In cooperation with the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, the Foreign Affairs Committee held a roundtable on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, today at the National Assembly House. The gathering was chaired by Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic, Committee Chairman.

Greeting the participants of the roundtable, the National Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, pointed out that Serbia has improved the legal and institutional framework for the fight against violence against women in the past several years. Among other things, the Anti-Discrimination Law was adopted, and the adoption of a new Gender Equality Law is also expected.

She reminded the participants that UNSC Resolution 1325 of 2000 calls for an increased participation of women in decision-making, prevention of conflicts, as well as peace talks and operations. She also repeated the UN Secretary-General’s recommendation that every state draft an action plan for the implementation of the resolution.

The National Assembly Speaker expressed an expectation that the Government’s National Action Plan for the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 1325 would be adopted in 2010, thus confirming that Serbia advocates a more prominent involvement of women in major decision-making in the sphere of security and political life.

Ex-Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Canada Kim Campbell listed the fact that peace missions around the world boast 14 times more men than women, but that Serbia has more women in uniforms. She pointed out that women in peace missions can be of more assistance and offer better support to women who had suffered violence in war conflicts.

Sonja Liht, President of the Fund for Political Excellence, pointed out that, when it comes to inclusion of women into the security sector, Serbia is progressing, which is evidenced in the fact that the Belgrade Faculty of Security has a predominantly female student body. She estimated that a society that excludes women from security structures cannot be secure.

Sonja Liht talked about the need to create a global movement to combat violence against women in the family and in society, based on gender equality. Even with the adoption of legislative regulation, she stated, Serbia still lacks the institutions to appropriately address the growing violence against women.

Committee Chairman Dragoljub Micunovic pointed out that women’s ability to resolve conflict without aggression and to act as peacemakers should be made use of more often.

In the discussion, it was pointed out that the National Assembly and relevant committees should play a greater role in the implementation of adopted laws. Serbia was also deemed obliged to ensure women’s equal participation in the security sector, as well as include them in peace operations and conflict resolutions.

The roundtable included deputies, ministry representatives, experts, as well as representatives of international and non-government organisations in Serbia.