United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security

UNSCR 1325 emphasises the distinct position of women in conflict situations.  The Resolution calls for an increase in the participation of women in peacemaking and peacebuilding processes; the protection to women and girls in armed conflict; and the incorporation of a gender perspective into peacekeeping and peacebuilding processes. Ireland's National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325 was officially launched by the Tánaiste and former President Mary Robinson on 25 November 2011.

The tenth anniversary of UNSCR 1325 in October 2010 brought increased international attention to the Resolution and its weak global implementation to date.  Ireland embarked on an innovative approach to drafting a National Action Plan (NAP) on the implementation of 1325 by combining interdepartmental and civil society consultation with an international cross-learning initiative.

The cross-learning initiative brought together women and men from Timor-Leste, Liberia and Ireland/ Northern Ireland to draw upon their direct experiences of how best to promote women’s leadership and interests in conflict resolution and peace-building.   High-level meetings of the initiative took place in Northern Ireland and Timor-Leste in 2009, and in Liberia in April 2010.

The final report of the process was presented to the UN in New York in October 2010 to mark the tenth anniversary of the resolution.  It is hoped that the recommendations in the report will feed into policy discussions at the United Nations, and indeed into other policy communities such as the EU, AU, and the OSCE.