Action Plan March 2006 The Norwegian Government’s Action Plan for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security Policy declaration Introduction In its policy platform, the Government has committed itself to In October 2000, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on intensifying Norway’s efforts to promote a more just world. The women, peace and security (hereinafter Resolution 1325). This was the first time in the UN’s history that the Security Council adopted implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) a resolution on issues concerning women’s roles and experiences in on women, peace and security is part of this commitment. This armed conflicts. A characteristic of most of today’s conflicts is that the action plan has been drawn up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, civilian population is the object of widespread and systematic attacks. the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice and the Police and Women and children constitute a majority of the civilian population, and are therefore particularly affected. At the same time, an increasing the Ministry of Children and Equality. It is part of our endeavour number of women and girls are participating as combatants, either vol- to promote global security, peace and justice. The Government untarily or involuntarily. Despite this, women’s experiences in conflict will intensify its efforts both to increase women’s participation situations are marginalised to an unacceptable degree, and their roles in civil and military peace operations, peacemaking and peace- and contributions to conflict resolution overlooked. Today, women are often not included in forums where decisions concerning peace and building, and to enhance the protection of the human rights of security are made, whether at local, national or international level. women in conflict areas. Norway will pursue a policy that pro- motes gender equality at home and in a global context. The mandates of peace operations have expanded and changed. Conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict reconstruc- tion, as well as the establishment of rights-based governance and implementation of humanitarian and human rights norms are all elements of most peace operations today. Resolution 1325 deals with these elements from a gender perspective. War and conflict affect women, men, boys and girls in different ways. A gender perspective Jonas Gahr Støre Erik Solheim must be applied in order to recognise the equal rights and human Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of International Development dignity of all people. Peace, democracy and development can only be sustained if people’s experience, knowledge and resources are utilised and their needs are safeguarded, regardless of gender. As women’s participation is necessary for securing lasting peace, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen Knut Storberget Resolution 1325 recognises the need for women to participate on Minister of Defence Minister of Justice and the Police equal terms with men, at all levels and in all roles, to promote peace and security. The responsibility for implementing Resolution 1325 rests largely with UN Member States, through measures at national level, Karita Bekkemellem through contributions to the UN’s efforts to promote peace and Minister of Children and Equality security, and through bilateral peace initiatives in countries affected by conflict. Through this action plan we will strengthen, coordinate and systematise Norwegian efforts to promote international peace, and the particular needs of women, as well as on the importance of involv- ing women in all peacekeeping and peacebuilding measures” into “their national training programmes for military and civilian police personnel in preparation for deployment”. In these areas, the Government will give priority to the following measures: National measures Representation, participation and recruitment • Norway will, in cooperation with other countries, work actively Left: Norwegian soldiers preparing for a transport operation in Kabul. There is an urgent need to recruit to ensure that Resolution 1325 is followed up in all relevant inter- more women peacekeepers, for example in order to facilitate dialogue with the civilian population. national forums, including the UN, NATO, the Organisation for Right: A group of Afghan women with their school books. Norway will support measures that safeguard Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union women’s rights, needs and priorities in post-conflict situations. (EU) and the African Union (AU). Photos: Torgeir Haugaard (left) and Bente Bjercke (right). • The proportion of women in the armed forces and the police will be increased. The responsibility for this lies with the leaders directly responsible for recruitment. security and democracy. We will work for the increased participa- • At least 25 per cent of the students attending military officer train- tion and representation of women in local and international peace- ing schools will be women. building processes. We will seek to increase the recruitment of • From 2006, women will be invited to enlist for national service on a 04 women to peace operations run by international organisations such voluntary basis. 05 as the UN, NATO, the EU and the OSCE. We will intensify our ef- • More women will be recruited for civilian positions in peace operations. forts to safeguard women’s right to protection in conflict situations. • The Norwegian Police University College will continue its suc- The Government will cooperate with national and international cessful efforts to recruit more women students for basic training NGOs in implementing these important objectives. (women students made up 37 per cent of the autumn 2005 intake). • The Ministry of Justice and the Police has a particular responsibili- The action plan will be a living document. It marks the beginning of ty for recruiting women to the Crisis Response Pool, which includes a process, and will be revised regularly in cooperation with relevant personnel from the entire judicial system. national authorities and other interested actors. • Measures to promote Norwegian women leaders as candidates for international military and civilian positions will be implemented in relevant ministries. International efforts and peace operations • Norway will compile a list of potential Norwegian women candi- dates for positions in international organisations. Resolution 1325 ”urges Member States to ensure increased representa- tion of women at all decision-making levels in national, regional and Training and education international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, manage- • The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Justice and the Police ment and resolution of conflict”.Member States are also requested to will give the Norwegian Police University College and Norwegian incorporate “training guidelines and materials on the protection, rights military schools and training institutions the task of integrating issues related to women, peace and security into basic and special- Multilateral cooperation (the UN system, NATO, OSCE, EU and AU) ised training programmes. • Before deployment on international operations, Norwegian person- Representation, participation and recruitment nel will be trained to deal with mission-specific situations. The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Justice and the Police will The UN be responsible for ensuring that personnel receive such training. • Norway will, as a member of the governing bodies of the UN Training will include an introduction to the UN Codes of Conduct and other multilateral organisations, seek to ensure that the and the NATO Policy on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. organisations themselves integrate a more comprehensive and • All Norwegian personnel will also receive instruction in inter- active approach to gender justice and gender equality into all their national law, particularly in international humanitarian law and activities and allocate resources for this purpose. international human rights, including those related to gender- • Norway will seek to ensure that all relevant Security Council based violence, sexual violence and trafficking in human beings. resolutions and mandates for peace operations clearly specify how • Personnel in the Crisis Response Pool, the Emergency Prepared- the various measures affect both women and men. Norway will ness Forces (NORSTAFF) and the Norwegian Resource Bank for also seek to ensure that women participate in all of the Security Democracy and Human Rights (NORDEM) will also be included Council’s missions, and that these missions establish a dialogue in training and awareness-raising on gender issues and Resolution with local women and locally-based women’s organisations. 1325. The Ministry of Justice and the Police and the Ministry of • Reports of Security Council missions must include a gender Foreign Affairs have a particular responsibility for implementation perspective. in this area. • Norway will seek to ensure that gender issues are incorporated • The quality and content of existing training materials are to be re- more thoroughly and consistently into the Secretary-General’s viewed to ensure that they are in accordance with Resolution 1325. reports to the Security Council. • Gender perspectives must be integrated into all exercises for • Norway will support UN recruitment processes to ensure that 06 international missions. more women are appointed to higher positions in peace