Palestine Moves Forward in Promoting Women’s Participation in Peace and Security – UN Women Press Release

Arabic: العربية

Ramallah, 28 October 2020 – Under the auspices of H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh and to mark the 20^th anniversary of United Nation Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR1325) on Women, Peace and Security, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, in partnership with UN Women, presented Palestine’s second National Action Plan (NAP) to implement UNSCR1325 and further consolidate women’s participation in decision-making and peacebuilding.

In 2016, the State of Palestine was the second Arab state to adopt a National Action Plan (NAP), recognizing the disproportionate impact of conflict and occupation on Palestinian women and girls and their vital participation in peacebuilding. Today, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs launched Palestine’s second national plan on women, peace and security.

The announcement was made at a high-level conference that brought together, in-person and virtually, Palestinian government representatives, senior women politicians, feminist leaders and representatives from member states and civil society at the local, regional and international level.

With the generous support from the Government of Norway, the second-generation NAP will inform the implementation, financing and monitoring of current and future initiatives to support women’s participation in peace and security for the coming years (2020-2023).

“The State of Palestine is committed to reinforcing its commitments to women, peace and security within the framework of the global agenda. We are also keen to make progress on that through the development of the Second National Plan for the implementation of Resolution 1325.” Said H.E. Dr. Amal Hamad, Minister of Women’s Affairs.  “We are also looking forward to the implementation of UN resolutions to achieve peace, justice, security and prosperity for all Palestinian women who continue to suffer the consequences of the occupation and conflict. Palestinian women must be equal partners in decision-making at all levels, and we are working to strengthen their participation in state and peace building based on international legitimacy.”

The participants took stock of the successes and challenges of the first NAP and highlighted efforts and interventions by the Higher National Committee on UNSCR 1325 and the National Civil Society Coalition on UNSCR 1325 led by the General Union of Palestinian Women.

During the implementation of the first NAP, the State of Palestine developed its first voluntary report on UNSCR 1325 and submitted seven reports, statements and communications to human rights bodies on the gendered impact of occupation and conflict on Palestinian women and girls. Many strategic initiatives were also taken to enhance the participation of women in political and decision-making processes.

The high-level conference also provided an opportunity for the participants to make recommendations for the meaningful implementation of the second NAP, including setting up a multi-stakeholder financing mechanism, conducting an annual evaluation and review of the NAP implementation and establishing a robust NAP monitoring and evaluation system. The participants also called for enforcing interlinkages between the NAP and other important international frameworks and agreements to ensure higher levels of women’s protection and participation.

“Increasing the representation and participation of Palestinian women in the security sector can help shape security institutions that are responsive and representative of the Palestinian society at large, including women”, said Ms. Maryse Guimond, UN Women Special Representative for Palestine. “Similarly, the participation of Palestinian women in managing crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic ensures that the response and recovery efforts effectively address the specific needs of women and girls and leave no one behind.”

Over the past years, UN Women and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs have joined forces to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Palestine and called for a stronger and more equitable role for Palestinian women in the security sector, crisis management, reconciliation efforts and in Palestinian general elections