Highlights - Enhancing the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 across the OSCE Region: Parliamentarians’ Contribution to Women, Peace, and Security

Highlights from OSCE PA event on «Enhancing the
Implementation of UNSCR 1325 across the
OSCE Region: Parliamentarians’ Contribution to
Women, Peace and Security»1
Wednesday, 8 September 2021, 14:30 – 17:00 CEST, online
General points:
• Observed slow progress2
in women’s participation in all aspects of the conflict cycle since
the adoption of the UNSCR 1325 (2000);
• Highlighted women’s active and meaningful participation in peace processes as a crucial
factor for ensuring stable and long-lasting peace, increasing the sustainability of post-conflict
peace settlement;
• Highlighted the importance of continuous and effective development, financing,
implementation, update, and scrutiny of National Actions Plans (NAPs) on WPS by States
and their national legislatures, as an important tool for effectively attaining WPS and UN-
related Sustainable Development goals;
• Pointed out the importance for incentivizing and actively engaging men as integral partners
for implementing the extensive WPS agenda, especially in shaping an inclusive attitude
change in their spheres of work/engagement/influence.
• Emphasized the need for collection of quality, comparable and sex-disaggregated data, in
particular in the WPS scope of work, that would allow for gender-sensitive analysis and
1
The Highlights from the OSCE PA Call for Action - Helsinki +50 Meetings are not intended to be official
conclusions, nor an exhaustive list of all issues or suggestions raised during the debate, but rather a compilation of
points recorded for possible future reference. As this compilation is not exhaustive, any comments or suggested
additions are welcome.
2
As highlighted by the OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues, Hon. Hedy Fry, the underrepresentation
of women across the conflict cycle is significant. According to her observations, women accounted for 6% of
mediators, 13% of negotiators and 6% of signatories in major peace-making processes between 1992 and 2019. The
Proportion of women in security, protection and police roles increased by a marginal 3% between 2015 and 2021,
currently accounting for 7,2% in total, while more than 4 out of 5 ambassadors involved in peacebuilding and in
negotiations are male.
OSCEs Parlamentariske Forsamling 2020-21
OSCE Alm.del - Bilag 46
Offentligt
database formation which later could be used for gender-sensitive policy-making;
• Reaffirmed the role of Parliaments and parliamentarians in streamlining the WPS agenda in
policymaking through regular parliamentary work and advocacy engagement;
• Underlined the importance of addressing all forms of social discrimination and barriers that
limit the potential of women and men to meaningfully engage in all stages of the conflict
cycle.
General suggestions:
• To embrace a more positive and engaging use of language in reference to the gender-related
challenges faced by women, allowing a more enabling environment of empowerment.
• To support efforts ensuring inclusive and positive working environments across sectors
involved in conflict prevention and resolution, free from discrimination, harassment and
abuse, while maintaining preventive and punitive mechanisms in regard to such behaviors;
• To encourage and support continuous training opportunities on the WPS agenda for staff
members engaged across sectors in conflict prevention and resolution, peace negotiations,
peace building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and post conflict reconciliation;
Suggestions for the PA:
• To promote interparliamentary dialogue on WPS in the OSCE region, and support the
meaningful and targeted exchange of information focusing on ways parliamentarians can pass
better and more inclusive legislation on WPS;
• To maintain its close engagement with OSCE institutions and executive structures in
expanding the OSCE toolbox on WPS, while enhancing the streamlining of the WPS agenda
in its current and future activities;
• To capitalize on the extensive acquis of the OSCE and of its Parliamentary Assembly, and to
support the communication of its resources in an engaging and user-friendly way;
• To put effort in forging an informative and proactive platform for regular parliamentary
exchanges on the implementation of NAPs across OSCE region;
• To lead by example together with OSCE institutions and executive structures, effectively
implementing its gender-related commitments in the work of their respective Secretariats;
Suggestions for Parliamentarians:
• To take action in ensuring a substantial increase of the number of women parliamentarians
seating and chairing foreign affairs, development and budgetary parliamentary committees,
while ensuring the cross-party mobilization of MPs in regard to the development, financing,
implementation and monitoring of NAPs on WPS;
• To generate political interest and exercise oversight, including through the establishment of
topical parliamentary caucuses/working groups while ensuring that male parliamentarians are
also actively engaged in advocating and mainstreaming the WPS agenda in parliamentary
work;
• To strongly advocate for the harmonization of national policies with OSCE and international
commitments and systematically engage in localizing the WPS agenda in their constituencies;
• To bring public attention to the topic, while ensuring direct and meaningful cooperation with
the civil society, supporting the development of civil society platforms,
• To ensure allocation of adequate resources to the effective implementation of NAPs and
policies related to the WPS agenda;
• To make space for women across all sectors, communities and societies to mentor and inspire
while being involved in the development and implementation of NAPs;
• To recognize the risks and threats faced by women involved in peace processes, including in
gender-based violence, while bringing visibility and developing rigorous legal frameworks
for their safe and active participation.