Close
Back
Download NATO’s broadcast-quality video content free of charge
Log in
No account?
Forgot your password?
NATO MULTIMEDIA ACCOUNT
Access NATO’s broadcast-quality video content free of charge
Create an account
Check your inbox and enter verification code
We have sent a verification code to your email address.
.
Enter the code to verify your account. This code will expire in 30 minutes.
You have successfully created your account
From now on you can download videos from our website
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below.
Reset password
Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password.
Reset password
We have sent a verification code to your email address.
Enter the code to verify your account. This code will expire in 30 minutes.
Create a new password
The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
Your password has been updated
Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password.
Thank you for inviting me to participate in this panel.
At the NATO Summit in Chicago, Heads of States and Governments declared:
‘Widespread sexual and gender-based violence in conflict situations, the lack of effective institutional arrangements to protect women, and the continued under-representation of women in peace processes remain serious impediments to building sustainable peace.’
This is an important message coming from NATO. It does not mean that NATO, as a political-military organization, as a regional organization, can singlehandedly ensure that these impediments to building sustainable peace are removed. But it does tell you where we stand politically on these issues.
The concern we have regarding lack of inclusion of women in peace processes is of course something we share with the UN and the Security Council - the custodian of the UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions. This body of resolutions forms the basis for NATO’s policy on women, peace and security. A key element in our policy is that we should not only regard women as victims by also as actors. We need to include women in prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.
NATO also shares the concern of the UN Security Council that progress in including women in peace processes is too slow. Way too slow.
In 2011, out of 14 peace processes, the negotiating parties included women in only four of their delegations. Out of nine peace agreements reached in 2011, only two included provisions on women, peace and security. To make headway, the UN has developed a 7 point action plan. The successful implementation of this plan will require the engagement from other actors than NATO, but NATO’s contributions to the implementation of the UNSCR 1325 agenda will help building a stronger case for including women in peace processes.
Alongside the rest of the international community, NATO recognizes that, in order to ensure successful reconciliation in Afghanistan, there has to be an inclusive, political process and that the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan has to be Afghan lead and owned. Reconciliation must contain: reaffirmation of a sovereign, stable and united Afghanistan, renunciation of violence, breaking ties to international terrorism and respect for the Afghan constitution, which is containing provisions on women’s rights.
The Alliance has no direct role to play in the reconciliation process. We do, however, constantly push for and articulate the need for greater participation of women.
We push for this in declarations and we push for this in dialogue with our Afghan partners. We actively support the inclusion of women in the Afghan Security Forces. We engage with female key leaders – and empower them by inviting them to the table together with their male counterparts in order to share their views when topics of interest are discussed.
The joint declaration issued at the Chicago Summit between the ISAF contributing countries and Afghanistan reads:
‘We emphasize the importance of full participation of all Afghan women in the reconstruction, political, peace and reconciliation processes in Afghanistan and the need to respect the institutional arrangements protecting their rights. We remain committed to the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security.’ (From par. 6)
Sorry to read this lengthy quote – but these strategic and strong political commitments do matter. It is more than rhetoric - this is an active policy. Just as we should expect that the International Community will live up to its commitments given in Bonn 2011 we should expect the Afghan Government to live up to its commitments.
NATO and ISAF are part of a bigger effort, and over the years Afghanistan has come a long way. There have been significant improvements in general living conditions and access to education and health care for women and girls. There are many women in the parliament and in politics. There is a stronger civil society and vocal representatives from NGOs. This gives me hope for the future.
However, we have to recognize that there is a long way to go and that violence and discrimination against women continue and are serious impediments for building a prosperous and peaceful society. One example of a development that concerns me is the recent debate on the law on elimination of violence against women.
NATO and its operational partners in ISAF continue to be committed to mainstreaming gender perspective and support the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions - both within the context of our operation and in our partnership with the Afghan Government:
- We continue to deploy gender advisers and gender focal points in our operations. We continue to deploy women.
- We continue to support recruitment, training and retention of women to ANSF and we receive good stories about women breaking through the glass ceiling such as 21-year old Niloofar Rhmani being the first female pilot to be trained inside Afghanistan. These women are role models and deserve our deepest respect and recognition.
- We continue to assist in training in gender perspectives and human rights. professional security force is important also for the security of women. And all polls and surveys I am aware of indicate that the Afghan people have high confidence in the security forces.
- Both the commander of ISAF and the Senior Civilian Representative of NATO continue to promote the importance of including women in security institutions and in decision making and we have enhanced our outreach to civil society.
- We continue to support the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program and I am pleased to have learned that the High Peace Council has enhanced its dialogue with civil society.
We welcome that Afghanistan is working on a National Action Plan for implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolution. Resolution 1325 aims to increase women’s participation in peace processes. The importance of women, as a positive resource, not just as victims, needs stronger emphasis and a national action plan could prove to be a good instrument for promoting that.
NATO and its ISAF partners are now in the process of gradually handing over the lead responsibility for security to the Afghans themselves. This process includes a hand over, as appropriate, of gender related task identified for the current mission. A promising sign of Afghan commitment is the establishment of Gender & Human Rights units within the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence. Afghan Security Forces are now in the lead for the security of 87 % of the population and will assume full responsibility for the entire country by the end of 2014. At that point, our ISAF mission will end, but NATO’s commitment to Afghanistan will continue. Together with several of our partners, we have expressed our commitment to conduct a follow-on mission to train, advice and assist the Afghan security forces beyond 2014. Decision on a concept of operations for such a mission is expected to be taken at the Meeting of Defence Ministers on Wednesday (05.06.13) and I feel confident that a gender perspective and human rights will be taking into account when initiating planning for a possible mission.
NATO works within the context of the International Community and all we do in relation to promoting the women, peace and security agenda and the need to include women should be seen as a part of the overall efforts to help Afghanistan fulfilling its own commitments in this regard. NATO does not lead on this issue, but we show its significance in all what we do in support of the Afghan security sector. We show by example, we demonstrate through our activities and we educate through our trainings on the importance on women’s role and rights.
Women in Afghanistan are able and willing to participate in decision making. They stand for election and they get elected. They establish NGOs and have an important voice. They have the capacity and determination to decide their own future. In both parliament and in civil society there are already many strong women and men who are working hard to ensure a good future for all Afghans, women and men, boys and girls.
It is crucial that we, the International Community, international governmental organizations, governments, NGO’s, law makers and civil society, demonstrate a long term commitment and solidarity with all of those good forces working for a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.
I thank you for your attention.