20 Mar: The Danger of Arms and Ammunition Stockpiles: Proper management of State stockpiles of arms and ammunition is the responsibility of the government. The stark reality, however, is that many stockpiles throughout Africa are decaying rapidly and many governments choose to ignore the situation.
Gender is recognised as a key cross cutting concern for peace and security in the Southern African region. The extent of gender-based violence during conflicts and its persistence during ostensible periods of peace has forced the issue of gender and security into policy formulation and research on peace and security. A number of international, continental and regional instruments have been devised to protect the rights of women and enable their meaningful participation in governance, ie the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; The Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women’s inclusion in peace processes and the Southern African Development Community Declaration on Women and Development. Giving expression to these commitments has however proved challenging for many states in the region.
Accordingly, the Southern African Human Security Programme at the ISS focuses on producing policy based research, and engages in dialogue, aimed at highlighting gender-based violence, gender inequities and ways of strengthening the role of women in governance and/or post-conflict reconstruction. A substantial amount of data is in the public domain on women as victims within conflict situations. Far less attention has been paid to the role of women in peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction. For example, what are the varied roles that women play in peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction, and to what effect? What are the advantages they bring to peace-building and what are the mechanisms that need to be in place for them to make a greater contribution?
Southern Africa presents an ideal policy research area as it has a number of case studies in which women have played differing roles in conflict, conflict resolution and post conflict reconstruction. This partly explains the strong push for gender equality in the region. We welcome submissions that critically engage with these issues.
09 Aug 2008: Women's Rights: Interview with Dr Cheryl Hendricks, ISS Senior Research Fellow on Women's Day in South Africa, 9 August 2008
(podcast)
07 Jul 2008: Legalising Prostitution for 2010: Interview with Shanaaz Parker, ISS Corruption and Governance Programme; Programme: Cape Talk; Station: John Maytham; Time: 04:19:59 PM; Duration: 00:03:40
(mp3 audio)