ABSTRACT
Introduction UNSCR 1325 no doubt marks a significant step toward the pursuit of gender equality in the realm of peace and security. At a minimum, it makes a strong case for elevating the concerns and agenda of women to the fore of the international security agenda. And in so doing, it provides a framework to guide the policies and programmes of critical actors particularly at national and regional levels in order to realize a qualitative shift in the conditions and roles of women. However, as Barnes argues in the second chapter of this volume, the Resolution does not directly address itself to the deep-seated issues at the root of gender inequality, including patriarchy, notions of masculinity and militarized power. Nonetheless it provides a basis for conversations around structural roots of gender inequality particularly in places that are receptive to the ideas of prevention, protection and participation that underlie UNSCR 1325. The case studies in this volume reflect the extent to which this has been achieved. In this concluding chapter, we attempt to pull together the main strands of the country and regional studies discussed in the preceding chapters to provide guidance on whether and how UNSCR 1325 has made a real impact on the ground. In order to do this, we return to some of the key questions and issues raised in the introductory chapter. Three of these sets of questions will form the focus of this concluding chapter. The first and primary question underpinning all others is whether the eight country cases and four regional case studies provide any significant evidence that UNSCR 1325 can be used strategically to drive systemic change at the national and regional levels. If so, how does it drive that change? How do different national and regional actors use UNSCR 1325? Second, does the presence of international actors make a difference in terms of advancing gender equality? Does the presence of a peace mission help or hinder this process? Third, what lessons can be learned from the alternative local mechanisms that already exist in these contexts? What is the relationship between formal peace operation structures and informal local structures? Do peace operations undermine or reinforce local initiatives? In the introductory chapter, we presented the main thematic issues explored in this volume while highlighting the variability in the country case studies.
