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.
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