NAP 1325 Biannual Event

Picture: The Hague, Learning Event, October 9-10, 2018 - Courtesy of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Since 2008, the Netherlands has implemented three National Action Plans for the national implementation of the Security Council Resolution 1325 of the United Nations on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), (NAP 1325). In 2016, over 60 civil society organisations, knowledge institutions and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Security & Justice, Education, Culture & Science as well as the National Police, signed the third NAP 1325 and committed to implement the UNSCR 1325 in their own policies and programs, focusing on 8 countries: Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, South-Sudan, DR Congo, Afghanistan and Colombia. The NAP community has now grown to a total of 75 signatories.

On the 11th of October, Gender Concerns International, as one of the signatories of NAP 1325, was invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the NAP 1325 biannual event in The Hague. NAP signatories came together, with the Focus of implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda: Linking local and international efforts, to reflect, exchange knowledge and experiences, and inspire on the joint commitments made to implement UNSCR 1325, with the presence of civil society partners from Yemen, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, South-Sudan, DRC and Colombia. Some of the interactive panel debates held during the event were related to the issues of women’s protection against (sexual and) gender-based violence and to the success and challenges of women's participation in peace negotiations of inclusive track one processes.