Working Paper: Implementing Locally, Inspiring Globally: Localizing UNSCR 1325 in Colombia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sierra Leone and Uganda

The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) offers a new approach to finding effective ways to implement UNSCR 1325 and the supporting resolutions. The Localization program of GNWP, which directly engages local authorities, traditional leaders and local women in the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 in local communities, complements the efforts of governments, civil society and other national actors and ensures that the WPS resolutions—and National Action Plans (NAPs)—are owned and carried out at the local level. It is a people-based, bottom-up approach to policy-making that goes beyond the local adoption of a law, as it guarantees the alignment and harmonization of local, national, regional and international policies and community-driven strategies to ensure local ownership, participation and links among local communities, civil society organizations and government. It is not designed to increase bureaucratic functions or add more work for local officials. Rather, the program allows local communities to analyze their everyday government functions and policies to see what is promoting or hindering the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1820. In this way, the Localization of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 program creates channels for better coordination, cooperation and coherence among national and local stakeholders in the work around the WPS resolutions.