Operational Effectiveness and UN Resolution 1325 - Practices and Lessons from Afghanistan

On December 12, 2007, the North Atlantic Council decided to develop common concepts and a Policy Directive on UN Resolution 1325. As part of this process, eight independent experts from four countries have conducted this study, identifying best practices and lessons learned from the implementation of Resolution 1325 in NATO's Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan. Practices and lessons relate both to effectiveness and the process to integrate Resolution 1325 in operations. An analytical framework has been developed and applied on five different PRTs; the Dutch PRT in Tarin Kowt, the Italian PRT in Herat, the New Zealand PRT in Bamyan, the Norwegian PRT in Meymaneh and the Swedish PRT in Mazar-e Sharif. The analytical framework is based on a model in which the content of Resolution 1325 is broken down into representation (male and female participation) and integration (the use of the content of Resolution 1325) in the process to achieve a desired output). These themes are analyzed internally (how NATO Operations are organized) and externally (how Operations address the situation in the area of responsibility to obtain the desired output). Using this model, a set of work areas are identified and analyzed.