On October 31, 2005, it was exactly five years since the UN Security Council unanimously passed resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
11/10/2005 ::
In 2000, when it was passed, the resolution was a breakthrough in the efforts to call attention to the situation of women in armed conflict: it was the first time the issue of the impact of war on women was assured a place as a specific item on the Council’s agenda. The resolution provided the Council with an instrument for ensuring women’s full participation on an equal footing with men at every level of decision-making and implementation in UN peace operations. This applies to all phases of crisis management – conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction.
Norway attaches great importance to women’s participation in peace processes and peacebuilding, both as an aim in itself and as part of Norway’s support for peace and reconciliation efforts. We have actively sought to have this important issue dealt with specifically in the work of the Security Council and the UN, so that women’s situation in armed conflict is included wherever appropriate in the Security Council’s efforts to ensure international peace and security.
Norway’s attitude is that women’s involvement in peace processes is crucial. We are therefore working through multilateral institutions to ensure that women participate in peace processes, peacebuilding and development, with a special focus on the UN system.
Resolution 1325 recognises the value of women’s contributions and urges the UN member states to pay attention to the protection, rights and needs of women in reconstruction efforts after armed conflict. The resolution is a valuable tool box for the UN, the member states, and the parties involved to use for realizing the goal of women’s full participation in peace and reconciliation processes.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs