As the birthday month of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and 15 years since its adoption, October 2015 makes up a very special month. This is not going unnoticed by the UN. To make the 15th anniversary of the pioneering Resolution 1325 justice, the monthly schedule is fully planned – starting this week.
In October 2013, the Security Council adopted resolution 2122 in which the Council reiterated its intention to convene a High-Level Review to assess progress at the global, regional and national levels in implementing resolution 1325. In the very same resolution, the Secretary-General also commissioned a Global Study on the implementation of resolution 1325. Yesterday, at a press briefing, it was revealed that the Global Study have identified five key areas for achieving the implementation of resolution 1325: (1) making women’s participation and leadership part of the core of peace and security efforts; (2) protecting the human rights of girls and women during and after conflict, especially in the context of emerging threats; (3) ensuring gender-responsive planning and accountability; (4) strengthening the UN’s gender architecture and expertise; and (5) financing the women, peace and security agenda.
Today, 13 October 2015, the annual Open Debate on women, peace and security will take place. The aim of the Open Debate is to discuss how the international community can better deliver on the unfulfilled women, peace and security commitments that were made 15 years ago. Not only will the debate address the challenges, prospects and priorities of the 1325 future, it will also serve as a forum for discussion in favor of the Council’s High-Level Review on the implementation of Resolution 1325. Other topics that will be commented on are the Global Study as well as two other independent reviews on peace operations and the peacebuilding architecture. All three investigations have identified a changing warfare with brutal violations of human rights and international humanitarian law; involvement by a growing number non-state actor; and the spread of violent extremisms and ruthless organized violence. Therefore, the Secretary-General is expected to highlight that women still do not have the same access to their rights, that they face different risks during times of conflict – and also recognize women’s key contributions to preventing conflicts and securing peace.
Tomorrow, the week continues. Findings and recommendations of the Global Study will be presented to UN leadership, member states and civil society, following the Security Council’s Open Debate. To follow the updates, use the hashtags #1325at15 and #1325fest.
