Speech by Ambassador Marriët Schuurman

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world”

That statement is attributed to Margaret Mead, the famous anthropologist. I was impressed to see that Margaret Mead was the first woman to receive the Honorary Degree from the University of Maryland University College, back in 1972. It humbles me to step into these big shoes and stand here in front of you, to address you in honour of your formidable academic accomplishment.

Margaret Mead was a first, in 1972. The Class of 2016 has many firsts: the first MBA graduates who took on-site courses overseas; the first Master of Social Work graduates; and also the first on-site Master of Science in Cybersecurity graduates. All those ‘firsts’ make me even more humble.

I am not a first, at least not the first woman. I am not an anthropologist. I am not even an academic. I am just a practitioner. But there are some similarities with Margaret Mead.

I share her passion for studying, understanding, submerging in other cultures. It taught me, like Margaret Mead, that human diversity is a resource, not a handicap. Diversity is a treasure and a strength.

I share her fascination for gender as a defining aspect of all societies, for the different roles and characteristics we assign to being a man or a woman in society, and how that changes from culture to culture and over time.

I share her conviction that we can choose among possible futures, that we have the ability to change, that we can make this world a better and safer world – for all: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”

These three aspects also define my current work, as NATO Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security. They could be my job description, my to do list: promote diversity as our strength; apply a gender lens to better understand the world we live in, and to do the right thing right; foster leadership for change, enduring leadership, for inclusive and lasting peace.

So let me explain what the Women, Peace and Security agenda entails; why it matters to NATO - how it helps us to better fulfill our mandate and to find more sustainable, lasting solutions also for today’s security challenges - and end with my leadership challenge for you, as you graduate today to become our leaders of tomorrow, with the ambition to make a difference, and to make this world a better and safer place for all.

What does ‘Women, Peace and Security’ entail?

‘Women, Peace and Security’ is the title of Resolution 1325 adopted by the UN Security Council in 2000, more than 15 years ago. It is unfortunate that the title only mentions women:  ‘Inclusive Peace and Security’ or ‘Lasting Peace and Security for All’ could be better titles. Because ‘1325’ is about men AND women: about equal participation at all decision making levels in matters of peace and security – in conflict prevention, conflict management, conflict resolution and post-conflict rehabilitation.

Because there can be no lasting peace without inclusion.

Without women and men contributing equally to shaping the future of their societies and creating resilient communities.

There can be no lasting peace as long as 50% of the world population is excluded from shaping the future of their societies. As long as women and girls bear the burden of war, but don’t have a say in preventing and stopping war. When women and girls continue to be victims of war but are not empowered to become champions for peace.

That is the harsh lesson from the devastating conflicts in the 90s, in the Balkans and the Great Lakes region. That is the lesson codified in 2000 in Resolution 1325.

In fact, the history of 1325 goes back 101 years, to 28 April 1915, when 1100 women from 12 countries affected by war gathered in The Hague to end the First World War and prevent further conflict.

More than hundred years later, we are still struggling to recognize the agency of women and their equal right to a place at the table, to actively contribute to securing peace. That is why I sometimes say: "1325" is the codename for a slow but unstoppable revolution.

Unstoppable, because progress may be slow, but gender equality and equal participation is as relevant for securing peace today as it was in 1915.

But why is '1325' relevant to NATO – and how can it help us to better fulfill our mandate and to find more sustainable, lasting solutions also for today’s security challenges?

The short answer is: ‘1325’ allows us to do our job RIGHT.

As there can be no peace without inclusion, promoting gender equality is a core security concern. A strategic interest.

I often say that for the Alliance, this is a matter of both credibility AND capability. Because it is our mission to lead by example. But also because we are stronger when we build on our diversity, when we use the FULL potential that our societies have to offer, and leave no talent untapped.

How?

NATO’s success formula is: ‘keep it practical’: we are making a sincere effort to translate the principle of gender equality into practical tools and targets.

By following a two-track approach:

• By integrating gender perspectives in our day-to-day work: by making a gender lens a BASIC tool in the toolkit of EVERY peace and security professional, by making gender awareness a matter of PROFESSIONALISM.
• By reducing barriers for active and meaningful participation of women in our OWN security structures, both military and civilian, both within NATO as organisation and at national level.

Does it make a difference?

Our experience in Afghanistan and Kosovo taught us that is DOES make a difference. Let's take Afganistan:

It makes a difference when we have enough women peacekeepers there. It allows us to have access to the other half of the population. To better understand their specific needs, and better respond to them. To avoid doing more harm than good.

It makes a difference when we understand the different roles of men and women in Afghan society. When we understand how conflict affects those roles and often exacerbates already existing inequalities. And how our actions impact on these power relations.

It makes a difference when we engage with women and female leaders: it empowers them. Giving them voice, providing space and facilities for their active and meaningful participation in decision-making, including in peace talks, allows them to have a say, to bring in their experience, knowledge and aspirations, and thus to actively contribute to enduring peace.

It makes a difference to train Afghan female security providers: to empower women to protect and defend themselves, and their communities. In a context where only women can protect women.

It makes a difference to train Afghan female searchers and election observers, who made it possible for Afghan women to come out and vote, resulting in a historically high turnout of women in the last presidential elections.

Women who have voted by majority for a president who has promised to give their daughters back the same opportunities as his grandmother had. A President who has stated that for his government, the participation of women at the peace negotiations is non-negotiable, a precondition for talks.

Promoting equal participation and integrating a gender perspective in our work is an enabler and force multiplier: it increases our strategic awareness, operational effectiveness and capability.

So we have learned in practice that applying a gender lens makes a difference, that it allows us to better deliver on the mandate of our missions and operations 'out of area'. Would it also make a difference for our own defence, for responding to the security challenges closer at home, the hybrid threats we are facing today? Could the more comprehensive, inclusive approach that we developed to sustain enduring peace elsewhere be applicable to fostering resilience at home? I am convinced that it could.

But it is a challenge. Captured in three words: ‘Bring it Home’

The double challenge we are facing today is that we still have to sustain and internalize these best practices AND at the same time adapt those to a rapidly changing security environment.

We have learned to apply a gender lens to operations, but the reflex is to put it aside when our own security is under threat. When confronted with violent extremism and other hybrid threats, challenging our common values.

IS/Da’esh and Boko Haram have recognised the potential of women much more than we have and are deliberately targeting women in many different ways to undermine the social fabric and norms on which our peace and prosperity is built. Applying a gender lens would allow us to better understand why and how this is done and how to respond more effectively.

That requires however a change in mindsets, in how we perceive security - worldwide AND at home. We need a more comprehensive and inclusive approach if we want to address not only the symptoms, but the ROOT CAUSES of the security challenges we face today.

This change of thinking - like any substantial change - can only happen with enduring leadership.

So here is my leadership challenge for you:

Bring the spirit of ‘inclusive peace and security’ home. And demonstrate in practice that equal participation DOES make a difference. That is makes us stronger and more resilient.

It is time to bring ‘1325’ home:
1. Because we simply cannot afford to leave any talent untapped - because mixed teams perform better and are more creative. And we need all creativity our society has to offer to deal with the challenges we face.
2. But more fundamentally, because the very foundation of our peace and security is equal rights and fundamental freedoms.
There is no other way to defend those fundamental values, and safeguard peace and prosperity, than to LIVE those principles.

"Gender equality is not optional, but fundamental - it allows us to respond better AND smarter to the many security challenges we face." (Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General).

It is time to bring inclusive peace and security home.

Because a safer world starts at home.

With equal opportunities for all to contribute to peace and security.

With women and men using their full potential to build resilient societies.

Because we can only be secure, free and at peace when we are inclusive.

As you graduate today to become tomorrow’s leaders, you can make this happen:

Better peace built on equal rights and opportunities

A resilient society in which no talent remains untapped.  Where boys and girls can go as far as their dreams will take them.

So this is my appeal to you:

• Be a leader for change and resilience
• Think inclusive
• Act to make a difference
• Start at home
• And:

‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.’