Background

Background

Consultation on United Kingdom Planning for Post Conflict Reconstruction

You may have heard about the creation of the United Kingdom 's new interdepartmental Post Conflict Reconstruction Unit, which I have recently been appointed to head. The British Government has begun to set up the PCRU in order to improve the United Kingdom 's capacity to deal with immediate post conflict stabilisation. We are committed to a wide-ranging consultation process to obtain opinions and advice, which can be taken into account in decisions about the Unit's design and operating procedures.

I am writing to ask whether you are willing to involve yourself in the consultation exercise. I attach some background about the PCRU and a consultative document intended to provoke a wide range of expert comment. As part of this, I would genuinely value your experience and expertise to help guide the PCRU's development

Response

Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform response to

Post Conflict Stabilisation: Improving the

United Kingdom’s Contribution

Q1. What is your interest, and what are your experiences, in post conflict stabilisation and reconstruction?

q Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform (The Platform) was established in 1988.

q As the Northern Ireland co-ordination in membership of the European Women’s Lobby the Platform offers the opportunity for women and interested groups and individuals from across the diverse political, social, economic and geographical areas to focus on influencing European policies to support peace in Northern Ireland .

q The Platform gained Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1999, enabling the organisation to encourage its diverse membership to contribute to shaping international policies which have impact on peace building. In 2000 we lobbied at the Special General Assembly with the rest of the women from around the world resulting in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

q The Platform has been able to share the experience of women in Northern Ireland and provide models of good practice to other women from conflict areas both at a European and a wider international level.

q The Platform continues to seek to influence local Government policies ensuring that lobbying of political parties is carried out across the political divide.

q The Platform attempts to be sensitive to the political situation here by closely working with other organisations in Northern Ireland to promote equality and embrace diversity and this is reflected in the Platform’s membership.

q The Platform continues to monitor and report on gender equality during the conflict and peace process in Northern Ireland . This includes monitoring UNSCR 1325, the gender breakdown of the new post-conflict structures, research into public bodies and media coverage for political women and preparation of alternative CEDAW report for Northern Ireland .

Q2. Given the PCRU’s mandate, and your own experience, do you have overall comments about how the PCRU can achieve what it is being set up to do?

q The setting up of the Unit needs to be carefully and clearly defined. It will not be effective or efficient if the structures are not carefully put in place before the work within post conflict areas begin.

q The structure of the PCRU needs to be carefully defined and monitored to ensure there is no conflict of interests or domination by any one of the three departments involved in the delivery, eg what military may want may not be what international development may agree. The FCO should be the lead department.

q PCRU should be willing to seek advice and good practice from other Government departments. eg The departments within Northern Ireland could have a wealth of information on setting up highly sensitive unit.

q PCRU should consult with other agencies with relevant background in working within conflict/post conflict. such as the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

q PCRU needs to carry out research into those countries and NGOs within those countries which have already progressed through post-conflict situations to find out what was effective and what was not and identify similarities.

Q3. How should be measure effectiveness?

Feedback:	Regular consultations with stakeholders seeking out new and innovative ways to communicate
Action Plans:	SMART objectives set out in plans which can be updated to ensure quick response for positive outcomes
Research:	Set up mechanisms to implement recommendations identified in relevant research. It should not only be Government research recommendations but NGOs, academics and other agencies. To consider research and recommendations which may not fit neatly with government policy
Social Impact:	Monitoring and reporting on impact should not just include hard figures but include examples of good practice and successful implementation.
Group Impact:	It is important to recognise that the UN recognises that the most vulnerable groups within conflict/post conflict which are women, older people and children. It is important that these groups are constantly monitored.

Q7. Views on Specifics

Communication and Inclusion	Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1988 gives a comprehensive list of groupings who must be consulted by statutory bodies in policy making. Consult with the Equality Commission Northern Ireland . PCRU should investigate how departments and statutory agencies in Northern Ireland engage in consultation with different groups in Northern Ireland , especially those with special needs, to fulfil the statutory requirements duty. Consult with the Equality Commission Northern Ireland, NI Government and local statutory agencies. There is a need to consult with people on how best to communicate and to look for new ways of sharing information.
Work with Others	To ensure that there is an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute; stakeholders could be broken down into specific areas of expertise to specifically look at key areas with an opportunity to meet to make recommendations. After six months all stakeholders to meet to share recommendations, review structures and strategies.
Collaborative, International approach	It is important to include those key agencies such as the UN, the European Union and other governments who have made a positive impact in post-conflict areas, along with NGOs from European and international areas.
Be Flexible	PCRU plans must be adaptable and flexible for change. A transparent small working group drawn from the stakeholder groups could be set up to have the responsibility to respond to change, but also the responsibility to report to the other stakeholders.
Right People	The right people can range from those who provide the infrastructure (water, electricity, economics); law and order (government, military, police) to the most vulnerable groups within a post-conflict situation (women, older people and children).
Appropriate Resources	In order to ensure appropriate resources PCRU should: ensure the PCRU is fully functional and has the full resources to implement any decisions/plans discuss with stakeholders and identify what are the key resources which would be required source out from stakeholders what resources they could provide there is no point in continuing with the Unit if the appropriate resources are not available.

There is a need to consult with people on how best to communicate and to look for new ways of sharing information.