Finland is strongly committed to the 1325-agenda

Women, Peace and Security is a key issue in Finland’s foreign and security policy. Finland was one of the first countries to adopt a National Action Plan to implement the United Nations Security council Resolution 1325 on WPS agenda. On the 20th anniversary of Resolution 1325, Finland continues to advance the WPS agenda together with partners around the world.

This Saturday, 31 October 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). The main aim of Resolution 1325 is to enhance women’s role and decision-making capability with regard to conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding, and to improve the security of women and the factors influencing it. Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security cover a wide range of actions and are fundamental to the implementation of all three pillars of the United Nations — Peace and Security, Development and Human Rights.

More meaningful roles to women

Finland has a long history of promoting gender equality. Twelve years ago, in 2008, Finland was one of the first countries to adopt a National Action Plan to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. Finland’s third Women, Peace and Security action plan for a period of four years 2018-2021 has four main objectives. Finland’s aim is to ensure that women play a more meaningful role in mediation, peace processes and transition processes as well as in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Finland also wants to strengthen the integration of the gender perspective into the security sector and crisis management and make sure that women and girls receive better protection during crises. Safeguarding women’s and girls’ rights entails also eliminating sexual and gender-based violence in conflict.

Finland places particular emphasis on mainstreaming Resolution 1325 in its participation in crisis management operations. Finland has for example increased the share of women among Finnish personnel in civilian crises management up to 40%. Finland trains all personnel working in international crisis management operations and missions on gender equality.

In addition to gender mainstreaming in crisis management operations it is important to integrate gender perspectives into all work in the field of security. The 1325 Action Plan seeks to achieve this by seeking to mainstream the gender perspective in  the field of human security to tackle also challenges related to violent extremism and human trafficking.

NATO’s WPS policies are important also to partners

NATO’s Allies and Partners developed NATO’s first policy on Women, Peace and Security in 2007 in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). In 2018, NATO Heads of State and Government launched three key principles of NATO’s WPS work: integration, inclusiveness and integrity.

These principles play an important role in NATO’s missions and operations such as Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, KFOR in Kosovo and NATO Mission in Iraq, where Finland, as many other NATO partners, are important contributors. Since NATO’s Women Peace and Security policies have a direct impact also on partner countries, Finland values the involvement of partners in NATO’s WPS discussions and policy formulation.

Finland’s work continues

On the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, Finland continues the work together with partners around the world on all issues related to the agenda of Women, Peace and Security so that no one is ever left behind!