The topic of the day was women’s role in peace building and conflict transformation as established in the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This resolution highlights the vulnerability of women during conflict and the importance of women’s participation in peace negotiations and peace building following conflict.

UN Women, in cooperation with SoSS, recently hosted a workshop to launch the process of developing a NAP on Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This historical resolution calls on states to ensure that women participate in conflict resolution and peace-building processes from the grassroots up to the national and international levels, that they are better protected from human rights violations, and that women have access to justice and services to eliminate discrimination.

On 12 September, the village chief of Ritabou in Timor-Leste’s western district of Bobonaro, Maria Rosa, had the opportunity to make some of her community’s concerns public to those who could change her situation: the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary General, the Secretary of State for Promotion of Equality, and the Prosecutor General.