Today is the 14th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security which was adopted unanimously in 2000.
Igballe (Igo) Rogova, KWN Executive Director, is currently attending the High Level Expert Advisory Group for the Global Study on the 15-year implementation of UNSCR 1325 in New York, invited byUN Women.
The study is in line with Security Council Resolution 2122, which calls for the UN Secretary-General to undertake a high-level review of women, peace and security to be conducted in Oct. 2015. Further it will examine the substantive impact of the work achieved in this area during the past 15 years, including successes, challenges, and recommendations for the future to continue towards full implementation of UNSCR 1325.
Rogova shared with the High Level Expert Advisory Group the experiences of women in South East Europe in advocating for the implementation of Resolution 1325. This included how the Women’s Peace Coalition and the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in South Eastern Europe advocated for women’s participation in negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia.
“Women peace activists were persistent in pushing for the implementation of Resolution 1325 and they should be recognized for that,” said Rogova. “Considering the important role that women’s rights activists play in negotiations, UN agencies and other donors should support activists’ efforts in conflict and post-conflict situation. They should not support governments only.” She also called upon international actors to ensure the involvement of youth in peacemaking in conflict and post-conflict environs.
Further Rogova emphasized that there should be justice and penalties for members of peacekeeping forces who are involved in trafficking and other forms of gender-based violence during missions.
UNSCR 1325 calls for women and girls’ participation in decision-making during conflict and post-conflict situations; preventing sexual violence that often targets women and girls; and consideration of the unique security concerns of women and girls in such situations.
KWN has been at the forefront of advocating for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 since its passage. As a result, in close consultation with other key actors, since Jan. 29, 2014 Kosovo has a National Action Plan for the Implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This Government decision obliges institutions with responsibilities outlined within the Action Plan to implement their responsibilities.
KWN congratulates Kosovo institutions for the significant progress that has been made in adopting this important plan and we look forward in supporting its implementation.
For more information about the history of implementing UNSCR 1325 in Kosovo, please read KWN’s 1325 Facts & Fables, a collection of stories about the implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Kosovo, available on KWN’s website.
