EUMM commits to increasing the level of women’s meaningful participation in the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) by introducing a policy to increase women’s meaningful participation from the Mission side. This commitment is made as the world marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security this week.
“Increasing women’s meaningful participation in all aspects of conflict resolution and peacebuilding is no longer optional. It is critical for building lasting and inclusive peace and advancing gender equality,” says EUMM Head of Mission Marek Szczygiel. “On this 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, EUMM remains committed to fully implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda and is taking decisive steps to increase women’s participation from our side. That’s why we will always have women represented on our delegation to the IPRM and Geneva International Discussions.”
Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, along with its subsequent resolutions, underlines the importance of increasing women’s meaningful participation in all aspects of conflict resolution and peace-building, and highlights the impact of conflict on women and girls. It also mandates all peace missions and field operations to integrate a gender perspective in all aspects of work.
“Women play a critical role in conflict prevention, resolution and transformation. We must make sure that women are present, women are heard and that their proposals are listened to and acted on. Twenty years after Resolution 1325 was passed, a lot remains to be done to accelerate progress for women’s meaningful participation in areas related to peace and security,” says EUMM Deputy Head of Mission Kate Fearon.
Women currently comprise 27% of international staff and 60% of local staff at EUMM. EUMM continues to implement measures to increase gender balance through actions such as revising job descriptions to eliminate possible gender bias, creating a safe and equal work environment for all staff, training interview panel members on unconscious bias, and ensuring balanced representation of women and men in interview selection panels.
EUMM is currently implementing its first-ever comprehensive Gender Action Plan to guide its mandate delivery. Sustained commitment and gender-responsive leadership are prerequisites for strengthening the meaningful implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and achieving progress for fulfilling the commitments set out in UNSCR 1325.
Further reading:
Video Message from EUMM Head of Mission on 20th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325
Watch here
EU Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) 2019-2024
Read here: