NATO
On behalf of NATO, it is a special pleasure for me to be here today with the ...
On behalf of NATO, it is a special pleasure for me to be here today with the Security Council to mark this important anniversary. Exactly 10 years ago, the Security Council adopted the important resolution 1325 (2000). It the first resolution to address the impact of conflict on women and the contribution that women can make to solidifying peace. It recognizes that the major security, economic and governance challenges of our time cannot be solved without the protection and participation of women at all levels of our society. As such, resolution 1325 (2000) is truly a landmark resolution which we must all live up to.
NATO is ready to play its full role by pursuing a pragmatic approach. With ou...
NATO is ready to play its full role by pursuing a pragmatic approach. With our partners, we have agreed on a comprehensive list of concrete actions to mainstream gender perspectives into NATO's partnership programmes. Resolution 1325 (2000) has become a fully integrated element of NATO's comprehensive approach to crisis management.
The Alliance currently has 150,000 women and men engaged in operations from A...
The Alliance currently has 150,000 women and men engaged in operations from Afghanistan to the Balkans, but also off the Horn of Africa. In these gender-sensitive environments, we have made it clear that the involvement of women in operations is crucial if we want to establish relationships and trust with civil society. It is important to ensure that women are present, active and take decisions at all strategic, operational and tactical levels.
In September 2009, NATO issued a military directive to all NATO commanders an...
In September 2009, NATO issued a military directive to all NATO commanders and allied and partner nations for the integration of resolution 1325 (2000) and gender perspectives in NATO military organizations and the planning and execution of operations. It included a strict code of behaviour for all military personnel serving in NATO-led operations.
The directive paved the way for the deployment of NATO's first military gende...
The directive paved the way for the deployment of NATO's first military gender advisers in the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force in the autumn of last year, complementing the network of national gender advisers already fielded in some of the provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan. Gender advisers will also soon be deployed to the Kosovo Force and begin work at the level of our strategic commands. This approach has enabled us to mainstream a gender perspective from NATO's senior political level all the way to the tactical engagement level of NATO troops in operations.
A related, important aspect is education and training; it is one of the keys ...
A related, important aspect is education and training; it is one of the keys to changing mindsets. Our education institutions are engaged in this process, providing predeployment training for all civilian and military personnel of peacekeeping operations.
But looking ahead, NATO intends to do more. We will continue mainstreaming re...
But looking ahead, NATO intends to do more. We will continue mainstreaming resolution 1325 (2000) in our operations, recognizing that mainstreaming gender perspectives requires a continuous and shared effort until it becomes the norm. We will continue developing education and training in civilian and military frameworks. We will continue to engage with other international organizations — including the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) — as well as with the civil society, to share our experiences, lessons learned and best practices. Here, we welcome the establishment of UN Women; we wish all the best to Ms. Bachelet and are looking forward to working with her.
We will continue encouraging nations to develop national action plans and to ...
We will continue encouraging nations to develop national action plans and to promote the participation of women in their armed forces. In Afghanistan, in particular, we will continue to encourage women to take their rightful place in shaping their country's future. We will continue to support Afghan women's networks, which play a key role in the development of governance and social and economic development, and to help train female police and security officers. Finally, we will also enhance our efforts to mainstream resolution 1325 (2000) in the Alliance's everyday business. NATO must continue to become a modern place of work where decisions can be taken professionally and efficiently. For this to happen, a healthy gender balance is as important.
One decade on from the adoption of the Security Council's groundbreaking reso...
One decade on from the adoption of the Security Council's groundbreaking resolution 1325 (2000), we are confident that we can take the next steps. We will remain committed to taking practical and pragmatic actions with our allies and our partners. We will remain active and engaged, and we look forward to continuing our efforts and cooperation beyond this anniversary.