What We Do
OUR WORK
National
International
PROJECTS: COUNTRIES
PROJECTS: TIMELINE
Operation 1325 | SWEDEN AND THE REST OF THE WORLD CAN IMPROVE AND DO MORE TO SYSTEMATICALLY integrate A GENDER PERSPECTIVE IN AID, PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS AND DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
Operation 1325 works nationally and internationally with information dissemination, advocacy and review work, and training to promote the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
Our target groups include students, municipalities, interest groups, and international bodies such as the UN, EU, OSCE, and NATO. Civil society is also an important target group.
SPREAD OF INFORMATION
The information work aims to create greater awareness of women, peace and security, and thus create greater commitment to the field of work. There is currently a significant need to draw attention to the security resolutions on this topic, both internationally and nationally. By raising awareness, Operation 1325 aims to increase the impact of the women, peace and security agenda. In addition to Resolution 1325, we also work on the related Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security.
An example of national dissemination of information is our youth project Diabella, and an international example is the Women Mediation School in Palestine. The latter focuses on young women with the aim of increasing their role in peace and security.
Beyond the projects, one of our main communication tools is our social media. We make extensive use of these to disseminate information and engage with the public.
MONITORING AND REVIEW
Operation 1325 monitors and reviews efforts of implementing resolution 1325 in Sweden and abroad, with or without other partner organizations. Reviews are then presented through meetings, public debates, or conferences, and are as such a way to advocate for further implementation.
Common for all recommendations is that all are developed in collaboration with people living and being affected by the decisions made in the relevant area. Due to the close collaboration that our recommendations are based on, they carry siginficant legitimacy and credibility.
An example of review work is “Women Count” which was carried out in several editions. The project aims to draw attention to compliance with Resolution 1325 and has been used by the national government in preparations for a new national action plan. We have also written a parallel report on Sweden’s compliance with international human rights commitments. Furthermore, we monitor Sweden’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Women and participate in the shadow reporting of civil society.
CAPACITY BUILDING
By focusing on capacity-building, Operation 1325 strives to increase competence in the area of women, peace, and security. This capacity-building takes place at the local, national, and international levels, within different topics such as mediation, violent extremism, and gender equality.
Previous clients include the National Police Board, the Nordic Center for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM), Kvinna till Kvinna, Norwegian Church Aid, and Sida. These have dealt with topics such as security sector reform, women’s international leadership, and cooperation between government and civil society, to name a few.
Does this sound interesting? Contact us at info@operation1325.se and we will create an education or workshop for your organisation’s needs.
NATIONAL
Operation 1325’s national work mainly consists of shorter educational programes and advocacy work. We are also working on the UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security.
WITH FOCUS ON YOUTHS
Operation 1325 has a focus on youth, peace and security with the support of Resolution 2250. The resolution highlights how youth today lack sufficient protection, are not adequately represented nor have the opportunity to influence discussions about peace and conflict at the local, regional, national, or international levels.
Operation 1325 strengthens the role of youth through training in issues like leadership, conflict prevention, and gender equality, to mention a few examples. Training opportunities increase the capacity of youth so that they are more likely to take part in peace and conflict work.
An example is the national project Diabella that empowered young women and girls in conflict prevention work in their families, local communities, and the public sector. They received tools for conflict management, intercultural and religious dialogue, as well as knowledge of human rights and UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250. We call them Operation 1325 Peace Influencers. See the video “Our Sweden” from the project below.
THE VOLUNTEER GROUP
The Volunteer Group provides an opportunity for young people committed to women, peace and security to participate in Operation 1325’s activities, to disseminate information about Security Council Resolution 1325 and to advocate. All driven and committed individuals are welcome to apply for volunteer positions with Operation 1325. We have a particular need for those who have experience in our field of work or training in specialised areas such as communication or journalism. As a volunteer, we would like you to take your own initiative as to what you can contribute.
If you are interested or want to know more, please email: info@operation1325.se
NETWORKS AND ADVOCACY
Operation 1325 conducts advocacy within the framework of strengthening the national agenda on women, peace, and security. This is done independently as well as with partner networks. National partnerships that Operation 1325 is part of are for example CONCORD, ForumCiv and the 2250-network.
OUR SWEDEN
“Our Sweden” is a film of a day organized by Operation 1325, Fryshuset and the Life and Peace Institute for young people and policy makers to talk about peace in Sweden based on three themes: trust, participation and inclusion.
MOTKRAFT
The project Motkraft was based on Security Council Resolution 2250 but also on a sister resolution to 1325, 2242. Resolution 2250 emphasises the importance of young people’s participation and influence in conflict and violence prevention work, including work against violent extremism.
Resolution 2242 calls on all UN member states to ensure the participation and leadership of women in the work against extremism. Motkraft aimed to strengthen young women as actors in the work against violent extremism. During a number of training sessions, we built up knowledge about some of the extremist environments, its breeding grounds and preventive and counteracting work. The lectures highlighted, in particular, how these environments are characterised by ideas and norms about gender and how we can use this understanding to strengthen our preventive work. During a camp weekend, we received tools and support from the communications agency Mad luck to jointly develop strategic counterforce campaigns for social media, our neighbourhoods and the public debate. Motkraft participated in the Global Square during the 2020 Digital Book Fair. The project was funded by the Swedish Gender Equality Agency in 2020.
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INTERNATIONAL
Our international work is based on partnerships with women and peace organisations from different parts of the world – Palestine, Turkey, and a whole network of partner organisations in East Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Together, we strive to implement Security Council Resolution 1325.
NATIONAL ACTION PLANS
By adopting national action plans, more than 40 countries have specified their measures to streamline the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Today many national action plans lack clear objectives, indicators for measuring results, earmarked funds, and routines for reporting and review. Ownership of the responsible authorities and the inclusion of civil society in the design are two factors that are important for how effective the action plan will be. Operation 1325 supports organisations in other countries to take an active role in the development of national action plans for Security Council Resolution 1325.
Operation 1325 has been advisory to women and peace organisations in the Balkans, Central Africa, the Middle East and North Africa. Through our educational programs, we build the capacity to influence action plans so that they reflect the whole society’s need for security and participation in decision-making.
“Women Count” is a comprehensive initiative by the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders to gather data and influence those in power around the world to take Security Resolution 1325 seriously. The review is based on eleven indicators that measure how good a country is at guaranteeing women’s security and including women in decisions about conflict management and security.
MEDIATION NETWORK AND TRAINING IN MEDIATION
Although much progress has been made since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, women are still excluded from processes such as peace talks and negotiations. Less than four percent of all representatives in ongoing peace talks in weak states are women. Women as mediators are also underrepresented, until the 2000s, only two percent of the chief mediators and nine percent of the mediators were women. Operation 1325 therefore works to train women mediators, build networks for active mediators, and strengthen women’s participation in peace and security issues.
For example, together with the Palestinian Center for Peace and Democracy (PCPD), we did the project “Women’s Mediation School” in Palestine for mediation and networking. The project aimed to increase the power and agency of young women under 30 by supporting local women leaders, activists and women’s organizations.
ADVISORY IN MULTILATERAL NETWORKS
Operation 1325 plays an important role as an advisor to several multilateral networks. We have for example been member of NATO’s Civil Society Advisory Panel on Women, Peace and Security. The group’s purpose was to serve as a forum for dialogue and feedback from civil society to NATO on issues related to women, peace and security.
Another example is when we were invited to a panel discussion by our partner organisation Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) in connection with the Commission on the Status of Women. Operation 1325 participated in the panel together with representatives from Sweden, Bangladesh and Mali to discuss women’s social protection, education and work as a conflict prevention strategy and local women’s perspectives on development and sustainable peace.
EDUCATION IN EQUAL PEACEBUILDNING
Since 2003, Operation 1325 has worked with training and workshops as a means of strengthening women’s influence in peace processes. The training is aimed at civil society organisations around the world, personnel in peacekeeping operations, and other actors who work in conflict and post-conflict areas. Courses are tailored and based on the needs of the participants.
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PROJECTS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
ALBANIA
COLOMBIA
IRAQ
PALESTINE
SOUTH SUDAN
SUDAN
SWEDEN
TURKEY
YEMEN
OPERATION 1325 WAS FOUNDED IN 2003 AS AN UMBRELLA ORGANISATION COMPOSED OF SWEDISH PEACE AND WOMEN'S ORGANISATIONS.
Operation 1325 operates in partnership with peace and women's organisations from across the globe to make United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, a reality.