Portugal is the most recent country to launch a national action plan on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
UN-INSTRAW congratulates Portugal on the signing of the plan, which covers 2009 to 2013. According to Portuguese authorities, the plan will serve as a method for consolidating national policies on gender equality and will fulfill the commitments of the government at the national and international levels.
UNCSR 1325 underlines the importance of equal participation and the involvement of women in efforts to promote peace and security. Furthermore, it stresses the need to increase their roles in decision-making concerning conflict prevention and resolution.
In its National Action Plan, the Portuguese Government interprets the resolution as extending beyond armed conflicts and humanitarian aid to include the promotion of policy coherence at a national level concerning issues such as disarmament and weapons control, public security and the elimination of gender-based violence. Furthermore, the plan states that an analysis of other processes and international examples shows that the creation of action plans has contributed decisively to a true integration of gender equality dimensions in defense, internal security and international development policies.
The plan contains mechanisms for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of five main objectives: • To increase women’s participation and integrate a gender equality dimension in all phases of peace-building processes, and at all levels of decision-making. • To guarantee capacity building of persons involved in peace-building, on gender equality and gender-based violence as well as other aspects of Resolutions 1325 and 1820. • To promote and protect the respect for women’s human rights in conflict areas and post-conflict contexts, taking into account the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence and the promotion of the empowerment of women. • To deepen and disseminate knowledge on issues concerning women, peace and security, so that such issues are included in capacity building activities and so that there is awareness raising among decision-makers and in the broader public. • To promote the participation of civil society in the implementation of Resolution 1325.
The Government and Public Administration are responsible for the coordination and implementation of this plan. However, the authorities stress that the participation of the civil society will be crucial to reach the goals and objectives of the plan.
Using materials of the site the reference on GINSC with the indication of the author is obligatory The Portal GINSC is supported by the Kvinna til Kvinna Foundation
