October 25, 2005 Arria Formula Meeting with the Security Council, 5th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325

Date: 
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
General Women, Peace and Security

On 25 October 2005, the government of Denmark, as a member of the Security Council, hosted an Arria Formula meeting, an informal, off-the-record meeting, on women, peace and security in order to mark the anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325. Many members of the Council attended the meeting, and there was significant attendance by Permanent Representatives and Deputy Permanent Representatives from the Missions.

The Council heard from the following presenters:

  • Basma Fahkri, as representative for Hanaa Edwar (Iraq)
  • ​Goretti Ndacayisaba, Program Executive - Dushirehamwe (Burundi)
  • Vina Nadjibulla, Representative - NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security
  • Swanee Hunt, Founder and Chair - Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace

Vina Nadjibulla's Statement for the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security:

Excellencies and dear colleagues,

On behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, allow me to thank Ambassador Loslash and the Permanent Mission of Denmark for organizing this important meeting with civil society representatives on the occasion of the 5th Anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325. I would also like to thank the Permanent Mission of Romania for organizing the upcoming Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security.

The Working Group on women peace and security, a coalition of ten organizations, was formed five years ago to advocate for the equal participation of women and the inclusion of gender perspective in conflict prevention, reaction, and post-conflict peacebuilding. Since the unanimous adoption of resolution 1325 in October 2000, we have worked in partnerships with other civil society organizations, governments and the United Nations to monitor and support comprehensive implementation of this resolution. Over the past five years we have made a number of recommendations to the Security Council.

I will limit my comments today to three specific points regarding the UN and national implementation of the resolution and women's participation in peacebuilding processes:

  • First, in order to ensure the integration of resolution 1325 into its ongoing work, we recommend that the Security Council establish a focal point and an expert level working group on women, peace and security.
  • Second, we urge Member States to develop national strategies and action plans for the coordinated integration of women, peace and security issues at the national level.
  • And third, we stress that women and a gender perspective should be included in all peacebuilding processes and institutions including in the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Support Office.

It is our sincere hope that these recommendations will be reflected in the Presidential Statement to be adopted at the close of the Open Debate this Thursday. Security Council Resolution 1325 is a landmark decision. It makes gender perspectives and women relevant to negotiating peace agreements, planning humanitarian and peacekeeping.