NATO Deputy Secretary General addresses role of women for peace and security at UN Security Council
NATO is proud of its record in implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow said at a Security Council debate that marks the Resolution's 15th anniversary. At the UN headquarters in New York today (13 October), Ambassador Vershbow discussed the challenges faced by women in conflict and NATO's work to increase their meaningful participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. "NATO has made implementation of the Resolution one of its priorities and is proud of its record, most notably within its operations in Afghanistan and in the Balkans," he said. “But we need to do more, especially when it comes to promoting equal participation in NATO itself.”
Ambassador Vershbow spoke about NATO's experience in embedding gender perspectives within its practical work: from the planning and execution of missions and operations, through implementing strict rules on the prevention and response to conflict-related gender-based violence, and making gender a key principle in Defence Capacity Building initiatives with partners around the world. And the Deputy Secretary General pledged to do more, including:
- Encouraging Allies to submit female candidates for NATO’s senior decision-making positions;
- Establishing a Women’s Professional network and Mentoring programme at NATO Headquarters;
- Financing gender-sensitive research aimed at identifying radicalization and violent extremism and developing evidence-based responses, including the empowerment of women to safeguard communities;
- Sharing of best practices and valuable lessons on gender equality with Allies;
- Strengthening partnerships with International organizations like the UN, OSCE, the European Union and the African Union; and institutionalizing the engagement of civil society in the development, execution and monitoring of NATO/EAPC Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
The Security Council debate on UNSCR 1325 was chaired by the Prime Minister of Spain Mariano Rajoy. The opening statement was given by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Other participants in the meeting included NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative on Women, Peace and Security Marriët Schuurman, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women and Yanar Mohammed, President of the Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq.