Women, Peace and Security Include us, don't ... - World YWCA

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CC 14Young Womenon the MoveInclude us,don’t patronise usYouth offer recommendationsfor UNSCR 1325Lotaya Smith, YWCA of Barbados young Board Member and Police Constable of theRoyal Barbados Police Force, delivered the final recommendations from the youth delegates.In this piece, Lotaya reflects on her experience in Liberia and the importance ofyoung women’s leadership in peace building.The International Colloquium provided anopportunity for young women and men fromaround the world to share ideas and makerecommendations for peace and security in thecontext of the United Nations Security Council Resolution1325. To ensure that young women understand theirrights and can fully participate in peace building, theyouth called for UNSCR 1325 to be translated into morelanguages noting that versions appropriate for illiterategroups must be developed.Our recommendations for peace andsecurity emphasised that police andjustice services must respond to theexperiences of young women duringand after armed conflict.An increasing number of young women serve in militaryand police forces, indeed UNSCR 1325 calls for morewomen to serve in these institutions. Yet sexual harassmentand violence are prevalent. A 2004 study of United Statesveterans from Vietnam and all US wars since found that71 percent of women surveyed said they were sexuallyassaulted or raped while in the military 1 . With no legalrecourse, girls and young women within non-governmentalmilitary organisations face even more difficulties. Oftenused as ‘wives’, they face double stigma once the conflict isover: as former soldiers and as women. The UN admits thatthe phenomenon of girl soldiers is globally under-reportedand overlooked. It is therefore vital for young women to beconsulted during evidence gathering for gender responsivepolice and justice systems.In relation to women’s leadership, we recommendedinvestment starts in young women’s leadership throughtraining, mentoring, sports programmes and creating safespaces. We also felt it was crucial to provide positive gendersocialisation for men and boys for shared responsibilities indecision-making and caregiving. Young women’s leadershipis essential to economic empowerment, peace and security,education, climate justice, women’s empowerment andgender equality.1 Benedict, Helen. The private war of women soldiers. Salon.com published03.07.2007www.worldywca.org
young women on the moveCC 15Lotaya Smith (l) YWCA of Barbados, Rachael Clapson (c) YWCA England and Wales and Ambar Aleman (r) YWCA Canada during the InternationalColloquium on Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security in Monrovia, Liberia. March 2009.The Colloquium was truly a success. The forums wereinformative and productive and created the opportunity forwomen of all social strata in Liberian society and the world toshare experiences, views and ideas on how to tackle urgentwomen’s issues. The themes discussed at the Colloquiumwere interrelated: issues that built on global human rightslinked with development obligations and commitments.The Colloquium profiled strong women leaders fromaround the world and highlighted that women’s leadershipis in good hands. Personally, the Colloquium helped mebreak out of my shell by interacting with inspirational,dynamic and charismatic young women.I applaud the World YWCA and the Colloquium coconvenersfor keeping the issues of young women on theagenda and showcasing the vision and leadership of youngwomen to the world.I was honoured to participate at the Colloquium becauseI have truly been enriched and enlightened by the few days Ispent with the dynamic women of the world and will alwayscherish the experience.The youth recommendations conclude with a passionatecall to women leaders, which I restate here: “Young womeninvite you to protect us, but not smother us. Weep with us,but do not pity us. Educate us, but do not judge us. Includeus, do not patronise us. Give us space to make our ownmistakes. Listen to us. Trust us. Respect us. Invest in us.Whatever you say here, act on it. Whatever promises youmake, deliver on them. Lead by example today: createspace for young women’s voices; mentor a young woman;greet and talk with young people around you. Rememberwhen you were young. As women, let us empower andencourage each other.”Over 70 young women and men fromaround the world attended the youthforum co-hosted by the World YWCAduring the International Colloquium onWomen’s Empowerment, LeadershipDevelopment, International Peace andSecurity in Liberia held from March 7 - 8.www.worldywca.org
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Women, Peace and Security Include us, don't ... - World YWCA

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