GENDER: Security Sector Reform - Public Forum on Rethinking Security Forces

On the occasion of the International day for the elimination of violence against women on Tuesday, 25 November, 2008, civil societies and non-governmental organisations organised a public forum in Nairobi focusing on Security Sector Reforms - Rethinking Security Forces. ACORD's Gender Programme Manager also took the opportunity to launch the Pan African Conference report on Ending Impunity for Sexual and Gender Based Violence. Click here to go to Newsroom and read more.   (Photo, right: Participants discuss sexual and gender based violence during the public forum)

 

The public forum and report launch was a joint session organised by ACORD (the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development), in alliance with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Action Aid International-Africa, the Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace - AMANI Forum, African Women'sDevelopment Fund, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Fahamu and Urgent Action Fund-Africa.

The forum coincided with the launch of a publication titled 'Compensating an Assault on Dignity - Ending Impunity for Sexual and Gender Based Violence' that consolidated the outcomes of the Pan African Conference held on 21 to 23 July, 2008 in Nairobi. In addition, the Occasional Paper no. 1 titled 'Unfinished Business - Transitional Justice and Women's Rights in Africa' was put together as a first issue of this series and was unveiled during the event. This publication (see cover photo, left) is available online and can be downloaded through the ACORD website.

The forum on security sector reforms: Women, Security and State Accountability was facilitated by Rtd. Gen. Lazarus Sumbeiywo who is the chief mediator in the ongoing Sudanese peace process held under the auspices of the Regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development - IGAD, and Dr. Annie Barbara Chikwanha, Senior Research Fellow in the Institute for Security Studies, as a respondent, as well as moderated by Muthoni Wanyeki, the Executive Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission.

The International day for the Elimination of Violence Against  Women, together with other special days falling between 25 November and 10 December are aimed at raising awareness on violence against women and human rights and are part of 16 Days of Activism that is an international campaign originating from the first women's global leadership institute sponsored by the Centre for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. (Photo: Members of the public engage in debate on Security Reforms and sexual and gender based violence issues following the launch of the conference report)

For more information of ACORD's work in Sexual and Gender Based violence click here to send a request for information or go to http://www.acordinternational.org and click on the 'What We Do' button.