Women are vital to a stronger NATO
On International Women’s Day (8 March 2021), NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană addressed an online panel Celebrating Inspirational Women during the Professional Women’s Network (PWN) Summit in Romania.
Mr. Mircea Geoană highlighted NATO’s achievements made to date to integrate gender perspectives in all strands of work, from policy and planning, training and education, to missions and operations. Looking ahead, he underlined the vital contribution that women can make to a stronger and more inclusive Alliance. He further noted that NATO’s 2030 initiative and NATO leaders’ upcoming decisions at the 2021 Summit will also help take NATO’s agenda on Women, Peace and Security further.
Increasing understanding of how security challenges affect men and women differently is at the core of NATO’s gender approach. Enhancing its ability to draw on individual skills and competencies, including at most senior positions, remains a continued effort, in line with the “Women in Leadership” theme of this year’s International Women’s Day.
Mrs. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Mrs. Roberta Metsola, the First Vice-President of the European Parliament participated in this event, which brought together representatives the Professional Women’s Network across 19 cities in Romania.
The United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security was formally adopted on 31 October 2000. NATO’s approach to the Women, Peace and Security agenda is based on 3 I’s – Integration, Inclusiveness, and Integrity.