The Draft National Action Plan for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security in the Republic of Serbia was presented at a roundtable on 16 November at the National Assembly House. The roundtable was organised by the Ministry of Defence and OSCE Mission to Serbia, with the support of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence.

Opening the gathering, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic stressed that UNSC Resolution 1325, adopted in 2000, is one of the most important UN resolutions in the field of peace and security policy. It urges for a higher participation of women in decision-making, conflict prevention, peace talks and operations, emphasising the special needs of women and children in war conflicts and the need foe their protection.

Serbia has set up the legal and institutional mechanisms to improve gender equality and recognised the important role of women in the security sector. The balanced participation of women and men in political and public life is not only a matter of realising gender equality in our society, but a matter of the achieved level of its democratisation as well. Achieving the policy of equal opportunities for women and men is a prerequisite for social stability and progress. The National Assembly is ready to create a supervisory body to monitor the implementation of the action plan, said Comic.

Ministry of Defence representative Major General Prof. Dr Bozidar Forca stated that in June, the Government adopted a decision to create a task group for the drafting of the action plan for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security composed of ministry representatives in charge of security matters.

The National Action Plan also covers other aspects related to the protection of the rights of women and children, prevention of violence and discrimination against women in Serbian society and highlights the importance of preventing illegal trafficking in women, as well as reintegrating exiled and displaced persons, said Bozidar Forca. He added that the presentation of the document at the National Assembly completes the public debate on it.

Head of the Democratisation Department of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Diana Falloni stressed that the OSCE Mission’s priority is to highlight gender equality in all of its programmes, and UNSC Resolution 1325 is a key link for the strengthening of the position of women in the security sector. She reminded the gathering that the drafting of the action plan was aided by the governments of Norway and Canada and UNIFEM.

Sonja Licht, representative of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, stressed that UNSC Resolution 1325 is a historic step in the UN’s attitude towards the role of women in the security sector, the reform of said sector and attitude towards the role of women in the creation of peace and stability in the world. The resolution is binding and Serbia is on a sure way of including it into its legislation.

Sonja Licht commended the creation of a parliamentary body to supervise the implementation of the action plan.

The roundtable included the representatives of the ministries of defence and interior, Serbian Government’s Gender Equality Commission, Customs Directorate, Serbian Army’s Peace Mission Centre and Ministry of Defence Strategic Research Institute.