On
3 August 2009, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet signed the National Action
Plan for the full implementation United Nations Resolution 1325 on Women,
Peace and Security.
UN-INSTRAW
congratulates the Chilean government for its initiative to implement United
Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. The Resolution is one of the most
important mandates on gender, peace and security, and makes a call for the
full and equal participation of women in all peace and security initiatives.
It also aims at integrating a gender perspective in the context of armed
conflict, peacekeeping and reconstruction.
Chile is the first Latin American country that has formulated an Action Plan.
The country and its armed forces participate actively in peace missions, for
example in Haiti.
The work to create a Chilean National Action Plan started in March 2008 when
a group was formed involving the Foreign Relations and Defense Ministries, as
well as the National Women’s Service (SERNAM) and civil society
representatives.
According to the Foreign Relations Ministry of Chile, the provisions of the
National Action Plan include:
• To apply a gender focus in the respect for and promotion of human rights in
Chile as well as internationally
• To promote the equal participation of women in peace operations and at
decision-making levels
• To consider a gender perspective in the design, implementation and
execution of international cooperation policies
• To strengthen the capacity of public servants as well as civil society in
matters of gender, security and conflict
• To promote the implementation of Resolution 1325 in the region through the
exchange of experiences, bilateral cooperation as well as in regional
mechanisms of peace operations in which Chile participates
The Head of State, speaking at the signing ceremony, stated that “women
should not be considered only as victims. They are also holders of rights,
capable of deciding their destiny and of assuming a main role in post
conflict processes," as reported by the China.org.cn news agency.
To date, only 77 of the 500 Chileans who have participated in peace missions
are women. President Bachelet indicated that the initiative to protect women
and girls in situations of armed conflict, from sexual violence, abuses or
other types of gender discrimination, will help facilitate the integration of
women into the country’s armed forces.
“It’s not a matter of preparing more women for war, but rather avoiding wars
and contributing to lasting peace that will ensure the respect for human
rights of all people, either in this country, in the region or in the
world," explained the President.
Through its Gender, Peace and Security Programme, UN-INSTRAW has supported to
several national action planning processes for the implementation of
Resolution 1325. The Institute urges more countries to follow up on this
important task.
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