-council

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“That is one of the issues that we will follow up very quickly - as soon as I get back - so as to get more information for my colleagues in the system, as well as for people in the United States Embassy. Perhaps we omitted to mention this morning that one source of support that enabled us to do the amount of work that we were able to do was the Office of Ms. Angela King. From the outset, when there was no Gender Adviser, her Office supplied much useful advice to the gender office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are particularly grateful to Ms. King and her team for that. We apologize for the omission in our statement this morning. Having made those comments, I would like to add that we shall work very closely with Mr. Guehenno's Office to supply any answers that may be needed as a follow-up to this meeting. I thank you, Mr.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852Resumption1 (2003) · source
“Ms. Smythe: I do not feel able to step into Mr. Guehenno's shoes and answer the questions directed at him. I would like, however, to say that I recognize that sensitivity on gender issues has taken hold. We in the field would like to see verbal commitments translated into real action. The support that we have received so far has enabled us to come as far as we have. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo in particular, the question of elections is preoccupying many women's groups, as well as civil society in general. So we are very pleased to know that some work has been done by your Government, Mr. President, on women and political participation.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852Resumption1 (2003) · source
“Our task as the gender ministry is to ensure that women's voices are factored into the process. We are working on the ground to find out about local initiatives and what women themselves have been doing, and then serving as the link with our colleagues in the various agencies to make sure that this is taken into consideration. In summary, the gender ministry is working very closely with various ministries, not only directly but also in collaboration with agencies and with other sections and divisions of MONUC.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“We are somewhat limited in terms of capacity, but we hope that in the near future, now that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has a physical presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that, in the context of collaboration, we can do a little bit more than we have been doing. We are very mindful of the fact that ours is a very small outfit, but we are working in close collaboration with the agencies that are there. Specifically, we have collaborated with the Ministry of Health, which took the lead recently on the issue of violence against women, again in collaboration with UNIFEM. In that context, we participated in the elaboration of an inter- agency project to deal with the issue of violence against women. Here I would stress that we are merely collaborating; it is a joint effort on the part of the agencies.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“It is critical because she comes from an interesting area. The Ministry responsible for the condition of women is trying to work internally among colleagues to sensitize the leadership on gender issues and to establish networks with agencies and interested parties to take the gender debate outside. We in the Gender Unit plan to work not only with that specific Ministry, but with all other ministries and Government agencies. We plan to carry out training programmes with the parliamentarians and the Senate and to work with the judiciary very closely. We have been approached by other ministries. For example, we have been approached by the Ministry of Education and asked whether we could do some work with the universities.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“Indeed, the gender unit has established contact with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and we have had informal discussions and are trying to sensitize the Government on the whole issue of gender integration in every aspect of its work. We have been holding discussions with the new Minister for la condition feminine, planning a specific activity in relation to the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, from 25 November to 10 December. We plan to use that as a strategy, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which has always accompanied women in decision-making since the time of the inter-Congolese dialogue. We plan to use that as a strategy to get the women and men of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to recognize the position of the new Minister.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“Ms. Smythe: I would like to underscore the fact that women in conflict are not merely victims, but active agents. I thank members for recognizing that fact. I would also like, on behalf of Ms. Vaweka, one of our closest partners and a role model for the women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to thank members for recognizing the good work that she is doing. I would like specifically to respond to the question from France concerning the relationship between the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and the Congolese Administration, especially the Government Ministry for what is known as la condition feminine, which could, perhaps, be translated as the Ministry for Women and Family, as well as the Ministry for Women and Human Rights.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“We have come to realize that it may be necessary to review the recruitment criteria in order to enable women to be identified for field missions. The Security Council should hold national Governments accountable for implementing gender- related provisions in peace accords, to guarantee women's participation in all decision-making arrangements. Above all, the all-pervasive cultures of impunity, including impunity for violence of all kinds against women, must come to an end.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“It is hoped that that person will receive adequate support to influence policy decisions at the highest level and to support field missions. At the same time, recruiting and adequately supporting gender advisers at a sufficiently high level in field missions will enable them to influence decision-making at all levels, so that effective use can be made of a mission's resources, to the satisfaction of the population as well as other stakeholders. Thirdly, with regard to female military observers and civilian police, troop- and police-contributing countries should ensure that there is a substantial proportion of women among personnel recruited for peacekeeping operations, including civilian police and military observers.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“I begin with Security Council visits. The positive impact of field visits, both psychologically and otherwise, is tremendous. Missions to the field from Headquarters should see women as much as they do men, listen to them and report back on their concerns, so that decisions and policies will reflect the realities and interests of both men and women in conflict and post-conflict situations. The second point concerns appropriate staffing of gender units. If gender mainstreaming is to succeed in peacekeeping operations, it should start from the Headquarters level and proceed to the field. In that regard, the recent establishment of the position of gender adviser in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations is welcome.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“First, the foundation has been laid to ensure that the concerns of both men and women are reflected in the resolution of the conflict. Secondly, networking within and outside the Mission and the use of creative means are leading to attitudinal changes about women's role in establishing peace. They are also leading to a greater understanding of gender mainstreaming. More of that will need to be seen in the post-conflict and reconstruction era. Thirdly, although comprised of a small team of officers, the Office of Gender Affairs has since March 2002 creatively used the limited human and material resources at its disposal to implement its mandate and that of the Mission. In conclusion, I should like to set out, by way of recommendation, the following priority action points that have emerged from our experience over the last 18 months.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“It is believed - on the basis of local sources - that in the town of Uvira alone, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 20 per cent of all women and girls have been raped. A constitutional provision setting up legal mechanisms to document women's experiences and address impunity is now in place. However, expediting the processes will enhance healing for the victims. It will also assure victims that, despite the lack of the rule of law for the time being in a place like Bunia, justice will eventually prevail. The success of the Gender Unit will be judged by the heritage we leave behind for the Government and the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to emulate. After 18 months, it is too early to make any claims. However, we can draw some key conclusions.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“An important tool for monitoring women's involvement in the peace process and transition has been a fortnightly forum of experience-sharing, facilitated by the gender unit, with partners in civil society, including the media, MONUC personnel and employees of the Government. Several key issues that have been discussed, reflect similar concerns raised by DYNAFEP. Sexual violence is one of the major tragedies of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The police will have to play an important role in this area. In the eastern DRC, data being collected by MONUC, colleagues in the agencies and the local communities reveal that tens, if not hundreds of thousands of girls and women are being raped as a result of the conflict.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“They have been articulating the political views of women on the evolution of the transition process and working to increase women's involvement and participation in the elections through press conferences and other media activities. Recently, an assessment was made of the first 100 days of the Transitional Government. The key issues of concern were identified as follows: security, immediate and long-term; national unity and the establishment of democratic governance throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo; sexual violence against women and impunity; women's representation in the transition and elections; and post-conflict issues, including the return of displaced persons and refugees, with special reference to women and girls.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“Unfortunately, however, the constitutional provision was very vague and did not go far enough in reflecting international instruments, such as the Beijing Platform for Action, that are very specific concerning women's representation in decision-making. The reality is that, in the transitional period, so far only 7 per cent of the representatives in Government, Parliament, the Senate and the institutions supporting democracy are women, whilst 93 per cent are men. We have also developed a network of partners, including La Dynamique des femmes politiques au Congo democratique (DYNAFEP), which represents women from all factions and political parties.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“Thus, a total of 74, comprising 37 women delegates and 37 women experts, were able to work alongside the majority 516 men to bring the women's perspective to the negotiation process. It is widely accepted by both men and women that the participation of women in the inter-Congolese dialogue in the corridors, at commissions, as well as in plenary helped resolve and unravel difficult impasses during negotiations. The outcome of the Sun City resolutions, especially the recommendations of the Humanitarian, Social and Cultural Commission, reflects the voices of the women in the negotiations. In addition, the Democratic Republic of the Congo Transitional Constitution took into account some of the women's concerns and the need to have them play a role in decision-making, as is evident in article 51 of the Transitional Constitution.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“The strategy resulted in the formulation of a plan of action, the Nairobi Declaration, that was going to be used by Congolese women as their bargaining tool to allow them access to participate in the negotiations. Following this, the gender Office, in very close collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, held several training sessions with women in readiness for their participation in the Sun City negotiations, to which only a few women had originally been invited as delegates. Because of this poor representation of women as delegates to the negotiations, it was decided that an alternative way of increasing the number would be to invite other women to participate as experts.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“During the setting up of the temporary Reception Centre in Lubero, as well as with the Kamina exercise, the Senior Gender Advisor and staff, together with other female colleagues from child protection, human rights and humanitarian affairs, served in technical committees and worked with DDRRR colleagues. This strategic outreach was a breakthrough because combatants as well as dependants presented themselves for the DDRRR programme, demonstrating the link between gender and DDRRR. I turn now to activities outside the Mission. The first major political activity on the inception of the gender Office was to support women in the inter- Congolese dialogue in Sun City. This was done by sensitizing them to resolution 1325 (2000), which was translated into the four major languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“In the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation or resettlement (DDRRR) programme, our major challenge was to gain the understanding of DDRRR personnel that women's concerns were an integral part of all activities, especially demobilization. There are women commanders and combatants in the various militia. A package was also developed on gender and vulnerable groups with the message that behind every combatant, there was usually a woman. A policy paper on gender and DDRRR was circulated to the DDRRR office with recommendations on the need to take women's concerns into consideration in policy conceptualization, as well as in implementation and monitoring.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“As of 9 June, however, out of 69 officers there were three women. At present, out of 90 CIVPOL officers there are still only three women. I would strongly urge police-contributing countries to take prompt action in this area. The expectation of the gender Office is that, of the 182 CIVPOL officers that are to be recruited this year, at least 20 should be women. The low percentage of women in CIVPOL is equally reflected in the training of the Congolese National Police that has been carried out by the gender Office. Out of a total of 623 police officers trained so far, only 15 are women.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“Trainees deployed in Kindu are working closely with women's group on cases of violence against women. I turn now to the issue of recruiting more women peacekeepers. Women have had an enhancing role, especially in the work with victims of sexual violence, and as community bridge-builders. Victims, usually female, have repeatedly intimated that the sight of a male officer in uniform makes them relive the experience of the violation all over again. Thus, there is a serious need for women military and CIVPOL officers. The pattern of recruitment of CIVPOL officers in MONUC is a major concern. Regrettably, the proportion of women, instead of increasing to address the problems of violence against women, is steadily decreasing. Statistics show that, before June 2003, out of 15 CIVPOL officers there was one woman.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“The second task that was critical to the implementation of our mandate was the gender sensitization training of Military Observers, the United Nations Civilian Police (CIVPOL) and civilian personnel upon their arrival at the mission, as well as with contingents when possible. The need to systematically train the contingents continues to be crucial because the military and CIVPOL live and work nearest to the communities in the conflict areas. Their behaviour is therefore not only used to judge MONUC in many instances but becomes the yardstick emulated by the population and Government. The staff of the Gender Unit also provides gender training to the Congolese National Police. There have been sessions in Kisangani and Bunia which have resulted in improved awareness by the police of the rights of women, as well as men, in society.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“The first task was to sensitize chiefs of sections and divisions to the provisions of resolution 1325 (2000), beginning with the Office of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, with the objective of seeking their personal commitment to the gender message and to take action. Once this was accomplished with both military and civilian heads, the message was shared with colleagues in the agencies and the international community. The sensitization included the distribution of information on the mandate and scope of work of the Gender Unit and the encouragement of managers to initiate a two-way exchange of relevant information with the Unit.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“The Unit, together with other components of MONUC, has facilitated the implementation of MONUC's mandate through activities such as training and research, communication and dissemination of gender sensitive information, outreach to the Congolese population, capacity-building for women leaders and advocacy and monitoring and evaluation of women's participation in the peace and transition processes. I will now comment on activities within MONUC. Allow me to begin with the activities of disseminating information within MONUC, soon after the Gender Unit was set up.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“A small but very important office, staffed with a Senior Gender Adviser and her Deputy, two United Nations Volunteers, an administrative officer and two local officers, the Unit had to adopt a two-pronged strategy. The first was to integrate a gender perspective within MONUC itself. The second was to work with the Congolese population and society to bring the realities of the conflict, as they especially affect women, to the attention of decision makers in the peace process and the transitional government.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“Forty-one per cent of all children are undernourished. At least 1.3 million people are infected with the HIV virus, whose prevalence among soldiers and irregular combatants is around 60 per cent. The consequences for women throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been devastating, as they have suffered the most. Some key features affecting women are internal displacement; the breakdown of almost every institution, beginning with the family; the inability to take care of crops or cultivate farms; rape and sexual violence on a massive scale, and complete impunity for the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. In essence, the law of the gun has devastated the condition of women. It was in this context of one of the world's greatest living tragedies that the Gender Unit was set up in March 2002.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source
“Ms. Smythe: I am grateful for the invitation to bring to Council members a field perspective on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). This invitation is not only an honour for MONUC, but indeed for all Gender Advisers, mission- wide. Before briefing you on the work of mainstreaming gender in the field, allow me to briefly summarize some of the key gender challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The International Rescue Committee estimates that up to 3.5 million people, mostly civilians, have perished in the past four and-a-half years of war. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that there are currently 3.4 million internally displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and around 17 million people are food insecure.”
2003-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4852 (2003) · source