The Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) of the BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, the OSCE Mission to BiH, the Office of the European Union in BiH and the UN Women BiH marked the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security by organizing an online conference today.

Twenty years ago, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1325 with a central focus on the critical role of women in peace and security matters. Never before had world leaders formally recognized the role of women in conflict and post-conflict contexts.

The 20th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 comes at a volatile time in the world. A UN Women and OSCE conference renews commitments and examines progress and challenges in implementing the landmark women, peace and security agenda.

Around 140 participants from across Europe and Central Asia attended the webinar on ‘Implementing Women, Peace and Security: Localization in the OSCE Region’ on 1 July to discuss how to further develop and strengthen the local implementation of the women, peace and security agenda and the National Action Plans (NAPs). Organized by LSE, OSCE and UN Women, the webinar also marked the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

Civil society representatives from the Balkans, South Caucasus and Central Asia called for a permanent coalition or network of women civil society organizations (CSOs) in the region to convene on a regular basis to consult on building sustainable peace in the region.

Women politicians, members of parliaments, diplomats and civil society representatives from across the Western Balkans together with UN Women, made a strong call for women’s equal participation in peace and security processes.

Bajana Ceveli is the Executive Director of the Association for Women’s Security and Peace (AWSP) in Albania. Over the past three years, the Association, with the support of UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality, helped draft a National Action Plan (NAP) on UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which was adopted in September 2018. Ms. Ceveli spoke to UN Women about her personal motivation and why the National Action Plan is important for women.

Government and civil society partners in Georgia hosted their counterparts from Moldova and Ukraine to exchange good practices and lessons learned from the implementation of National Action Plans on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (NAP 1325) and its subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. UN Women in Georgia facilitated the study tour.

In April 2014, anti-government armed groups seized some parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, prompting the Government to launch an anti-terrorist operation. The fighting continues to date, despite various ceasefire agreements. Women and girls were disproportionally affected by the on-going conflict and the enduring social and economic crisis in Ukraine. Women make up a majority of the internally-displaced population. UN Women and partners applied the community mobilization for empowerment methodology in conflict-affected areas, mobilizing women and men from vulnerable groups for their increased participation in decision-making processes regarding local development, services, recovery, and community security.

Representatives from seven countries of the Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security and Justice in South East Europe looked at women’s roles as vital for future of peace and stability.

Ahead of the International Women’s Day, Ukraine’s highest body of state executive power has endorsed a historic initiative to place gender equality at centre of their highest possible level in the Government. This legislative milestone is bringing Ukraine’s compliance to the UN standards aspired in the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights.

Ukrainian women’s participation in the armed forces sets a precedent and challenges gender stereotypes in the military.

On International Peace Day, national and local government representatives meet with women’s groups to discuss enhancing women’s participation in local decision-making and the peace process.

A photo exhibit by the parliament in Ukraine recognizes the significant contributions made by mothers serving in the armed forces along with mothers of combatants and helps spotlight how modern conflicts affect women.

Governments should ensure refugee women’s participation in decisions that affect them, say participants at UN Women-Oxfam “Women on the Move” workshop.

Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Representative to Turkey, went on an official visit to Cyprus on 5 May 2016 to lend UN Women support to local efforts to promote women's rights on the island. During the visit, she particularly emphasized the importance of women's inclusion in the peace talks.

Kosovo begins implementation of the law that gives legal recognition to civilian survivors of the armed conflict and allows them to claim survivor benefits.

After cabinet adopts plan to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, Minister of Defence steps up to support women in country’s armed forces.

Civil society representatives from Europe and Central Asia say more measures are needed for more women to have leadership roles in peace negotiations and in the security sector.

UN Women convenes government representatives, civil society activists and international institutions in Istanbul to increase regional cooperation for women’s participation in peace and security, and to end gender discrimination