The Regional Women's Lobby (RWL) for Peace, Security and Justice in South East Europe (SEE) is composed of women leaders in politics and civil society from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
RWL is committed to empowering women and including a gender perspective in all the politics and activities in the region. The goal of RWL is to strengthen the position of women in democratization and the post-conflict recovery process by advancing justice and reconciliation. RWL is dedicated to ensuring sustainable peace and security through the process of European integration of the region.
The RWL was established at a meeting in Zagreb convened by UNIFEM at the request of a group of women political leaders from the region in July 2006. The women had previously met informally in 2005 in Dubrovnik, where they were first brought to the table together. In the Zagreb meeting these leaders shared information and exchanged dialogue on the political situation in their countries and the region from a gender perspective.
Recognizing that the attainment of lasting peace depends on achieving security for all peoples of SEE, the RWL seeks to promote a people-centred definition of security that transcends traditional military-centered notions of state security and places focus on the individual well being of women and men.
Members of the RWL are committed to combating all forms of violence, including gender-based violence, as well as all forms of religious and political extremism that undermine a culture of human rights, human security, and peace.
Participation in the RWL is grounded in mutual respect for diversity and the rights and dignity of all people, based on adherence to non-violence, non-discrimination, and respect for international human rights norms and legal standards.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and other international conventions and instruments call upon state parties to ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making levels for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict. During the war and in its aftermath, women of South East Europe were denied protection from gender-based violence including rape. Women were also at the forefront of efforts to advance justice, peace and reconciliation. Nevertheless, today women still continue to be largely absent from official peace making processes.
Established as a reputable body to engage in high level political analysis and advocacy, the RWL serves as a platform to for increasing women’s participation in and influence over political decision making, thus contributing to the implementation of UNSCR 1325.
Towards achieving its mission, the RWL seeks to mobilize support and engage in partnership regionally and globally with diverse strategic actors, including:
The long-term objectives of the RWL are:
The immediate objectives of the RWL are:
Priority Actions include:
RWL is currently financially supported by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
RWL will be led by a Steering Committee comprised of seven members of RWL (one from each country). Responsibilities of the Steering Committee will be to guide the RWL on strategic decisions regarding priorities for action in each country, regionally, and globally, identification of other needs (e.g. mobilizing support from experts to support RWL analysis) as well as decisions relating to management and resource mobilization.
Through a consultative process with other members in their respective countries the Steering Committee members will be responsible for the following:
The RWL will be supported by a Secretariat. The secretariat will be tasked with coordination, communication, fund raising, organizing events, and all administrative and financial matters.
RWL will establish an Advisory Board comprised of prominent international peace advocates and/or politicians who can contribute knowledge and expertise that will strengthen the work of RWL and can be mobilized on particular issues.
Founding members: All participants present at either the establishing July 2006 meeting in Zagreb or the April 2007 strategy meeting in Vienna are considered the Founding Members of RWL.
Members: All members selected on the basis of the membership criteria adopted by the founding members. Members contribute on an individual basis and not as representatives of the institution they are affiliated with. Names of potential new members can be offered by any member in good standing and will be agreed upon in consultation with others.
New members will be invited to join RWL based on the following criteria:
Members of the Steering Committee: Each country will choose its representative to the Steering Committee based on consensus with one member serving as Chair.
Members of Advisory Board: International figures of prominence who support the mission and strategies of the RWL and can be mobilized for help on particular issues. Any member of the RWL or the advisory board can suggest a new member for the board, to be agreed upon in consultation with all. Letters of invitation to the Advisory Board are issued by the Chair of the RWL.
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