On the anniversary of #UNSCR1325,
Women Empowerment Organization (WEO) held an event in Erbil entitled "Coordination Mechanism for the WPS Agenda in Iraq” supported by the program “Strengthening the Participation of Women in the Rehabilitation and Peace Process in Iraq” of Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German government.
The event was attended by members of Iraqi Parliament and Kurdistan Regional Parliament members, representatives of ministries and government institutions from the Federal Government and Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as representatives of diplomatic missions and international and local organizations.
Project Goal:
The project goal is to establish a coordination mechanism among the WPS actors on different levels to enhance the efforts and to better follow up with the implementation of the Women Peace and Security Agenda in Iraq.
Introduction:
The Women Peace and Security Agenda (WPSA) was launched with the adoption of The United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 in 2000. Its content focuses on the fact that people are differently affected by conflict and have the right to influence decisions that affect their lives.
WPSA acknowledges that involving the most affected people in the decision-making process produces better results in general.
Women continue to be significantly underrepresented in the decision-making processes on peace and security and this has further marginalized women.
WPSA seeks to ensure women’s active and meaningful participation in all mechanisms and institutions of conflict prevention and to mainstream a gender perspective in all activities and strategies of peace and security. After 21 years we need Women Peace and Security Agenda suitable for the purpose of addressing crises such as COVID 19, climate change and Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) in addition to other peace and security challenges.
As we move into the 22nd anniversary of (UNSCR) 1325, it is time to take concrete action and put into practice the vision of the WPSA which lies in achieving equality between women and men and comprehensive peace, especially as the reality of women at the national level needs support, response and interventions, which means the need of a more inclusive WPSA includes combating violence against women and girls, etc.
Purpose of the Meeting:
• Strengthen the coordination mechanism between actors to advance the Women Peace and Security Agenda in Iraq, unite efforts and support, avoid, fill the gaps and access to opportunities.
• Present the coordination mechanism which will serve as a platform for action on the Women Peace and Security Agenda.
• Follow-up on available information, projects and data related to the implementation of the Women Peace and Security Agenda.
• Advocating for more programs as well as setting and amendment of policies on the protection and participation of women in peacemaking process.
#WPSAgenda #WPS #WomenPeaceSecurity #TimeToDeliver
