We are outraged and saddened that global peace remains a distant dream and that violent conflicts continue to devastate the lives of women, girls, men and boys alike. However, we reiterate that because of deeply entrenched patriarchy, women and girls are differently affected by conflict and suffer disproportionately as civilians, including through the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence as a weapon and tactic of war.

We share our experiences of the violence and violations of war in the spirit of solidarity. We share the hopes and struggles of women for a world of peace, justice and equality. We stand not just as victims but, in the words of Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum addressing this gathering, as “protagonists of history." As we continue our work for peace and justice, we recognize that, despite the suffering brought about by war, women emerge as positive agents for change. We have a lot of knowledge, expertise and experiences to share on issues of peace and security and political decision-making overall. Our views must be included to ensure that post-conflict reconstruction and rebuilding can lead to gender equality and the full realization of human rights for women and girls.

We reiterate our commitment to Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 on women, peace and security.

However, we emphasize that these resolutions will not alone bring change. They must be combined with a firm commitment from all governmental and non-governmental actors to dedicate the resources necessary to ensure their implementation. In this regard we urge that all governments develop formal plans including national action plans for the effective implementation of the resolutions. We must go beyond addressing the symptoms of war to confront and eliminate the root causes of armed conflicts. We demand that the exploitation of natural resources by parties to conflict, governments and by multinational corporations, in ways that drive and exacerbate armed conflicts, is addressed. We demand that these resources are dealt with in a transparent and democratic manner for the benefit of the populations of the countries from which they are sourced.

We the participants call on women, peace and security activists throughout the world to join us in our commitment to continue our work on: promoting and protecting women’s human rights; seeking justice for victims of armed conflicts and violence; and ending impunity, militarism and war.

Specifically, we recommend the following actions:

To the UN

Ensure that the UN, in its structures, systems and operations, provides a positive example of the implementation of Resolutions 1325 and 1820

Ensure that women’s perspectives are fully integrated in the Secretary-General’s upcoming report in June 2009 on Resolution 1820

Ensure women’s participation in the design and implementation of policies and programs to address sexual violence in conflict

Ensure that the UN, in its interventions, recognize, respect and support existing peace and justice efforts of local communities

Ensure that there is full and equal representation of women at all levels of the UN and its operations.

Ensure the integration of a gender perspective in post-conflict negotiations and in setting up peace building missions

Support women’s organizations to build political will among decision makers to implement Resolutions 1325 and 1820

Assign gender officers in diplomatic missions

Organize an international public hearing on violence against women, inclduign sexual violence -making the links between violence against women in war and peace times.

To governments and the donor community

Address the root causes of conflict and shift resources away from weapons and militarism and towards gender equality and true human security and peace

Recognize and provide adequate, predictable and multi-year funding to support women’s peace, justice and reconstruction initiatives

Support capacity-building and training efforts to equip women to be better able to meaningfully participate in peace negotiations and other peace processes; in governance institutions and at all levels of decision-making

Earmark resources for the development of early warning mechanisms, with inputs from both women and men, towards more coordinated and sytematic conflict prevention efforts

Support local human rights and humanitarian organizations to build their capacity to document human rights violations in support of justice initiatives

Provide protection for human rights organizations that are under threat

Develop monitoring indicators and accountability mechanisms for the implementation of UN Resolutions and other international instruments you signed on

To the he media and information providers

Raise awareness of Resolution 1325 and 1820;

Transform the dominant images of women from passive victims to active agents of peace and social transformation

Ensure the distribution of relevant and timely information and its use to move forward the women, peace and security agenda

To women’s organizations and other civil society actors

Engage men in the advocacy for the implementation of Resolutions 1325 and 1820