THSWomenLuxumbourg08

Courtney B. Luxembourg Topic: Women in Armed Conflict Committee: Women Period 0

__**Background:**__ For centuries, women have suffered severe physical, economic, and psychological hardships during times of armed conflict. Globally, women are often viewed as the property of men. Violence against women is used a as a tool in war to achieve ethnic cleansing, spreading political terror, breaking the resistance of a community, rewarding soldiers, intimidation, or to extract information. Women are abused in such forms as rape, sexual and physical violence, and harassment. Although rape during times of armed conflict is a war crime, countless numbers of women are still being raped in conflicts today. While rape is generally linked to armed groups, military, or guerrilla fighters, not all the violence is committed by warring parties. Civilians, sex traffickers, or international peacekeepers are involved as well. During times of war women also suffer from economic troubles as they take on responsibility for household work and commitments, in addition to the extra finances caused by absent male relatives. This commonly leaves women unable to provide for their families or find paid work. The end of war does not end the violations against women. Many women are taken advantage of in refugee camps additionally. Women who survive the attacks suffer from psychological trauma, permanent physical injury, and long term health risks such as HIV/AIDS. Most women are reluctant to talk about their suffering, although women are the greatest percentage of the adult civilian population killed in war and targeted for violence.

__**UN Involvement:**__ The UN is extremely involved in this major issue. They have many committees and organizations, such as the UN/DESA Division for the Advancement of Women. The UN Security Council has discussed the problems involving women extensively. They have also held the Gender Justice Conference in 2004 and implemented resolution 1325. The UN continues to discuss and attempt to solve this issue as it is still a leading problem in the world today.

__**Country Policy:**__ Luxembourg is fully against the discrimination of women, and is working towards having total gender equality. In 2003, Luxembourg was commended for their commitment to encouraging gender equality. Luxembourg adopted the Beijing +5 National Plan of Action in 2001, introducing a gender mainstreaming approach. In 1999 the Government made a commitment to enacting legislation for the removal of people from the home who commit acts of domestic violence. Luxembourg has taken many policies have been taken to change the treatment of women.

__**Solutions:**__ Women should be able to defend themselves in times of need rather than having to depend on men for protection. Countries should continue to be educated about women's rights, and learn to think of them as equal to men. Women should be taught how to defend themselves in any situation. Furthermore, women should be encouraged to tell when they are abused, and stricter punishments for crimes committed against women.

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/forums/review/conflict/ http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw42/CSW%201998%20Agreed%20Conclusions.pdf http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/dsgsm232.doc.htm http://esa.un.org/techcoop/flagship.asp?Code=ROA-7e

Policy Paper #2

__**Background:**__ It is estimated that about 800,000 to 900,000 people are trafficked into forced labor and sexual exploitations. This is an extremely well-paid business controlled by powerful criminal organizations. Eighty percent of trafficking victims are women, and seventy percent of them are used to sexual exploitation. Thirty percent of sex workers are less than eighteen years old. Trafficking used to be more associated with the illegal trade of goods, but over the past ten years the trade has grown to include the trafficking of humans as well. Women are often tricked into believing that they will be given actual work, only to be forced into the sex trade. These victims are usually from poor families, seeking a better life for them and their families. Some are offered a job of education, while others are kidnapped and sold. A major problem with making arrests for such crimes is that people do not want to be used as character witnesses against the agents or gangs involved in trafficking with the fear of being harmed later on. Many countries have laws against trafficking, but investigations and prosecutions have been very limited.

__**UN Involvement:**__ The UN has been immensely involved in helping to diminish the trafficking of women. The United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) was put into place, as well as many other organizations and committees. In 2000 the General Assembly adopted the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. The UN continues to consider this a very serious issue, and does everything they can to help end the trafficking of women.

__**Country Policy:**__ Luxembourg is currently working towards having gender equality. The trafficking of women is a major issue in Luxembourg, due to the large immigrant population. The nation would like to do everything they can to eliminate this horrible business. In the past, Luxembourg has been commended for their commitment to promote equality among men and women. The country has adopted the Beijing +5 National Plan of Action, and taken many other policies to change the treatment of women.

__**Solutions:**__ Women should not have to worry about being tricked into exploitation. People should be encouraged further to report any suspicious behavior so that investigations can be put into order. There should be harsher punishments for the people who commit these crimes against women, as well as the witnesses who remain silent. Prostitution should also be stopped entirely. With no market or demand, trafficking would have no purpose.

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/forums/review/trafficking/ http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/trafficking2002/ http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2007/webArticles/031307_traffick.htm http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2003/issue2/0203p34.html