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Strengthening Gender Inclusive Conflict Prevention and Human Security Pacific network and local peace events were staged in Solomon Is-
“That is the very essence of the work that we are doing to-
A Media Initiative supported by lands, Tonga and Vanuatu linked to the efforts to progress Gender day,” says Agnes Titus, Programme Coordinator, Nazareth Centre
Inclusive Conflict Prevention and Human Security. for Rehabilitation:
To watch the film, “We women because we view peace differently, when we bro-
scan the QR code: kered peace we knew that we had to sustain it. So it’s sustainable
peace that we are doing, all the work that we are doing is geared
towards that.”
So what needs to change if a vision of sustainable peace is to be
realised in our communities?
For members of the GPPAC Pacific network, sustaining peace
The “Strengthening Non-State Actors Engagement in Regional Policy Development and Implementation means forging a relationship with government:
“We are now going to connect more with the government. Be-
Programme” (the NSA Programme) is funded through the European Union’s 10 European Development SDG 16 Must Amplify Peace and Security in cause in the past we were doing our bit as Civil Society but not really
th
Fund (EDF 10) and implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat the Pacific making the connections and vice versa,” Titus adds.
“We were looking at the government being disconnected with
By Carolyn Kitione us but now that we are learning about these goals, we are starting to
really make the connections there.”
GPPAC Pacific: Network Committed to Sustaining Peace We continue to say UNSCR 1325 is not about making war safe There is now an opportunity, together with the Sustainable
When the United Nation (UN) Security Council adopted the for women but to structure the peace in a way that there is no recur- Development Goals (in particular with Goals 5 and 16) to amplify But it also means bringing these women to the forefront of the
ground-breaking Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on October 31, 2000, rence of war and conflict. women’s call for a shift from reaction to prevention and for our gov- decision-making table:
they had listened to women from across the globe. We had said ernments to put women’s human security first in response. “It is a challenge because as women, we know what the real
we wanted a shift from reaction to prevention. We said we wanted a Peace Education and Inclusive Dialogue Key to Preventing Con- But how do we use the SDG’s to advance the work being done issues and when half of the population aren’t in these high level
key to open doors into negotiations, a loud hailer to have our voices flict in our countries to challenge existing structures that disadvantage decision-makings and policies of law, it leaves out the half of the
heard, a pen to inscribe their issues onto the agenda, a mirror to It has long been recognised that when women lead and par- women and girls? voices that needs to be heard to influence the changes that needs to
hold up to governments to remind them of policy and budget com- ticipate in peace processes, peace lasts longer. Peacebuilding is no While at the national level laws have been put in place to ad- take place to be part of the lives of the very people whose voices are
mitments, and a lens to help see security through women’s eyes. longer simply about crisis response and post conflict action but, dress gender equality as a whole, women-led civil societies in the in those documents,” says Josephine Teakeni, Executive Director,
The Pacific network of Global Partnership for the Prevention of increasingly, about prevention, including through the use of peace Pacific are using the SDGs to amplify peace building, human secu- Vois Blong Mere (VBM) Solomon Islands.
Armed Conflict (GPPAC) brings together the women’s activists and education, dialogue and mediation, and transforming political pro- rity, gender inclusion and youth participation.
civil society partners who birthed and nurtured the implementation cesses to increase the representation of women of all diversities GPPAC Pacific is committed to be a network that will contribute In a lot of ways, it means recognising the work that women-
of UNSCR1325 have continued to localise the resolution including particularly in local governance. to the achievement of SDG 16 linked to our network’s collective ef- led organisations have been doing all along:
through the Pacific Regional Action on Women, Peace and Security “Peace is education, peace is a way forward and peace is being forts to enhance the availability of evidence based policy advocacy “This is very important because I see these sustainable goals as
(2012-2015), the Regional Conflict Prevention and Human Security peaceful during hard times and to stay strong for others,” said Anne strategies at regional and national level and inter-governmental fo- highlighting the issues on peace building and conflict prevention in
Framework. Pakoa, Vanuatu Young Women for Change and the Vanuatu Human ras which will demonstrate how a network of Pacific Peacebuilders our countries,” she explains.
Supported by the Pacific Islands Forum-NSA programme sup- Rights Coalition. is contributing to (i) addressing the reduction of violence (ii) re- “It requires or demands that those who are the main actors in
ported by the European Union, the GPPAC Pacific network contin- When it comes to defining peace and security it is clear it is sponsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-mak- national, regional or global actors or advocating on the same issues
ues to highlight the nexus between gender equality, peace, human more than just the absence of war. ing at all levels and (iii) supporting public access to information - all are connected to us so that this sustainability is a real sustainable
security, development and humanitarian response with a focus on “I think that is something that brings conflicts in the family targets of SDG 16. peace-building and conflict prevention.”
Participation for Prevention – not just simply preventing the occur- when there’s no food,” explained fane Boseiwaqa, femLINKpacific The Talitha Project is one such Pacific women-led organisation And we’re not the only ones who are talking about this nexus.
rence of violence at the domestic front or within communities but Tavua and Rakiraki convenor/correspondent. that works with young women and girls in Tongan communities to The Pacific Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security
tracking the indicators and root causes of violence particularly in “Women are the source and foundation of peace,” says Seru- amplify their peace and security.“SDG - particularly SDG 16 - is an (2012-2015), endorsed by Pacific Forum Leaders, highlighted the
situations of fragile peace and in response to the impact of growing waia Todua, a member of the Cagiveisau Women’s Group in rural added value to our work because I think it enlarges our existing vi- role of women in peace building processes: “For example, in Fiji
environmental insecurities including intensifying disasters: Macuata. sion,” says Vanessa Heleta, Director of the Talitha Project and the women have organized peace vigils, dialogue and provided technical
“We women because we view peace differently, when we bro- This is why women need to be at the peace tables, not in re- current GPPAC Pacific Chair. inputs into defence reviews and national security policy develop-
kered peace we knew that we had to sustain it. So it’s sustainable sponse to a crisis or violence, but to prevent and enhance a culture Goal 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions strengthen ment; negotiations across crocodile infested rivers with armed com-
peace that we are doing, all the work that we are doing is geared of peace. the work of organisations like the Talitha Project to look at the flaws batants and developing education methods for peace building in the
towards that,” says Agnes Titus, Programme Coordinator, Nazareth “Engagement is the way forward for us, more forums and plat- of systems in place that would otherwise threaten the security and Solomon Islands; actions to bring about the laying down of arms in
Centre for Rehabilitation in Bougainville. forms that will enable us to advocate and move on the issues of stability of any individual. It also has the unique position of look- Bougainville; advocacy, research and education to encourage voting
While women, peace and security action plans have been adopt- peace building and conflict resolution,” says Josephine Teakeni, the ing at conflict situations and putting into place the accountability in Marshall Islands; efforts in Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and across the
ed in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands, it is not clear whether Executive Director of Vois Blong Mere Solomon Islands. mechanisms needed to ensure peace and security, recognizing that region to end violence against women.
resources are available to integrate the plans into security sector conflict is not only about armed war: Through a regional programme on progressing a Gender In-
and foreign policy plans or to provide the resources needed to en- Communicating Peace and Security: “Women’s Peace Table” “We tend to look at other issues that we didn’t really consider clusive Conflict Prevention and Human Security agenda the GPPAC
sure women’s civil society networks can contribute to implementa- ‘Women’s Peace Tables’, is a short film produced through the before. For example, the legal identity aspect target within the SDG Pacific network is working to draw attention to the gender gaps in
tion as well as being the much-needed accountability oversight for GPPAC Pacific network which looks at the role of women in building 16,” says Heleta. the regional peace, security and humanitarian situations by bringing
such plans. peace and examines how women have progressed peace and hu- Other organisations in the region are also recognising the role visibility to women’s leadership roles as first responders and inno-
“It is a challenge because as women, we know what the real man security throughout periods of conflict, in all their forms, the that the SDGs, and Agenda 2030 in general, can do to hold to ac- vation with information and communication systems that links rural
issues and when half of the population aren’t in these high level short film places a spotlight on the need for national and regional in- count the numerous commitments to peace and security in the Pa- women together as well as contribute to changing the narrative and
decision-makings and policies of law, it leaves out the half of the ter-governmental spaces to make the decision-making table bigger. cific. challenging stereotypes.
voices that needs to be heard to influence the changes that needs to The narrative places particular focus on intergenerational As Bougainville prepares itself for the June 2019 referendum The GPPAC Pacific Women’s civil society networks can bridge
take place to be part of the lives of the very people whose voices are dialogues with the film interweaving the reflections of Emanita on independence, the 2001 Peace Agreement has come back to the the gap in implementation of UNSCR 1325 if they are supported
in those documents,” says Josephine Teakeni, Executive Director, Vaka’ahi, a young woman living in Tonga, with peacewomen across forefront of discussions. and resourced to bring their contributions to national and regional
Vois Blong Mere (VBM) Solomon Islands. the Pacific region. But at the same time, the conversations also highlight the work processes including development planning to ensure a stronger
But we continue to drive a transformative agenda for gender The short film was produced as part of outreach through the that women are doing - and have been doing since the signing - to preventative action focus by ensuring gender inclusive perspectives
inclusive conflict prevention and human security. Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) make peace sustainable in Bougainville. on the potential drivers or root causes of conflict.

32 Islands Business, August 2018