Call to Action on 2015 Commitments

During the 2015 October Open Debate, Member States and multilateral institutions made a record-breaking number of statements – a record 110 statements made over the course of the two-day long debate. Within the statements made, 58 highlighted new and tangible commitments towards the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and the WPS Agenda holistically. The commitments covered a wide range of actions under the WPS Agenda, most notably:

-A high rate of commitment to the implementation and/or ratification of National Action Plans

- A strong emphasis on accountability, specifically in support of implementing existing mechanisms to ensure accountability against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (by peacekeepers, for example).

- Many also noted the need to integrate accountability towards perpetrators of SGBV/GBV/VAW into sanctions criterion.

While there was a notable increase in language and commitment towards increasing women’s participation, much of the language focused on the role of women’s participation in countering violent extremism. The language on this remains quite vague and often times solely emphasized women’s inclusion in security sector roles. Furthermore, there was a disproportionate emphasis on sexual gender based violence when it came to addressing protection of women. Much needed language and commitments towards protection of women human rights defenders remained nearly non-existent. Finally, within the statements made, there were only 23 financial commitments made directly to the funding of WPS action. Financial commitments were quite limited, many just reaffirming existing financial commitments, rather than dedicating new funding and financing for Women, Peace and Security. As was noted during protests in London this past weekend against potentially increased military action in Syria by the UK, there seems to be an endless amount of funding available for war but never any money for peace – i.e. money for education; for labour development, etc. 

WILPF has posted commitments on this page, as part of our monitoring of the 2015 Women, Peace and Security Security Council debate. Be sure to check this list and hold your government accountable for a holistic agenda!

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2016 Update!

 

Following on our work with Spain and the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security in 2015, we updated our 2015 WPS commitments database (S/2015/832) with independent monitoring of commitment follow-up at the 2016 16th WPS debate. Of the 58 concrete commitments made in 2015, less than half [(24 statements or 41 per cent)] were followed up on in 2016; furthermore, only 13 of 58 (22 per cent) of 2015 commitments were followed up holistically while 11 of 58 (19 per cent) were followed up only partially. 

More information is available here>>

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2017 Update!

At the 2017 Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, Member States reported on concrete actions their countries have taken and are planning to take in the near future to advance the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Out of the 88 Member States present at debate, 71 (80 per cent) followed reported on initiatives developed to implement the WPS Agenda, and 43 (49 per cent) of them formulated new commitments.

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2018 Update!

At the 2018 Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, representatives of Member States, Observer States and organisations were encouraged to share future commitments to ensuring women’s meaningful participation in the implementation of the WPS Agenda. While 49 (60%) of 81 representatives shared their broad commitments to implementing the WPS Agenda, only 16 (20%) of the 81 representatives shared concrete action steps for the upcoming year.

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2019 Update!

In conjunction with the 23 April 2019 Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Germany, the United Kingdom, and UN Women co-hosted an event calling for commitments to the WPS Agenda in advance of the 2020 20th Anniversary of 1325. At this event, 65 Member States, UN agencies, regional bodies, and civil society organisations made commitments to WPS, and others submitted commitments in writing. Over half (35 out of 65) of statements included a commitment to creating, modifying, or implementing a 1325 National Action Plan (NAP). 

Read our analysis of the event here.

Official Security Council Document on 2015 Women, Peace and Security Commitments (S/2015/832)

UNSC WPS Debate Commitments 2016

UNSC WPS Debate Commitments 2017

UNSC WPS Debate Commitments 2018

Member State, United Nations and Civil Society Commitments
African Union

Commitments

Recently embarked upon capacity-building by increasing representation through the training of women peace mediators, women election observers and gender advisers to be deployed in mediation processes and election observation.

Through partnership with civil society organizations and women’s groups, will seek more accountability and focus on the women's agenda in efforts to achieve peace and prosperity in Africa, particularly via Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

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2016 Update!

The African Union established a network of African women mediators in 2016.

In October the African Union held the first meeting of African Union Peace and Security Council on the status of women and children. The African Union also launched the first report on "the implementation of the WPS Agenda in Africa in July and embarked upon a continental results framework that will facilitate monitoring and reporting. The African Union is mobilising and supporting member states and regional economic communities to develop action plans on the WPS Agenda, most currently in Namibia and in the Southern African Development Community.

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2017 Update!

At its meeting on 13 March 2017, the African Union Peace and Security Council endorsed modalities for the creation of a Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation, known as FemWise-Africa, which aims to strengthen the role of women in conflict prevention and mediation efforts in the context of the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.

Commitment:

The African Union made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

 

Afghanistan

2017 Update!

A key component of Afghanistan's strategy relates to ensuring women’s participation in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, as well as other matters related to peace and security.

The National Action Plan for the women of Afghanistan, spanning the years 2008 to 2018, commits the Afghan Government to increasing women’s representation in the civil service to 30 per cent.

Afghanistan is pleased to report that at present more than 3,000 female armed-service members and police officers are proudly serving in its national security forces.

Afghanistan's national programme for women’s economic empowerment has marked another important step forward in the advancement of women.

A number of national structures have been established to enforce constitutional and legislative provisions to protect women. They include the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, commissions in Kabul and the provinces for the elimination of violence against women, the creation of the post of Deputy Attorney-General for the Elimination of Violence against Women and a commission on the elimination of sexual abuse of women and children.

Commitment:

The Ministries of the Interior and National Defence have committed to increasing women’s representation in those institutions by 20 per cent over the next 10 years.

Albania

Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

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2017 Update!

Although Albania has not yet adopted a National Action Plan for resolution 1325 (2000), gender is mainstreamed across the security sector under the umbrella of its national strategy on gender equality and fight against domestic violence. Albania has also integrated the objectives of resolution 1325 (2000) into its strategies for human-resources management in the armed forces and for public order in Albania’s State police.

Policies and regulations have been developed with a view to facilitating the promotion of women in their careers and through the ranks. The State police has instituted a temporary 50 per cent quota for women in their recruitment policy in order to accelerate the increase in women’s representation.

Commitment:

Albania is currently drafting its National Action Plan with the support of Dutch partners, UN-Women, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union delegation. Albania is making sure that the drafting process brings together not only the relevant Government stakeholders, but also civil society and women’s groups, as that is the best way to increase ownership and political will for its future implementation.

Albania has pledged its full support to the Italian initiative of creating a Mediterranean women mediators network, which is a concrete mechanism that aims to prevent and mitigate conflict through the increased participation of women in peace processes.

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2018 Update!

In terms of women’s participation in political and public life in Albania, the percentage of women members of Parliament is 29.3 per cent, with 41 female members of Parliament. The current Government, led by Prime Minister Rama, has achieved full gender parity, with half of its members being women, including the Minister of Defence. In 2017, the number of women ambassadors increased to 26 per cent and the number of consuls to 33 per cent, thereby reaching the highest percentage ever of highranking women in the Albanian foreign service.

Commitment:

In September the Albanian Government approved its first national action plan for resolution 1325 (2000).

Algeria

Reinforce the participation of women and mainstream the gender perspective in conflict- resolution and peacekeeping operations by providing the necessary training for the mediators and envoys who participate in mediation and ceasefires and in achieving peace and preventive diplomacy.

Ensure that peace agreements include provisions to strengthen the role of women in conflict-resolution, such as the Algiers Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.

Break the silence and raise awareness so as to prevent sexual violence, protect victims and provide them with the opportunity to be reintegrated into their societies. Must also work to reinforce the legal arsenal to protect the victims and punish the perpetrators of such violence. In addition, encourage civil society to work to change the mentality and improve the economic and social conditions that lead to an increase in sexual violence. emphasize the importance of reporting, protection and prevention by women’s groups, leaders of society, religious leaders, and mass media working in human rights. Also suppotrs the need to take into account incidents of sexual violence in conflict situations and has incorporated such consideratons in all of its special political and peacekeeping missions, as well as in the invetigational framework and other mechanisms.

Reinforce anti-terrorism activities at all levels and support dialogue and combat violent extremism, as confirmed at the conference held in July.

 

Andorra

Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

Angola

 Commitments

Increase the participation of women and integrate gender equality into all stages of peacebuilding processes, including at all decision-making levels.

Provide training and ensure the empowerment of all women, girls and boys, as well as military and policy officers, in peacebuilding processes, both with regard to gender equality and gender-based violence as well as other relevant aspects of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008).

Promote and protect the human rights of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations, their economic and social empowerment and their participation in civil society, taking into account the need to prevent and eliminate gender- and conflict-based violence and promote the empowerment of women.

Include a gender perspective in the national budget with a view to fulfilling the commitments established by resolution 1325 (2000).
 

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2016 Update!

National Action Plan: Angola has drafted a NAP featuring seven objectives designed to increase women's participation in conflict prevention. The plan was developed through collaboration with civil society and does not yet have a release date.

Argentina

Commitments

Develop a proposal to establish a quota of 33 per cent for women at all grades and executive functions within the armed forces; to work jointly with the Auditor General of the Armed Forces to establish the post of Gender Auditor to take forward the process of handling disciplinary matters with a full gender perspective

Implement the Single Registry of Cases of Violence against Women in the proceedings of cases carried out by the armed forces.

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2016 Update!

In 2015, Argentina committed to a 33% participation rate of women, peacekeepers. To date, Argentina has achieved a 15% of women peacekeepers

At the 2016 debate, Argentina's representative did not address the state's commitment to implementing the Single Registry for cases of VAW.

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2017 Update!

Argentina has reached the United Nations goal of 15 per cent participation of women as military observers and officials in peace operations, and is therefore above the general average.

Argentina provides continued support for various mechanisms and platforms that contribute to complying with the commitments assumed in the framework of the revision of resolution 1325 (2000), particularly the Justice Rapid Response initiative, the Women, Peace and Security National Focal Points Network and the promotion of the Oslo Safe Schools Declaration.

Commitment:

Argentina will continue working to deepen that commitment through the implementation of the National Action Plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions, which is as an overarching instrument of all national bodies regarding the issue of Women, Peace and Security.

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2018 Update!

In 2017, Argentina and Norway organized the second Conference on Safe Schools to disseminate the Safe Schools Declaration and Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict. 

With regard to concrete actions to implement resolution 1325 (2000), on women’s participation in conflict resolution and sustainable peacebuilding, in August the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights launched the creation of a federal network of mediators, with a gender perspective.

Commitments:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Embassy of Canada in Buenos Aires and the non-governmental organization Latin American Security and Defence Network, has begun to develop an assessment project about the status quo of the inclusion of the gender perspective in the 10 ministries involved in the implementation of the resolution 1325 (2000) national action plan. It is expected that the results of that mapping will be ready by March 2019.

Armenia

Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

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2017 Update!

Since the adoption of a new Constitution in 2015 and the new electoral code in 2016, the quota for women’s representation in elected bodies has been raised to 25 per cent from 20 per cent. As a result of the implementation of its respective National Action Plan, the number of female judges has reached 25 per cent. Armenia consistently emphasizes the importance of dialogue and confidence-building in the context of the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Domestic procedures have been launched to sign the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

Armenia set up inter-agency working group for the elaboration of a National Action Plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), with a view to its adoption in 2018.

Commitment:

Armenia will be presenting to the Parliament a draft law on the prevention of domestic violence and the protection of victims. Armenia's national laws and provisions of equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men and identifying and assisting victims of trafficking and human exploitation, as well as numerous other legal and normative acts, remain important instruments for the promotion of gender equality and the protection of the rights of women.

The elaboration of a concept note and a draft action plan that is to be approved soon by the Minister of Defence concerning women’s rights and equal opportunities in the field of defence, are important building blocks in Armenia’s national efforts for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

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2018 Update!

This year, Armenia was elected to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Earlier this month, Armenia hosted the Summit of la Francophonie in Yerevan. One of the main documents adopted at the Yerevan Summit was the Francophonie strategy for the promotion of equality between women and men, and the rights and empowerment of women and girls.

Commitments:

Armenia is currently in the final stage of the elaboration of the national action plan for resolution 1325 (2000), following an inclusive process of extensive public consultations involving civil society.

Australia

Commitments

Deploy more women and increase their number in senior decision-making roles; has introduced recruitment targets for women in non-traditional roles; and is developing a gender adviser and female engagement team capability. The Australian Defence Force will also provide a Technical Expert for Women, Peace and Security to UN Women for five years from 2016.

Support new research to be conducted by Monash University in Melbourne on “Preventing Conflict and Countering Fundamentalism through Women’s Empowerment and Civil Society Mobilization”.

In the process of reviewing the NAP.

 

Financial Commitments

Committing an additional AUD 4 million over three years to the Global Acceleration Instrument on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action bringing total contribution to AUD5.5 million

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2016 Update!

Australia is currently "researching the role women play in combating extremism so that we can better understand how to tap into the valuable experiences of women to strengthen our approaches."

The representative of Australia did not address whether the state was successful in deploying more women peacekeepers as promised in 2015.

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2017 Update!

Australia is pleased that its $10 million commitment to the UN Peacebuilding Fund is helping countries build sustainable peace. Australia is leased to be the founding — and largest — supporter of the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, which supports civil-society organizations in contributing to conflict prevention, crisis response and peacebuilding.

Australia has increased the number of women officers serving as staff officers and military observers in United Nations missions to 25 per cent, exceeding the commitment made at the 2016 Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference.

Australia commends the Department of Political Affairs for its oversight of dedicated efforts across a range of special political missions in 2016, which resulted in a substantial increase in the deployment of gender expertise, with 25 gender advisers working across 11 field missions. Australia is pleased to have helped with that expansion by providing the first-ever military gender adviser to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. It has also seconded a senior military officer to UN-Women here in New York as a technical expert on Women, Peace and Security.

Commitment:

Australia made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

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2018 Update!

Towards an Inclusive Peace, an Australian-funded research project in partnership with Australia’s universities, focuses on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia is proud to be the founding and largest donor to the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund in support of women’s grass-roots organizations. Australia is also researching the gendered dimensions of violent extremism in the region and the various roles that women play and could play in countering extremism and promoting stability and inclusion.

Australia has greatly progressed its military gender adviser capability. They have trained 101 Australian military gender advisers to deploy on operations and exercises, and has established 10 full-time gender adviser positions dedicated to mainstreaming and integrating a military gender perspective in Australia. Austalia has also established four permanent deployed gender-adviser positions, including the first Gender Adviser to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

Commitments:

Australia’s second national action plan is expected in mid-2019.

Austria

2017 Update!

In April 2016, Austria, as Chairman of the OSCE, organized a high-level retreat on effective peace processes and the inclusion of women, and Austria was able to collect concrete recommendations on how to increase women’s meaningful participation in peace processes.

Commitment:

Austria is committed to gender-responsive journalism and the protection of female journalists.

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2018 Update!

Austria has therefore pledged €1 million to support the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund.

In the context of fighting gender-based violence, Austria has scaled up its engagement against female genital mutilation and in 2018 has earmarked more than €1 million to help victims of such mutilation.

Austria supported Amnesty International in organizing a discussion on the theme “Defending Women — Defending Rights: Women Human Rights Defenders’ Perspectives and Challenges” on the margins of the informal European Union Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Vienna on 28 August.

Commitments:

Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made

    Azerbaijan

    Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

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    2017 Update!

    Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

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    2018 Update!

    From 2016 to 2017, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan, together with the United Nations Population Fund and other partners, carried out a project on the elaboration of the national action plan on women and peace and security. In May 2018, the State Committee held the fifth women’s forum, which was dedicated to the hundredth anniversary of women’s suffrage in Azerbaijan.

    Commitments:

    Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made

    Baltic States

    2017 Update!

    The Baltic States are striving to deploy more gender-balanced peacekeeping troops, and continuously encourage female military and police personnel to apply. Before their deployment, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian peacekeepers undergo high quality training on human rights and gender-related issues, including the eradication of sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as the prevention of and response to conflict-related sexual violence.

    The Baltic States signed the Secretary-General’s voluntary compact on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, and the Presidents of Estonia and Lithuania have joined the Circle of Leadership on the prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations operations.

    Commitment:

    The Baltic countries remain committed to securing accountability for sexual and gender-based violence through national and international mechanisms. It is equally important to ensure that victims receive genuine compensation for the harm they have suffered.

    The Baltic countries fully support the Secretary-General’s profound commitment to shifting the focus of all United Nations activities towards a holistic approach to prevention, including through the advancement of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

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    2018 Update!

    Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

      Bangladesh

      Commitments

      The Government is implementing a number of projects to develop women’s capabilities. They include a vulnerable group development programme, collateral-free loans, micro-credit, skills training, including computer skills, product display centres, and so on.

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      2016 Update!

      Bangladesh did not address the participation and empowerment initiative's promised in 2015, including micro-finance and skills training programmes.

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      2017 Update!

      In Bangladesh, humanitarian partners are trying to provide support to the women and girls who have survived rape and sexual violence. Special priority has been given to supporting the nearly 2,000 pregnant women who have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh so far. Properly addressing the gender-sensitive issues of protection and assistance in already overcrowded camps, amid vulnerable host communities, is an uphill task.

      Bangladesh made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

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      2018 Update!

      The deployment of Bangladesh's first all-female formed police unit in Haiti was a critical step towards expanding women’s participation in United Nations peace operations.

      In Bangladesh, women’s political participation has been ensured through certain statutory provisions and affirmative action leading to their vibrant presence in all representative institutions, from the local to the national levels.

      Faced with the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, Bangladesh is now currently working with the relevant humanitarian partners to create safe, inclusive spaces for the women and girls residing in camps.

      Bangladesh has recently concluded a framework of cooperation with the Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict for addressing the needs of the victims.

      Commitments:

      Bangladesh is currently working to conclude the preparation of its national action plan, pursuant to resolution 1325 (2000) and its successor resolutions.

      Belarus

      2018 Update!

      Belarusian women are serving successfully as military specialists in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Belarus is also a member of the Circle of Leadership in the fight against sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations established on the initiative of the Secretary-General.

      Commitments:

      Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

          Belgium

          Commitments

          Committed to continue to implement its national plan and to give political and operational priority to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

          Financial commitments

          Actively supports the participation of women in DRC and contributes to the implementation of the €2 million UN-Women project there that supports the rights and participation of Congolese women in the framework of resolution 1325 (2000).

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          2016 Update!

          National Action Plan: Belgium is currently in the process of developing its third NAP.

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          2017 Update!

          In July 2017, Belgium adopted its third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. The NAP, which covers the period of 2017 to 2021, encompasses numerous courses of action that should contribute to improving the status of women in areas of conflict, pre-conflict and post-conflict.

          Commitment:

          Belgium is committed to promoting the incorporation of the gender perspective at the Peacebuilding Commission in developing new integrated peacebuilding strategies, as well as in the semi-annual reviews of strategic frameworks.

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          2018 Update!

          They support for a five-year civil-society programme in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on women’s participation in conflict-resolution mechanisms.

          Commitments:

          The Women, Peace and Security Agenda will be an important priority during their forthcoming term on the Security Council for the next two years. Belgium is currently implementing its third national action plan on women and peace and security.

          Bolivia

          2017 Update!

          Bolivia has developed and implemented legislation for building an equitable society with equal opportunities for women, while placing emphasis on their political empowerment.

          The electoral system law established parity and alternation on the candidate lists for representative seats, which makes Bolivia the second country in the world with greater representation of women in parliament. In Bolivia, more than 50 per cent of elected positions are held by women, not just in Parliament but in other elected bodies.

          Commitment:

          Bolivia made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

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          2018 Update!

          The Bolivian Government established the Constituent Assembly, which was presided over by a woman indigenous leader, as well as drafted a new Constitution, which was adopted in 2009. Bolivia promoted women’s participation in decision-making roles through the Electoral System Act, which establishes parity and alternation in the lists of male and female candidates for representative posts, making Bolivia the second country in the world with the highest representation of women in the Legislative Assembly. In Bolivia, women have a majority not only in Parliament, but also in the other elected bodies. In the same vein, one of the most important measures for women’s economic inclusion was the Community-based Agrarian Reform Renewal Act, which not only guarantees the participation of women in land restoration and distribution processes, but also prioritizes women’s right to own land. Twelve years ago, only 10 per cent of women in Bolivia were owners of land. Today, in 2018, 45 per cent of land ownership is in the hands of women.

          Commitments:

          Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made

            Bosnia

            Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

            Brazil

            Commitments

            Will include measures in areas such as fostering the participation of women in peace missions, further enhancing the relationship between troops and civilians, particularly women and girls in peace operations, and providing humanitarian assistance and technical cooperation to post-conflict countries concerning gender issues. The initiative will complement the provisions of the national policy plan on women, which already embraces the recommendations set out in resolution 1325 (2000), including strict legislation against sexual and gender-based violence.

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            2016 Update!

            Brazil reported that the state is finalising the NAP promised last year.

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            2017 Update!

            In March 2017, Brazil adopted the National Action Plan.

            The Brazilian army has admitted women to its military schools, the skills development programme on Women, Peace and Security has been integrated in the establishment of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Peacekeeping Operations Joint Center and that programme has been incorporated into the curriculum of the School of Diplomacy.

            Commitment:

            Brazil is striving to increase the number of female candidates for posts in Brazilian civilian and military peacekeeping operations and special political missions.

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            2018 Update!

            In 2017, the first women joined the army’s combat roles for the first time. They will now be able to reach the highest posts in the army’s hierarchy as they progress in their careers. As of May, political parties must allot at least 30 per cent of radio and television time, as well as of their dedicated campaign financing fund, to female candidates. Following the most recent federal elections, earlier this month, women’s participation rose from 10 to 15 per cent of elected representatives in the lower house of Congress, which is still very low. One of the new representatives is Joênia Wapixana, the first indigenous woman elected to the National Congress. She was also announced as one of the three winners of the 2018 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights.

            The Brazilian Peace Operations Joint Training Centre has incorporated a gender perspective based on the national action plan into the preparation of military and police personnel, as well as civilians, for peacekeeping operations.

            Commitments:

            Brazil launched its first two-year national action plan on women and peace and security and are now in the process of reviewing the implementation of the plan.

            Brazil will take into consideration the very concrete goals set last year by the SecretaryGeneral to increase the ratio of women military to 15 per cent and women police officers to 20 per cent of the total personnel in all peacekeeping operations.

            Canada

            Commitments

            Supports projects to address the specific needs of women and girls in conflicts and emergencies.

            Will plan a strong response to sexual violence in conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Iraq and Syria. Its programming includes providing access to justice for survivors and holding perpetrators to account, including through the deployment of Justice Rapid Response experts.

            Financial commitments

            $3 million in support of SRSG in SViC over the next three years, recognizing that financing is key to the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda

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            2016 Update!

            Canada did not address the 2015 commitment to address SGBV through the JRR program or "plan a strong response to sexual violence in conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Iraq and Syria."

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            2017 Update!

            In 2016, Canada provided $1.5 million to the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, which supports women’s organizations working on the front lines of conflict prevention and resolution. Under its first National Action Plan, Canada submitted five annual progress reports on the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda in Parliament, which helped to take stock of the progress achieved and record lessons learned.

            Canada is working to increase the proportion of Canadian women peacekeepers, including police officers deployed to peace operations, and have been at the forefront of a United Nations training initiative aimed at increasing the number of women police officers deployed.

            The Canadian Prime Minister recently joined the Secretary-General’s Circle of Leadership and signed the voluntary compact on eliminating sexual exploitation and abuse. Canada is providing funding to the Office of the Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and to the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

            Commitment:

            Canada is committed to finding opportunities to create and support transformative solutions for gender equality in conflict situations. Canada will defend women’s voices and human rights. Canada will challenge narratives that undermine women’s ability to contribute, lead and shape solutions. Canada will collaborate with civil society, Member States and the United Nations to reinvigorate the implementation of this important agenda. Canada will continue to demonstrate its commitment to transparent and regular reporting on the progress made in the implementation of its National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which is currently being finalized, to ensure that Canada are making progress.

            Canada will dedicate $150 million over five years to support local organizations that advance women’s rights in developing and fragile States.

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            2018 Update!

            In partnership with Côte d’Ivoire, Canada launched the G-7 Women, Peace and Security Partnerships Initiative, which aims to increase Women, Peace and Security Agenda implementation in partnership countries. Canada doubled its support to the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund.

            Canada launched the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations to increase the meaningful participation of uniformed women in United Nations peace operations. In September, Canada, together with the European Union, hosted a meeting of women Foreign Ministers in Montreal for a discussion on current challenges to global peace and security. At that meeting, Canada’s Foreign Minister announced that the Canadian Government will be appointing a Women, Peace and Security Agenda ambassador to strengthen the implementation of the action plan. The Minister also announced that Canada will be co-hosting the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network with Uruguay in 2020 — the twentieth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000).

            Commitments:

            If elected to the Security Council for the period 2021-2022, Canada will continue to champion the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

            Chad

            Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

            Chile

            Commitments

            Committed to strengthening the institutional policy of Chile’s Ministry of National Defence by mainstreaming gender in all predeployment training for peacekeeping operations in which they are involved.

            Monitor accountability regarding gender violence among staff serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations within two years, and appoint gender advisers and a national focal point for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in relevant ministries and departments within one year, as well as for receiving and sending information to and from missions.

            Establish an observatory, consisting of representatives of civil society, to report on progress in implementing resolution 1325 (2000) in-country.

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            2016 Update!

            Chilean women will participate as observers in the United Nations Mission in Colombia.

            The implementation of Chile's 2nd NAP includes the provision of gender-sensitive training for forces deployed on peacekeeping missions.

            The Representative of Chile did not address any efforts taken to address SGBV violations or inaugurate the accountability instrument promised in 2015.

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            2017 Update!

            Chile expresses its support for the initiatives related to the voluntary compact to end sexual exploitation and abuse, which Chile has signed, the appointment of the victims’ rights advocate, the Senior Women Talent Pipeline initiative, and the strategy for the equal participation of men and women in the Organization.

            The second National Action Plan is now in full implementation, with a strong emphasis on education and staff training. Chile co-sponsored resolution 2242 (2015), promoted by Spain, and is a founding member of the Women, Peace and Security National Focal Points Network.

            Equal opportunity and the empowerment of women has been a key pillar of Chilean gender agenda, which has made solid progress such as the incorporation of gender equality in electoral reform, and which requires that at least 40 per cent of candidates running for Congress be women. Chile promotes and protects women’s rights in armed conflict, especially given the need to increase women’s participation in decision-making related to international peace and security. That is how Chile bolsters women’s presence in peace missions both in Haiti and in Colombia’s special political mission.

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            2018 Update!

            Commitments:

            Chile is focused on the development of a third-generation plan for 2019- 2022, with a view to strengthening the role of women in negotiation, mediation, peacemaking and peacebuilding.

            China

            Commitments

            To take a series of measures to help developing countries address the challenges facing women and girls in the areas of health and education and will strengthen the training of local women. It will jointly set up with the United Nations, under the relevant fund, a project to support capacity-building for women in developing countries.

            _________________________________________

            2016 Update!

            The representative of China did not address whether the 2015 commitment "to take a series of measures to help developing countries address the challenges facing women and girls in the areas of health and education and will strengthen the training of local women. It will jointly set up with the United Nations, under the relevant fund, a project to support capacity-building for women in developing countries," was met.

            _________________________________________

            2018 Update!

            The Chinese Ministry of Defence and UN-Women have jointly hosted international workshops for women peacekeeping officers to encourage troop-contributing countries to actively assign and dispatch female officers to peacekeeping missions, as well as to enhance their capabilities and skills.

            Colombia

            Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. Supports women candidates for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

            _________________________________________

            2017 Update!

            Colombia created the institutions necessary to implement the agreement, including a specialized gender unit made up of seven women leaders of organizations of rural women, victims of armed conflict and civil-society organizations. Colombia is working to incorporate a gender focus in the framework for the implementation of the agreement.

            Colombia recognizes the need to ensure accountability for crimes of sexual violence committed in the framework of conflict. That is why the final agreement provides that such crimes cannot be subject to amnesty. In addition, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace plans to create an investigation unit with a special team for cases of sexual violence.

            Commitment:

            Colombia is working to incorporate a gender focus in the framework for the implementation of the agreement.

            _________________________________________

            2018 Update!

            For the first time in its history, Colombia has a woman in the position of Vice-President of the Republic, who, in addition to her own duties, has been tasked with supporting the President in promoting gender parity. The President has also formed the first gender-balanced Cabinet in the history of Colombia, since eight of the 16 ministries are led by women.

            Commitment:

            Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made

              Costa Rica

              Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

              _________________________________________

              2018 Update!

              80 per cent of Costa Rica's personnel contribution are women.

              Costa Rica has established the 2018-2030 policy for effective equality between women and men — a multidimensional and comprehensive instrument whose main goal is to overcome the structural obstacles that lead to, recreate and reinforce inequalities between women and men and impede meaningful progress towards achieving equality.

              Costa Rica is implementing legislation and regulatory changes and making the relevant budget allocations to strengthen women’s political participation and achieve gender parity in State institutions at the national and local levels, as well as in social organizations and political parties.

              Costa Rica has established a national policy to focus on, prevent and protect women from violence.

              Commitment:

              Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

              Croatia

              Commitments

              Currently developing its second national plan, which is expected to be adopted by 2016. The new plan will cover both its domestic and international activities by setting out and strengthening specific measures in the prevention and protection spheres, and with regard to female representation in decision-making activities and processes related to security and peacebuilding.

              Commit to further promote gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the context of its foreign, security and defence policies at all levels. It will also commit to nominating women for top-level positions in international and regional peace and security organizations.

              Intend to focus specifically on the gender dimension of Croatia’s involvement in peacekeeping missions and operations abroad and to actively promote the participation of female officers and military experts.

              Attach specific importance on gender-related elements in predeployment training for civilian and military personnel, including prevention and response to sexual violence and on a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse.

              Will take measures to tackle the underrepresentation of women in political decision-making in order to achieve more balanced participation by women and men in Croatian political bodies and institutions at all levels. It commits to increasing the number of female heads of Croatia’s diplomatic representations. It will accord high priority to the visibility of gender and women and peace and security-related policy and action at national and local levels, as well as ensure coordination among the relevant national actors.

              Supports the broad participation of civil society and women’s organizations in all activities related to the women and peace and security agenda. It will promote the women and peace and security agenda within other international organizations and initiatives, in particular within the Equal Futures Partnership during Croatia’s chairmanship in 2016. It commits to providing development and humanitarian assistance with an integrated gender perspective.

              _________________________________________

              2016 Update!

              National Action Plan: Croatia will adopt an updated NAP by the end of the year.

              Croatia did not reflect efforts to increase a civil society presence in efforts to implement the WPS Agenda.

              Croatia did not reflect efforts to increase a civil society presence in efforts to implement the WPS Agenda.

              Croatia did not address commitments to facilitate a greater gender perspective in peacekeeping efforts.

              Cyprus

              Commitment

              Commits to continue, through its national action plan on gender equality for the period 2014-2017, to strive to eliminate deeply rooted stereotypes, among the main obstacles to gender equality, and to ensure women’s active participation in peacemaking efforts, as well as to work to increase women’s participation in public and political life, to redouble our efforts in support of women’s increased participation in the peace process and to continue our consultation with civil- society organizations in order to ensure that women’s voices are heard louder and with the attention that the

              Czech Republic

              Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

              __________________________________________

              2018 Update!

              The Czech Republic selected Goal 16, which includes the target “to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels”, as the priority theme of their presidency of the Economic and Social Council in 2017 and 2018. The Czech Republic actively addresses the root causes of inequality by implementing projects aimed at the economic empowerment and equal participation of women. Such projects are being implemented in Georgia, Zambia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They are also a lead nation of the Jordan III Trust Fund, a capacity-building project aimed at supporting servicewomen in the Jordanian armed forces.

              Commitments:

              The Czech Republic is currently implementing their first national action plan on women and peace and security for the period from 2017 to 2020.

              Denmark

              Commitments

              Adopted the third national action plan, for the period 2014-2019 last year, which will continue to emphasize using the untapped potential of women and seek to involve women actively, on an equal basis, in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, in peace negotiations, peacebuilding and peacekeeping, in humanitarian response and in post- conflict reconstruction and commits to concrete actions in order to achieve those ends.

              Will focus on promoting women as peacebuilders within Danish-funded programmes in fragile and conflict-affected States.

              Military deployments to peacekeeping missions will all receive mandatory training on the role of gender in peace-support operations and will immediately investigate suspected criminal misconduct during deployments and, when relevant, ensure the prosecution of alleged perpetrators. Furthermore, will continue to focus on the recruitment of Danish female officers, including police officers, to international missions, including for leadership functions.

               

              Djibouti

              2017 Update!

              Article 1 of Djibouti's Constitution establishes equality between men and women with respect to civic and political rights.

              Since 2013, Djibouti's Parliament has had a 12 per cent representation of women. In public administration, thanks to a legal framework and the political will for equal participation, women now represent some 25 per cent of the workforce.

              Djiboutian women are participating in peacekeeping missions, in particular in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the African Union Mission in Somalia.

              Commitment:

              Djibouti is initiating the preparation of a project aimed at the creation of a gender observatory. That project consists, on the one hand, of collecting, analysing and disseminating data relating to gender equality, and on the other, of making recommendations that will inform decision-makers in their decision-making and, consequently, the development of public policies to promote and improve the situation of gender equality in Djibouti.

              ______________________________________

              2018 Update!

              Article 1 of Djibouti’s Constitution established gender equality in civil and political rights. On 11 January, the Government of Djibouti was able to get a law passed by Parliament that established a quota of 25 per cent for eligible positions reserved for women on different lists. Currently, in the public administration, thanks to a legal framework and political will for equal participation, women represent approximately 25 per cent of the workforce.

              Commitment:

              Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made

                Dominican Republic

                Commitments

                All plans and projects being considered in the context of the national development strategy to 2030 will include gender equality.

                Financial commitments

                Adopted a programme to ensure that as of 2016, the respective budgets of all State institutions include resources earmarked to acheive gender equality and non-discrimination against women.

                _________________________________________________

                2018 Update!

                As a sign of the Dominican Republic’s commitment to zero tolerance on sexual abuse and exploitation, President Danilo Medina signed the voluntary compact on preventing and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse and is part of the Secretary-General’s Circle of Leadership on that issue.

                Commitment:

                The Dominican Republic will occupy a position as a non-permanent member of the Security Council starting in January 2019 and reaffirms their commitment to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

                  Ecuador

                  2017 Update!

                  Ecuador has three women in its infantry unit serving as peacekeeping operations observers.

                  Commitment:

                  Ecuador trusts that that will be the start of an ongoing and growing participation that can be extended to other branches of its armed forces and police force, as yet another sign that Ecuador is committed to the ideals of peace and security on which the UN is based.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  This year, the number of women troops stands at 3.5 per cent. Ecuador currently contributes women officers as observers in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

                  Commitments:

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Egypt

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Egypt introduced an intensive and comprehensive training module on awareness related to sexual exploitation and abuse into the pre-deployment training of its peacekeeping troops. The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding has published a manual entitled “Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations”. Moreover, the Center has developed a first-of-its-kind training manual in the Arab region on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) as it relates to peacekeeping and peacebuilding in the Arab world.

                  The Cairo Center and Egypt’s National Council for Women, in partnership with the Crisis Management Center Finland, organize basic training courses on the role of women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

                  Commitment:

                  The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution will continue to collaborate with its counterparts in other countries.

                  _________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  In October, in collaboration with UN-Women and the African Union, Egypt organized a meeting attended by women mediation networks from Africa, the Mediterranean, the Nordic countries and the Commonwealth States, focusing on ways to coordinate their networks and provide them with support while ensuring their sustainability and creating a coordination mechanism for all of them.

                  The Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, which is responsible for training peacekeeping troops, has published a guidance manual on preventing sexual exploitation and aggression in peacekeeping operations that is distributed to Egyptian peacekeeping troops. It is available to all other troop-contributing countries and has been translated into English and French.

                  Egypt joined the African Women Leaders Network.

                  At the international level, Egypt was among the first States to join the Circle of Leadership on the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network.

                  Commitments:

                  Egypt has undertaken this year a voluntary commitment to prevent sexual exploitation and aggression.

                  El Salvador

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  El Salvador has made important advances in its protection of women’s rights legislation and architecture because of its belief that gender equality and the empowerment of women are fundamental conditions for development, governance, peace and democracy.

                  El Salvador launched its National Action Plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, which bolsters its commitment to women in different areas, particularly in building peace and security.

                  El Salvador has voluntarily joined the Secretary-General’s compact to end sexual exploitation and abuse.

                  Commitment:

                  El Salvador wishes to reiterate its commitment to supporting peacekeeping operations by contributing the best trained personnel and including more women in the troops and police assigned to different missions.

                  El Salvador reiterates its support for all initiatives that ensure the participation of women in various contingents, in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions of the Security Council.

                  Estonia

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  European Union

                  Commitments

                  Continue to ensure that it focuses on the promotion and protection of the human rights of women and their participation as positive agents of change, peace and development.

                  Make conflict-resolution and peacebuilding more effective through their protection, while also protecting women in situations of conflict and preventing them from becoming victims or perpetrators.

                  Encourage the enhancement of the gender dimension through better ongoing synergies in the United Nations peace and security architecture, among the various ongoing United Nations reviews.

                  Continue to engage in close dialogue and actively support all forms of cooperation with civil society on issues concerning women in conflict and post-conflict situations, and to empower women’s participation and leadership in peacebuilding initiatives.

                  Will pay particular attention to the protection of women human rights defenders, especially in situations of conflict.

                  Pledges to improve the way it measures the impact of all of its actions in order to enhance its accountability. In that context, will update indicators for a comprehensive approach to the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) to measure more effectively the impact of our action.

                  Pledge to assume substantial financial commitments, to thoroughly mainstream gender and to include gender-specific actions in all European Union financial instruments, and to allocate more than €100 million over the next seven years to gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment projects.

                  _________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The EU promoted women’s participation and leadership and we remain committed to leading by example, such as in the case of the conclusion of Iranian nuclear issue agreement in 2015. Out of our 10 civilian crisis management missions, five are now led by women. The EU also supported women's participation in countering extremism.

                  Initiatives: The EU joined the National Focal Point Network and is finalising its agenda.

                  Financing: The representative of the EU reported that the entity has "made progress in meeting the substantial financial commitment we pledged a year ago."

                  The EU's representative did not indicate whether commitments to afford particular attention to protecting women human rights defenders had been met.

                  _________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  The EU took over from Sweden the leadership of the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies, a global initiative to make sure that all humanitarian actors work together to prevent and mitigate gender-based violence.

                  The EU further highlights the resilience of its zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation and abuse. The EU has revised the standards of behaviour for its civilian and military missions and operations, and the EU supports the efforts of Secretary-General Guterres in that regard.

                  Conflict prevention is a keystone of its Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy and of a new European Consensus on Development.

                  The EU has continued to work for women’s full and active participation in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding. The EU has also engaged in working alongside and supporting the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board of United Nations Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura.

                  The EU recently stepped up its engagement in the initiative for the acceleration of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) at the regional level.

                  Commitment:

                  In June 2017, the European Union signed the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention. With that signature, it committed to further strengthen the existing legal framework and capacity to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, including domestic violence.

                  In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the European Union’s Gender Action Plan 2016-2020, the EU is devoting €6.5 billion every year to external projects on development that address gender equality and women’s empowerment as either a principal or a significant objective, with the aim of carrying out more than 85 per cent of those projects in the next year. The EU reaffirms its determination to further develop a strategic partnership with the United Nations and to further strengthen close cooperation with partner countries and multilateral partners.

                  The EU remains committed to substantially increasing women’s participation in all aspects of peace and security, including women’s political participation and leadership and their important role in the fight against radicalization and violent extremism.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  In Afghanistan, the European Union has been providing training and coaching to female members of the Afghan High Peace Council, thereby enabling them to play an active role in the peace agreement between the Government of Afghanistan and Hizb-e-Islami. In Syria, the European Union and its member States have been supporting the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board established by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura. In Mali, the Follow-up and Evaluation Committee overseeing the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement, including the relevant gender-equality and Women, Peace and Security Agenda commitments, has also been supported by the European Union.

                  In March 2018, in Turkey, the European Union launched the Gaziantep Women’s Platform — a network of women involved in the Geneva peace process consisting of activists and non-governmental organization representatives active in Syria — to address issues related to women’s empowerment, women’s rights and sexual and gender-based violence. The European Union has taken concrete action in committing to working together with the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls worldwide, through the Spotlight Initiative. Since June 2017 the European Union has been chairing a worldwide initiative, the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies.

                  In January 2018, the European Union, together with UN-Women and the International Labour Organization, launched WE EMPOWER, a programme promoting women’s economic empowerment at work through responsible business in the countries of the Group of Seven, designed to advance women’s economic empowerment by creating an enabling environment where the active engagement of the corporate sector combines with public-policy efforts.

                  Commitments:

                  The European Union is in the final stages of adopting their new European Union policy — the European Union strategic approach on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda — before the end of the year.

                  Finland

                  Commitments:

                  Will begin preparations for the third national action plan, taking into account the recommendations of the global study and the high-level review and is committed to a joint Nordic initiative called Nordic Women Mediator’s Network, to be established this year Security.

                  Continue deploying women to peacekeeping operations as military experts in numbers at least equivalent to the proportion of women in our national defence forces. Also aim to increase the number of Finnish female police officers seconded to United Nations peacekeeping operations and stand ready to deploy a specialized unit of 3-4 female police officers to the United Nations by the end of 2016 Peacekeeping: Continuing to provide gender training for all Finnish personnel deployed to peace operations.

                  Take more robust measures in tackling these cases in order to make the zero-tolerance policy into a zero-case reality by investigating and punishing all cases.

                  Increase support to UN-Women in order for it to fulfil its leadership role in the promotion and implementation of the women and peace and security agenda.

                  Committed to remain a top donor to UN-Women Continue to dedicate 52% of funding to fragile States remains directed towards activities with a gender focus.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  The Foreign Ministers of Spain and Finland jointly presented an initiative called Commitment 2025 at the high-level event of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, held in New York on 26 September.

                  Commitments:

                  In this Initiative, commitments will include additional measures to increase the institutional representation of women at all levels in sectors relevant to the women and peace and security agenda, and especially in peace processes. They will include the appointment of women to decision-making positions in peace and security institutions, as well as funding incentives for women’s participation. The initiative will commit to supporting the work of the Women Mediators Networks and the Group of Friends of Mediation to ensure that their efforts are taken into account in peace processes and negotiations. Next spring, Spain will organize the third International Conference on Safe Schools within the framework of the 2015 Safe Schools Declaration initiated by Argentina and Norway. The Conference will have a special focus on the gender approach in access to education in armed conflicts. That will require an analysis on specific attacks on the access to education of women of all ages, including sexual and gender-based violence.

                  France

                  Commitments

                  At the political level, committed to strengthening its mobilization to promote the women and peace and security agenda nationally, internationally and regionally. At the national level, we will increase the visibility of our plan of action. France, more than 20 per cent of whose ambassadors are women, is committed to achieving the target of 40 per cent women appointed to high-level diplomatic positions by 2018. That process is well under way.

                  will pursue our efforts in the Security Council to ensure that the provisions of resolutions on women and peace and security are well represented in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, as they are in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.

                  Will continue to advocate for the inclusion of women in the Common Security and Defence Policy and to support the protection of women in conflict situations and in crisis resolution.

                  At the operational level, which, through the deployment of over 900 military and police personnel, is contributing to six peacekeeping operations — is committed to the utmost vigilance and resolve to ensure compliance with the rules laid down by the United Nations in the fight against sexual abuse and respect for human rights. The recruitment, training and deployment of our personnel to operations will continue according to a national process that ensures compliance with these rules. In the case of recent allegations of sexual abuse, our political leaders are deeply committed to the adoption of the most stringent sanctions, in addition to the judicial response, where such cases prove legitimate.

                  Financial Commitment

                  Contribute €50,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women. The most recent biennial General Assembly resolution on the fight against violence against women (resolution 69/147), which France and the Netherlands have led since 2006, calls on States to contribute to the Fund. We hope that other States will follow. This contribution complements the financial support to the tune of €100,000 that France will offer UN-Women to strengthen women’s access to justice.

                  _____________________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  National Action Plan: France is submitting its 2015 NAP to a national review (that will include civil society) next month.

                  Initiatives: France is in the process of organising a high-level conference on peacekeeping environments in francophone countries, which will recall the importance of the WPS Agenda. France will also present the bi-annual General Assembly draft resolution on Violence Against Women with the Netherlands.

                  France did not address last year's commitment to "continue to advocate for the inclusion of women in the Common Security and Defence Policy and to support the protection of women in conflict situations and in crisis resolution."

                  _________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  French parity law has undeniably enabled France to achieve decisive progress. The French Government has achieved parity, as has the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in New York. France has also undertaken a comprehensive effort and set specific goals to increase women’s participation in its armed forces. Appointments have risen significantly, and women’s representation has virtually doubled since 1998 to 15 per cent of overall troops today a priority.France has supported the inclusion of a specific criterion on sexual violence in the sanctions regime concerning the Central African Republic and the inclusion of gender-related issues in the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, which in many respects is a model to follow.

                  In Syria, France funded an initiative to provide emergency medical assistance to protect women in a conflict where they are too often targeted, in particular through assistance in terms of sexual and reproductive health or psychological support services designed to improve the living conditions of women, especially those giving birth in very difficult conditions. Implementation: In Libya, France has supported training workshops for young entrepreneurs in Misrata, 50 per cent of whom were women, with the aim of strengthening the Libyan economic fabric by assisting young Libyan entrepreneurs and start-ups.

                  France is implementing its second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which covers the period 2015-2018.

                  France is taking action against impunity when crimes are committed against women, including to enable women’s access to justice.

                  France continues to support humanitarian programmes aimed at assisting women affected by the consequences of the crises in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Lebanon, as a result of the Syrian crisis, and Nigeria. France's official development assistance already has fully incorporated the gender dimension, and the number of projects with a direct impact on the lives of women is rising as well.

                  France is also undertaking numerous projects to protect women from human trafficking.

                  Commitment:

                  France made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  France has supported the inclusion of a specific criterion on sexual violence in the sanctions regime concerning the Central African Republic and the inclusion of gender-related issues in the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, which in many respects is a model to follow.

                  In Syria, France funded an initiative to provide emergency medical assistance to protect women in a conflict where they are too often targeted, in particular through assistance in terms of sexual and reproductive health or psychological support services designed to improve the living conditions of women, especially those giving birth in very difficult conditions.

                  In Libya, France has supported training workshops for young entrepreneurs in Misrata, 50 per cent of whom were women, with the aim of strengthening the Libyan economic fabric by assisting young Libyan entrepreneurs and start-ups.

                  Commitments:

                  France is currently developing its third national plan of action for the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, which will be presented in the first quarter of 2019, and France will once again make that agenda a priority of its presidency of the Security Council in March 2019.

                  Gabon

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Gambia

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  Georgia

                  Commitment

                  On 9 and 10 November Georgia plans to organize an international high-level conference on meeting gender equality challenges and opportunities in the European Neighbourhood Policy in Tbilisi

                  _______________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  Georgia hosted an international high-level conference on meeting None All Commitments were addressed gender equality challenges and opportunities in the European Neighbourhood Policy in Tbilisi.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  At present, the Georgian Government is in the process of drafting its third National Action Plan aimed at implementing resolution 1325 (2000) for the period 2018-2020. The new action plan, just like previous ones, is being developed in broad consultation with civil society together with national partners from line ministries, State institutions responsible for its implementation and women’s organizations. Georgia recently ratified the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and established an inter-agency commission for gender equality and ending violence against women and girls at the executive branch.

                  Commitment:

                  Georgia made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  _______________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  More than 65 per cent of those involved in peace processes in Georgia are women. Furthermore, the Government of Georgia facilitates an increased role for women in reconciliation and confidence-building projects, carried out with the support of local and international organizations.

                  Commitments:

                  Based on key findings, recommendations and consultations with civil society, the Government of Georgia has already adopted its third national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), covering the period of 2018-2020. The 2018-2020 national action plan has been harmonized with the Government’s action plan on the protection of human rights and aligned with the relevant objectives, targets and indicators set for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level.

                  Germany

                  Commitments

                  Will continue to push for the political empowerment of women, and provide adequate capacity-building and incentives. continue to deploy female police and military experts, including specialized teams for the prevention and investigation of sexual and gender-based violence. During its OSCE chairmanship in 2016, it will appoint a Special Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office on Gender Issues.

                  Continue to extend support to civil society organizations dedicated to sheltering victims of sexual violence, a case-in-point being our long-standing support for such an organization in Afghanistan.

                  Working towards making it easier for women to pursue a career in our armed forces. To this end, a dedicated staff unit in Germany's Ministry of Defense is tasked to develop concrete and practical measures towards reducing gender-specific imbalances.

                  Weaving the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda into its response to the high number of refugees arriving in Germany. It is investing in services that take into account the specific needs of refugee women and girls. Germany will continue to extend targeted support, through the provision of a nation-wide telephone helpline for instance, to those who have lived through the horrors of sexual violence.

                  Financial commitments

                  Contribute a million euros to the International Committee of the Red Cross for use in preventing sexual violence in armed conflicts and in assisting its victims

                  _______________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  Germany has appointed a Special Representative of the OSCE Chairpersonship-in-Office on Gender Issues.

                  The German representative gave no indication as to steps taken to implement commitments to push for the empowerment of women

                  The German representative gave no indication as to steps taken to correct gender imbalances in the security sector.

                  The German representative gave no indication as to steps taken to expand collaboration with civil society organisations dedicated to SGBV

                  The German representative gave no indication as to steps taken to address the needs of refugee women and girls.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Germany has decided to back the African Union in developing a network of African women leaders that provides women leaders from across the continent with a platform for exchange with respect to their experiences. In 2017, Germany adopted its second-generation National Action Plan for the period 2017-2020. Germany created new consultation mechanisms for Germany's engagement with civil society.

                  Germany provides gender-sensitive and gender-specific training to third countries, for instance in Accra.

                  Commitment:

                  Germany made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  _______________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Commitments:

                  Germany will place the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) at the heart of their work as a member of the Security Council during the period 2019-2020. Germany will work closely together with Peru as they take over as Co-Chair of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security as well as build on Sweden’s preparatory work and raise the profile of the Group’s recommendations still further. Germany will continue to lend political and financial support to the African Women Leaders’ Network, as well as with regard to the establishment of national chapters as soon as possible, such as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

                  Germany will give civil society a voice that is heard in the Security Council, including women human rights defenders.

                  Germany will continue to lend the full support to the important work of the United Nations to prevent and eliminate conflict-related sexual violence and will use the annual open debate on that issue during their presidency in April 2019 to strengthen the normative framework of the Security Council with respect to conflict-related sexual violence.

                  Ghana

                  Prior to the elections in Liberia, the Women, Peace and Security Institute at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre conducted election observation training for 25 female staff of the Liberia Peacebuilding Office, as well as capacity building for selected eminent women in conflict analysis, mediation and negotiation.

                  Commitments:

                  The Government is currently in the process of formulating the national action plan in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders.

                  Greece

                  Commitment

                  Strongly committed to actively promoting, in law and in practice, women’s participation in peacebuilding and mediation efforts and have been in close dialogue with civil society concerning the role of women in conflict and post-conflict situations in order to promote women’s leadership in all relevant initiatives.

                  Group of Friends of the African Women Leaders Network to the United Nations

                  African Women Leaders Network was launched in New York in June 2017 with a view to bolstering women’s leadership for transformative change in Africa. National chapters in the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been established with the support and collaboration of the African Union and UN-Women.

                  Guatemala

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Guatemala developed its National Action Plan in 2017.

                  Commitment: 

                  Guatemala made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Guatemala actively participated in the two meetings of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, the first having taken place in Alicante, Spain, in 2016, and the other in Berlin, Germany, in April 2018.

                  Holy See

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  _______________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Through its institutions and agencies around the world, the Catholic Church provides assistance and support, education and skills training to thousands of women and girls who are the survivors of sexual violence in conflict situations.

                  Commitment:

                  The Holy See and the Catholic Church will continue to engage women in their efforts aimed at conflict prevention and resolution, peacemaking and peacebuilding in many parts of the world.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  Honduras

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  Hungary

                  Commitments

                  Pledges to identify and deploy female military experts, officers and police officers to United Nations peacekeeping and European Union Common Security and Defence Policy missions.

                  Will be stepping up all efforts aimed at strengthening justice and accountability, by supporting the inclusion of the perpetrators of gross violations of women’s human rights and other forms of gender-based crimes in United Nations and bilateral sanctions.

                  Will contribute to international initiatives aimed at combating sexual violence in conflicts, particularly against women and girls.

                  ________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of Hungary did not address whether commitments to increase women's participation in security and defense strategies and peacekeeping missions was increased. The representative of Hungary did not address whether promised efforts to increase justice and accountability were taken.

                  The representative of Hungary did not address whether the commitment to increase initiatives to combat SGBV were acted upon.

                  ________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Hungary is an active member of the Women, Peace and Security National Focal Points Network and continues to engage in interministerial consultations processes, with the goal of establishing a national mechanism on the implementation of the task deriving from the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

                  Commitment:

                  The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is now planning to organize an awareness-raising workshop on the Women, Peace and Security agenda for the experts of the relevant ministries, the army, police, peacekeeping personnel, as well as for interested civil society organizations and academics. One of the topics of the workshop will be dedicated to women’s effective participation in peacebuilding.

                  Hungary is seeking to continuously increase the number of deployed female military experts and police officers in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

                  ________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Hungary provided a financial contribution to the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and girls to achieve those aims.

                  Iceland

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  India

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  ________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  India has been the lead troop contributor over the past seven decades. India has taken the lead in hosting specialized training courses for peacekeepers on sexual violence in armed conflict situations.

                  Commitment:

                  India has committed to fulfilling the pledge to have women serve in 15 per cent of military observer positions by the end of this year. India has also committed to provide another all-female formed police unit.

                  ________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  India is committed to a higher representation of women in peacekeeping missions and has fulfilled its pledge to ensure that 15 per cent of military observers are women. The landmark first-ever deployment by the United Nations of an all-female Indian formed police unit in Liberia became a role model for local women to participate in policing and the relevant rule-oflaw frameworks. India partners UN-Women in capacity-building initiatives at the New Delhi-based Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping, which has now conducted a third United Nations female military officers course for 40 women officers from 26 countries.

                  Indonesia

                  Commitments

                  Will contribute 4,000 Indonesian peacekeepers, including females, and has established a peacekeeping training centre to serve as a national and regional hub for integrated peacekeeping training and a centre of excellence. Gender perspectives have already been embedded in their training curriculums and syllabuses.

                  _______________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of Indonesia did not indicate whether the 2015 commitment to increase women's participation in peacekeeping efforts and integrate a gender perspective in training, had been met.

                  _______________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Commitment:

                  By 2019, Indonesia aims to have 4,000 troops, with an increased number of female peacekeepers.

                  Indonesia reconfirms its commitment to working with all Member States as a true partner for world peace, a partner in advancing strong institutions, linking peace and development, as well as strengthening cooperation as vital elements that Indonesia believes will deter the forces that devalue human life, including the lives of women.

                  _______________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  73 women have been elected as regional heads or deputy heads since the last election. Since the last general election, Indonesia has formulated a grand design to enhance women’s representation in Parliament for the forthcoming election in 2019. In 2018 the number of women running for office increased. Nearly 10 per cent of the candidates in parliamentary and regional elections were women.

                  Research conducted by Indonesia’s Wahid Institute found that women possess remarkable potential for promoting peace. Women are more tolerant of differences and less inclined to use violence against disliked groups; 80.7 per cent of women support the right to freedom of religion and belief; and 80.8 per cent of women, as compared to 76.7 per cent of men, do not support radicalism. 

                  The Peace Village initiative conducted by the Wahid Foundation in Indonesia in collaboration with UN-Women and Japan empowers women at the village level to build resilient communities by combining community empowerment and training in peacebuilding and women’s economic empowerment.

                  Indonesia is committed to continuing to increase the number of female peacekeepers. Indonesian peacekeeping contingents are among the largest, totalling more than 3,500 personnel, of which 72 are female peacekeepers. They are currently training 40 additional female peacekeepers, who will be deployed in the next few months, bringing the total to 112 female peacekeepers.

                  Commitments:

                  By 2019, Indonesia aims to have 4,000 troops, with an increased number of female peacekeepers.

                  International Organization of la Francophonie to the United Nations

                  The Heads of State and Government of States members of la Francophonie met in Yerevan on 11 and 12 October 2018 for their seventeenth summit and adopted a new strategy for the promotion of equality between women and men, and support for the rights and empowerment of women and girls.

                  In May 2018, the OIF teamed up with the Police Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to train female senior officers for the United Nations Police Command.

                  Iran

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Iraq

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Iraq has increased the percentage of women in positions of leadership in Iraq since 2003. The new Iraqi Constitution establishes a quota of no less than 25 per cent for women holding seats in the Council of Representatives.

                  The Iraqi government signed of the joint communiqué between the United Nations and the Government of Iraq on the prevention of and response to conflict-related sexual violence, on 23 September 2016. In addition, the government established 19 June as the National Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

                  Commitment:

                  Iraq made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Ireland

                  Commitments

                  Intends to partner with Justice Rapid Response-UN Women SGBV Justice Experts Roster to support investigations, prosecutions, and victim recovery in situations of conflict-related gender-based crimes.

                  Commits to ongoing robust engagement with civil society organisations, international NGOs, academics and independent policy experts as part of NAP implementation

                  __________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  National Action Plan: Though the representative of Ireland referenced that the state's NAP is in its second phase, the statement did not reflect any committed implementation efforts.

                  The representative of Ireland did not indicate whether the promised partnership with the JRR was undertaken.

                  Financial commitments

                  Will support the Global Acceleration Instrument on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action by a minimum of €200,000. It is a flexible and rapid financing mechanism that supports quality interventions. It will enhance the capacity to respond to emerging contexts, including crises and emergencies. It will strengthen capacity to seize key peacebuilding opportunities. It will encourage sustainability and national ownership of investments.

                  __________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Ireland currently funds non-governmental organizations that it thinks can make a difference in Women, Peace and Security, including the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and its “Women at the Peace Table — Africa” initiative in Nigeria, the Dialogue Advisory Group and the Mediation Support Unit of the Department of Political Affairs.

                  Last year, Ireland hosted a regional workshop on the acceleration of resolution 1325 (2000) in which the discussion was devoted to gender advisers from peacekeeping operations in the United Nations, the European Union (EU) and NATO.

                  Ireland is a founding member and a key funder of the excellent Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund. Ireland supports women in that role in peacebuilding, conflict prevention and accountability. Ireland is currently working to implement resolution 1325 (2000) through its second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

                  Ireland is particularly focusing on the empowerment and participation of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Ireland is pleased to be funding the progress study on youth, peace and security led by the Peacebuilding Support Office.

                  Ireland is proud to say that the Irish Defence Forces have adopted their own action plan for Women, Peace and Security, mainstreaming the priorities across all areas of their policy, including in their overseas engagement.

                  Ireland strongly supports and implements a policy of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse.

                  Ireland makes sure that its Irish aid policies make the protection of women and girls a top priority in its rapid-response initiatives.

                  Ireland supports accountability initiatives for ending impunity for sexual exploitation and abuse, including through working in partnership with Justice Rapid Response and UN-Women.

                  Ireland would like to underscore Ireland’s major cooperation with and financial support to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

                  Ireland is one of only 14 States, along with the EU, that are signatories to the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies.

                  Ireland’s gender and disarmament policy recognizes the specific effects that the use of weapons of mass destruction and conventional weapons have on women and girls. Ireland actively emphasizes the importance of women’s participation in disarmament discourse and salute women’s capacity to act as a positive force for change in that regard, something that Ireland is already seeing evidence of.

                  Commitment:

                  Ireland made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Ireland’s Defence Forces have an unbroken record of 60 years of participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. 

                  Ireland is working with the Commission on the Status of Women to overcome structural barriers.

                  Commitments:

                  Ireland is preparing for their third national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000). Ireland was very pleased to host the second regional acceleration of resolution 1325 (2000) in Dublin earlier this year, collaborating with European partners on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. If Ireland is elected to the Security Council for the period 2021-2022, Ireland will advocate for Women, Peace and Security.

                  Israel

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  __________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  During the CSW62, Israel introduced the first-ever United Nations resolution adopted by consensus on the prevention and elimination of sexual harassment in the workplace.

                  Israel is committed to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all women and girls. It was the first country in the world to implement parts of resolution 1325 (2000) in its national legislation. Amendment 4 to the Women’s Equal Rights Law requires the Government to include women from all parts of society in all national policy-making committees. Additionally, over the past decade, the Israeli Parliament has passed over 50 laws and amendments to further gender equality.

                  Commitment: 

                  Israel made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  As part of Israel’s international activities aimed at achieving women’s empowerment, Israel serves as a member of the Commission on the Status of Women. Beginning next year, Israel will also serve as a member of the Executive Board of UN-Women, with which they signed an agreement in 2016 that allows for the advancement of joint projects. Last year, Israel was invited to join the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network, a new framework initiated and supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Italy.

                  Italy

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  __________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Italy supported the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network.

                  Commitment:

                  Italy committed to supporting a number of projects led by UN-Women in Africa, the Middle East and Central America in the areas of both women’s empowerment and engagement in peace and security processes, for approximately $10 million.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  IItaly has made gender equality a central commitment of its foreign policy. Last year, Italy held the first-ever ministerial meeting of the Group of Seven entirely dedicated to gender. In 2018, within the framework of its Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) chairmanship, Italy mainstreamed a gender perspective in all initiatives, and the implementation of the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality is high on their agenda.

                  Italy is part of the Circle of Leadership of the Secretary-General, has signed its voluntary compact, and is honoured to be the top donor to the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse perpetrated by United Nations personnel.

                  In order to facilitate the appointment of women mediators and special envoys at the local and international levels, Italy launched the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network.

                  Effective peacekeeping also requires appropriate training. The Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units in Vicenza, Italy provides high-quality training and specialized courses to peacekeepers on the rule of law, the protection of civilians, sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and the broader Women, Peace and Security agenda.

                  Jamaica

                  2017 Update!

                  Jamaica has developed a national policy for gender equality to ensure that the principle of equality between men and women is advanced in both the public and the private spheres in Jamaica. The policy is aligned with its national development policy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

                  Commitment:

                  Jamaica is especially interested in ensuring continued progress towards addressing the gender specific effects of armed violence and ensuring women’s full participation in gender-responsive disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.

                  Japan

                  Commitments

                  Finalized its national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000) last month and has ambitiously set itself 150 goals, which will be regularly monitored. One of the unique features of the plan is its inclusion and emphasis on gender mainstreaming during all phases of natural disaster risk-reduction and response.

                  Will increase its assistance to the office of Ms. Zainab Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict

                  Will take over the role of chair of the Group of Seven next year and will vigorously push forward the women and peace and security agenda during the coming year and beyond

                  Financial Commitments

                  -Will furnish approximately $810 million in assistance this year to refugees and internally displaced persons from Syria and Iraq.

                  ___________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  National Action Plan: The representative of Japan stated that the government began monitoring the implementation of Japan's 2015 NAP this year.

                  Financing: The representative of Japan stated that the government funded "projects of UN Women and the office of SRSG Bangura".

                  __________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Japan donated and continues to support the team of experts of the Office of Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

                  Japan supported UN-Women’s technical training on peacebuilding, mediation and conflict prevention for 230 women through the Peace Support Training Centre in Kenya in 2016.

                  Japan joined the collective effort to support the Department of Field Support’s senior women talent pipeline project. Japan held an outreach seminar for the project in Tokyo in October 2017, inviting potential senior women candidates.

                  In 2016, Japan contributed financial support for UN-Women efforts to support human-resource development and education for displaced women in the Middle East and Africa.

                  Commitment:

                  Japan is committed to steadily implement its National Action Plan and ensure its effective monitoring.

                  Japan is committed to increasing their financial support to UN-Women and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

                  Japan is committed to investing in developing human resources and the education of displaced women.

                  ___________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Japan supports the UN-Women project in Kenya designed to promote women’s substantial participation at the community level. In the past year, more than 8,000 Kenyan civilian women and female police officers have been given prevention and response training for combating violent radicalization, with an additional 1,000 women and young people receiving income-generating skills training. The project encourages women to be confident, active players in protecting their communities from violent extremist influences. Japan has been helping to strengthen the capacity and representation of female police officers in Afghanistan, who have increased their knowledge and skills relating to the provision of effective protection and support to women who have experienced violence.

                  Japan is proud to support the Women’s Leadership, Empowerment, Access and Protection in Crisis Response programme, also known as LEAP, under the UN-Women’s Flagship Programming Initiatives. In that regard, Japan has contributed $8.7 million in 2018 to promote women’s resilience.

                  Japan has designated Sri Lanka as a partnership country under the Women, Peace and Security Partnership Initiative of the Group of Seven.

                  Commitments:

                  Japan will host the World Assembly for Women in Tokyo on 23 and 24 March 2019. The Women, Peace and Security Agenda will be one of the main topics of discussion

                  Jordan

                  Commitments

                  In the process of modifying our plan of action in order to harmonize it with the Sustainable Development Goals (General Assembly resolution 70/1), keeping in mind the current regional context, including the constant flow of Syrian refugees

                   Will continue to enhance and guarantee the protection of and respect for the rights of women and girls in our legislation and to promote women’s empowerment so that they may increasingly participate in decision-making. We will also continue to protect the rights of women and girls from all forms of violence, and we will enhance capacities with governmental and non-governmental organizations for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

                  In the context of international cooperation, we are studying the gender element in security programmes, with a view to creating a strategy to increase the participation of women in security forces in collaboration with NATO.

                  __________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  Jordan has successfully increased the number of women serving in peacekeeping forces. The state representative also relayed the success of consultations to improve peacekeeping missions, provide gender sensitive trainings, and ensure the protection of women and girls.

                  National Action Plan: Jordan reaffirmed its commitment to drafting a NAP, though gave no date for its release.

                  __________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Jordan's draft national plan has been submitted to the Cabinet and will be ratified soon. Jordan have estimated the cost of the National Plan and allocated a quality, flexible and realistic budget to it.

                  As the context of the Jordan 2025 document and the Executive Development Programme 2016-2019, Jordan adopted a set of policies to empower women in the sectors of health, education, ending poverty, social protection and employment, and on their participation in the labour force and in social and political life.

                  Jordan promoted women’s empowerment during the voluntary national review of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals in July in New York, especially with respect to Goal 5, on gender equality.

                  Jordan recently achieved great progress in introducing legislative reforms and improving administrative and political frameworks to end all forms of discrimination against women, protect them against violence and discrimination and promote gender equality. 

                  Jordan is increasing women’s participation in police departments. Jordan sent women police officers to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and expect to send female peacekeepers to the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur.

                  Jordan is providing a variety of services to Syrian refugees, including education and gender-responsive services.

                  Jordan is supporting small enterprises led by women within refugee camps and in Jordanian society and facilitating their work in the Jordanian labour market by giving them work permits. In New York, Jordan and Norway, with the participation of 40 States, launched the Group of Friends on Countering and Preventing Violent Extremism. The Group focuses on the importance of empowering women and young people to fight violent extremism and promote the ability of local women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and build sustainable peace.

                  Commitment:

                  Jordan made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  As a co-Chair of the Group of Friends on Countering and Preventing Violent Extremism, Jordan attaches particular attention to protecting women and girls from violent extremism.

                  Commitments:

                  Jordan has developed a Jordanian action plan for the period 2018-2021. The plan was launched in March by the Jordanian National Commission for Women, which is officially responsible for implementing it, with broad participation of civil society stakeholders.

                  Kazakhstan

                  Currently in the process of developing a national action plan.

                  ________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  National Action Plans: Kazakhstan has formulated its 1325 National Action Plan with a designated budget, to be adopted this December.

                  ________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Commitments on Women, Peace and Security have been included in the Republic of Kazakhstan’s family and gender policy for the period from 2016 to 2030, with the goal of ensuring women’s engagement in policy- and decision-making in all spheres of national governance and gender-equality training for the armed and security forces, as well as women’s deployment in peacekeeping operations.

                  In 2016, in cooperation with Japan and the United Nations Development Programme, Kazakhstan launched a project to promote gender equality in Afghanistan, including by providing policy support and capacity development.

                  Kazakhstan has begun the process of integrating all four pillars of the Women, Peace and Security agenda into its national legislation, including formulating new, strong women policies.

                  Commitment:

                  Kazakhstan is focusing on achieving the target of earmarking 15 per cent of its official development assistance for gender mainstreaming.

                  Kazakhstan is committed to continuing the good practice of inviting representatives from women’s organizations to brief the Council.

                  ________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Women currently occupy 50 per cent of the positions in the Foreign Ministry and other public institutions in Kazakhstan.

                  Kazakhstan provides training on gender equality for armed and security forces and in connection with women’s deployment to the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

                  Kazakhstan, in cooperation with Japan and the United Nations Development Programme, has been implementing a project for gender equality in Afghanistan, including providing policy support and capacity development. They are also financing a $50 million programme to educate Afghan youth in their universities. In addition, last September, in cooperation with the European Union, Kazakhstan organized in Astana a regional conference on empowering women in Afghanistan.

                   

                  Kenya

                  In 2018, Kenya concluded a high-level peer review meeting on women and peace and security, where experiences were shared on accountability in the implementation of resolutions focused on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

                  Deployment of Kenyan women in peace-support operations, which, as of 2017, stood at 19 per cent. This surpasses the United Nationsrecommended percentage of 15 per cent.

                  Kuwait

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Latvia

                  Commitments

                  Will continue to develop a national policy framework in order to address emerging challenges to achieving gender equality, and to strengthen the legal framework in order to eliminate violence against women and girls.

                  League of Arab States

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Lebanon

                  During Lebanon’s parliamentary elections in May, a record number of women registered as candidates on the ballot. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, who was the first to appoint women Ministers in his previous Cabinets, is committed to appointing them for his next Cabinet. 

                  The National Commission for Lebanese Women was mandated by the Council of Ministers to hold six consultations between April and July 2018.

                  There has been a qualitative leap in that direction in the security sector, and the Lebanese army is drawing up a strategic plan aimed at ensuring gender parity.

                  Commitments:

                  Lebanon’s first national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000) is expected to be endorsed by the upcoming Cabinet upon its formation.

                  Liberia

                  The Government of Liberia launched the pro-poor agenda for prosperity and development on Saturday, 27 October 2018 in Ganta, Nimba county, Liberia by President Weah, which including its revised national agenda policy and its peacebuilding plan.

                  Liechtenstein

                   Liechtenstein committed to making women’s human rights and empowerment high priorities in its budget for international cooperation, and hopes that other countries, especially major donors, will continue to take the same approach.

                  _____________________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  Financing: Lichtenstein did not follow up on commitments to give the WPS Agenda 2015 priority in its budgeting.

                  _____________________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Liechtenstein supported All Suvivor's Project on SVC against men and boys

                  Lithuania

                  Commitments

                  Committed to ensuring an adequate response should sexual exploitation or abuse occur, that is, bringing perpetrators to account, and will pursue expanding the involvement of women in peace operations in both the civilian and military fields.

                  Committed to supporting national and international accountability mechanisms for the investigation of sexual and gender-based violence and to ensuring that victims are provided with adequate support and redress for the harm they have suffered.
                  ____________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  Lithuania has achieved a 33% quota in peacekeeping missions.

                  The representative of Lithuania did not address whether commitments to hold perpetrators of abuse accountable, or strengthening national accountability mechanisms, were met.

                  Luxembourg

                  Financial Commitments

                  Will remain a strong and reliable partner of UN-Women, to which it is one of the top 20 contributors.

                  Will maintain our high level of financial contribution in the area of gender mainstreaming in the budgets of United Nations agencies.

                  Pursuing a strategy of taking into account the conditions, priorities and needs of women as part of our official development assistance, which amounts to 1 per cent of our gross national income.

                  _____________________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Commitments:

                  This year, Luxembourg adopted its first women and peace and security action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

                  At the end of March 2019, Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg will organize an international conference in Luxembourg to strengthen support for survivors of sexual violence, which will contribute to the objective of ending sexual violence in high-risk areas.

                  Malaysia

                  Commitments

                  With focus on capacity- building in the areas of protection and conflict prevention, specifically commits to continuing capacity-building training for peacekeepers, including on the protection of civilians, gender and cultural diversity, through the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre.


                  Presently undertaking efforts to offer relevant technical assistance and cooperation to women from countries in transition and that are newly emerging from conflict, under the auspices of the Malaysian technical cooperation programme. These commitments will be reviewed from time to time and will be adjusted accordingly, taking into account the relevant needs and requirements of both recipients and donors.

                  ___________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The Malaysian Peacekeeping Center hosted three training courses in early 2016 on gender, cultural diversity, and the protection of civilians.

                  The representative of Malaysia did not address any committed efforts to increase capacity building.

                  Maldives

                  2017 Update!

                  National laws have been strengthened with new laws on sexual harassment, domestic violence and sexual offences to ensure the protection of women from sexual, physical and psychological abuse and violence.

                  As a further step towards women’s empowerment, new policies have been established by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom that guarantee that 30 per cent of seats in all management boards of State companies go to women.

                  Commitment:

                  Maldives made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Through the employment act, Maldives has already taken steps to ensure that women are ensured equal access to employment and equal pay for equal work. The act also makes it illegal to use gender or marital status as a basis for terminating employment.

                  In 2016, Maldives enacted a gender equality act, which outlines the steps that the Government, business entities, non-governmental organizations and other employers should take to ensure equality and nondiscrimination with regard to women and girls. It also requires the Government and political parties to ensure that equal opportunities exist for women and girls to participate at all levels of political life.

                  Malta

                  A new law against gender-based violence and domestic violence was enacted in 2018 that incorporates the provisions of the Istanbul Convention.

                  A focal point on women and peace and security was appointed within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion.

                  Mexico

                  Commitments

                  Pledge to make the women and peace and security agenda a fundamental component of our gradual return to peacekeeping operations.

                  __________________________________________

                  2016 Updates!

                  The representative of Mexico did not address any follow-up on commitments to integrate WPS into peacekeeping efforts.

                  __________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Mexico supports and encourages the full participation of women in all areas of public life.

                  Mexico deployed, in 2016, the first four Mexican military women to United Nations peace operations.

                  Mexico joined the Secretary-General’s initiative on the voluntary compact on preventing and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse committed by United Nations personnel on the ground.

                  Commitment:

                  Mexico will continue to expand the participation of female military personnel in the near future.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Updates!

                  Mexico has deployed a total of eight women belonging to its armed forces in the peace missions in Colombia, Western Sahara and Mali. Although they have managed to comply with the 15 per cent of female personnel required by the United Nations of contributing countries, Mexico reaffirms its commitment to continuing to expand the participation of female personnel.

                  In Mexico approximately 48.8 per cent of the Chamber of Deputies will be made up of women. For its part, 49.22 per cent of the Senate of the Republic will be made up of women, going from ninth to fourth place in the world in that area.

                  MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, Australia)

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Monaco

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Montenegro

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Montenegro contributed to the NATO Trust Fund for Jordan, which aims at increasing female representation and supporting the recruitment of female officers and gender training.

                  Montenegro joined the European Union’s Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and girls, which is to be implemented worldwide together with the United Nations.

                  Commitments:

                  Montenegro is preparing the next national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), for the period 2019-2023.

                  Morocco

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  __________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  In 2016, Morocco organized an international conference on the topic of Women, Peace and Security. It was an occasion to reaffirm the international community’s consensus on the need to strengthen women’s participation in negotiations and agreements concerning the settlement of conflicts and peacebuilding, as well as to renew the United Nations commitment to the issue of the inclusion of women and gender equality in all peacebuilding and conflict prevention strategies.

                  Commitment: 

                  Morocco made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  __________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Morocco is involved in the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network, launched by Italy in 2017. Another initiative in Morocco is that of the employment of hundreds of women as preachers known as morchidates, in mosques and religious institutions across the country. Those women highlight the true teachings of religion, which are based on tolerance and the acceptance of others and far from any misinterpretation or radical orientation. They also provide advice on various issues, including women’s legal rights and family planning.

                  Another aspect is the regular deployment of female personnel in contingents of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Moreover, the rapidly deployable battalion that Morocco has deployed in MONUSCO, which is currently in its final phase of deployment, has a specifically women-based unit.

                  Commitments:

                  By the end of 2018, Morocco intends to meet the target of women making up 15 per cent of its experts on mission and military observers.

                  Myanmar

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Namibia

                  As of July, Namibia was at 13.3 per cent in its deployment of female officers, with only two females remaining to be deployed for 2018 to meet the 15 per cent target.

                  Commitments:

                  On 10 and 11 April 2019, Namibia will host, in Windhoek, the third capital-based Focal Points Network Meeting. The theme for the event will be “Women, Peace and Security: Towards Full Participation”. All Member States and members of civil society are invited to participate.

                  NATO

                  Commitments

                  Pledge to share best practices and valuable lessons learned with our allies and partners on increasing female participation at decision-making levels in our own structures; to accelerate the advancement of women in our own headquarters by establishing a women’s professional network and mentoring programme; to actively encourage allies to submit female candidates for most senior decision-making positions; to strengthen partnership for gender equality with other international organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union and the African Union.

                  ____________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  To follow up on commitments to increase women's participation in military forces and defence strategy, the representative of NATO reported that the entity has appointed its first female Deputy-Secretary, its first female four-star, and the first female director of the NATO defense college.

                  Financial commitments

                  Pledge to finance gender-sensitive research aimed at identifying drivers of radicalization and violent extremism; and to develop targeted and evidence-based responses, including empowering women to safeguard communities

                  ____________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  NATO’s current Action Plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and related resolutions have been endorsed not only by the 29 NATO allies, but by a total of 55 nations in all, bringing together the largest political coalition to implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

                  NATO’s military commands and missions have established a network of gender advisers. NATO is funding research on the role of gender in countering violent extremism.

                  Military guidelines on preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence are being implemented by its strategic commands.

                  NATO recently updated and approved a strategic command-level directive on gender that includes standards of behaviour and a code of conduct to be upheld by its personnel and NATO-led forces.

                  Commitment:

                  NATO made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  ____________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  This year, Heads of State and Government is endorsing a new policy and action plan on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda that enjoys the support of the 29 allies and many partners. NATO has established the Civil Society Advisory Panel on Women, Peace and Security, which is an independent coalition of women’s organizations that represent the global constituency of those most affected by inequality and conflict.

                  Nepal

                  Commitments

                  Committed to integrating the national action plan into the mainstream development plan, within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as to further localize the action plan for the benefit of the people on the ground.

                   Committed to ensuring that all victims of sexual violence have access to justice as well as to relief benefits and support services.

                  Will emphasize gender mainstreaming in our recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts so as to align the implementation of national action plans with the gender-specific recommendations of the various treaty bodies and mechanisms and to engage more men and boys.

                  ____________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  In 2011, Nepal adopted a National Action Plan to implement resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008).

                  Nepal has made explicit efforts to localize its National Action Plan, with localization guidelines in place since 2013. The success of the first National Action Plan has led to the soon-to-be-adopted second National Action Plan, which focuses on sexual violence, particularly during conflict.

                  The gender responsive budget, introduced in 2006, has now reached over 35 per cent of the total budget.

                  Nepal has endorsed the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians and signed the Secretary-General’s voluntary compact on preventing and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse. The United Nations policies on sexual exploitation and abuse and the protection of human rights are fully incorporated in the pre-deployment training courses for Nepalese peacekeepers.

                  Commitment:

                  Nepal is committed to progressively attaining the United Nations goal of 15 per cent females in peacekeeping operations, and has employed inclusive policies to encourage more females to join the national security forces.

                  Nepal stands ready to share its experience and lessons learned through the constructive engagement of women in conflict prevention and resolution, as well as post-conflict restructuring and rebuilding.

                  ____________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Nepal has made explicit efforts to localize its national action plan, with the introduction of localisation guidelines in 2013. With the mandatory provision of 33 per cent women’s representation in local peace committees, Nepal’s national action plan has been an example of a transparent, inclusive and participatory process, with the close involvement of conflict victims and civil society organizations. 

                  Last year’s local elections, in which women secured nearly half of the leadership positions — beyond the constitutional guarantee of 40 per cent — are expected to generate further multiplier effects to ensure the maximum inclusion and participation of women in leadership positions, legislation and governance. Moreover, a 33 per cent quota for certain positions in Government services, including in security forces, has been reserved for women.

                  Commitment:

                  Nepal will soon be adopting its second national action plan, which focuses on sexual violence, particularly during conflict.

                  Netherlands

                  Commitments

                  Will issue its third national action plan, the product of a unique platform on which the Government has worked with more than 50 civil society organizations.

                  Financial commitments

                  Will be providing €4 million a year to carry out its NAP, supporting organizations on the ground that work to protect and politically empower women in conflict situations.

                  Continue to provide both diplomatic and financial support to Syrian women’s efforts to present their views on their country’s future in international forums.

                  ____________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  National Action Plan: The Netherlands 3rd NAP, drafted through collaboration with civil society, was released in March and focuses on the MENA region.

                  ____________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  New Zealand

                  Commitments

                  Remains committed to the the WPS agenda and is working to ensure that women are included at more senior levels in future peacekeeping operations. The National Action Plan of New Zealand focuses on improving international deployment rates of senior staff within the New Zealand Defense Force and New Zealand Police to increase the numbers of women at decision-making levels in peacekeeping and assistance missions.

                  ____________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of New Zealand stated that the government is None All Commitments were addressed "actively increasing the recruitment, promotion and retention of senior women within the police and the defence force."

                  ____________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Earlier in October, New Zealand hosted the annual conference of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres (IAPTC), which included workshops on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

                  Commitments:

                  New Zealand looks forward to working with civil society to identify ambitious targets and actions for their second NAP. Over the coming year, New Zealand will be working with some of the peacekeeping training centres on initiatives to further commitments on women and peace and security commitments.

                  Nigeria

                  Commitments

                  Remains fully and firmly committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. It will work assiduously to enhance the participation of women in peace and security initiatives.

                  Determined to reinforce and implement the principles of resolution 1325 (2000) and, within that context, to address the factors that impact negatively on the lives of women and girls.

                  ______________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of Nigeria did not address actions on commitments to increase women's participation in peace and security efforts.

                  ______________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  In 2017, Nigeria launched its second National Action Plan to fully implement the relevant provisions of resolution 1325 (2000). The plan reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the security of women and girls during armed conflict and to enhancing their active and direct participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

                  The Nigerian Government is working around the clock to ensure the release of the remaining Chibok girls and other persons in Boko Haram captivity.

                  Commitment:

                  Nigeria made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Norway

                  Commitments

                  Provide funding to the Global Alliance of Women Countering Extremism and Promoting Peace, Rights and Pluralism

                  Increase the participation of women in peace processes and also now establish a Nordic women mediators’ network.

                  ___________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  Initiatives: In November of 2015 a Nordic Network of Women Mediators was launched.

                  Financing: In 2015, Norway committed to provide funding to the Global Alliance of Women Countering Extremism and Promoting Peace, Rights and Pluralism.

                  ___________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Norway, along with Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden, founded the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations to engage with military actors in their work related to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

                  OECE

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  OAS

                  Commitments

                  Commits to undertaking advocacy efforts to promote the relevance of resolution 1325 (2000), in addition to the other resolutions on women and peace and security, particularly those that address sexual violence in times of conflict and crisis.

                  OSCE

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  ______________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  The OSCE supports its participating States in fulfilling their gender-equality commitments and in enhancing comprehensive security.

                  The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine makes sure that the experiences of women and men from the conflict-affected populations are heard and are making their way into the daily public reports.

                  The OSCE continues to work on gender-inclusive mediation processes.

                  In April 2016, the OSCE organized a high-level mediation retreat with heads of mission and special representatives. Building on that meeting, the OSCE is preparing an analysis of OSCE-led mediation processes and practical guidance.

                  The OSCE has been at the forefront in ensuring that a gender perspective is included in its efforts to prevent violent extremism and radicalization, which may lead to terrorism.

                  The new Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism project specifically includes women community leaders and young women and men.

                  The OSCE has introduced the executive gender-coaching programme for the Secretary General and secretariat Directors so as to provide them with the necessary skills and tools to mainstream gender into their work.

                  Commitment:

                  The OSCE will continue building stronger synergies and linkages and participating in key initiatives, such as the Women, Peace and Security National Focal Points Network and the regional acceleration initiative.

                  The OSCE is looking forward to developing even closer partnerships with the United Nations and other organizations.

                  ______________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  The OSCE Mediation Support Team and the Gender Section are developing a toolkit on the inclusion of women in peace processes. The toolkit will identify how women are engaged in peace work in the contexts where the Organization supports formal negotiation or dialogue facilitation processes.

                  In the communities in eastern Ukraine that are heavily impacted by violence, the OSCE monitors observe the resilience and community spirit of the many women active in village councils, in civil society, as teachers, and in the distribution of humanitarian aid on a daily basis. Women’s involvement is crucial when it comes to preventing further escalation of tensions, bringing peace and keeping it. OSCE reports about those activities support women’s voices to be heard at the higher levels of decision-making, where women remain underrepresented.

                  At the moment, approximately 28 per cent of members of the national parliaments in the OSCE region are women. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights facilitates and supports institutional change, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building to advance women’s representation and influence in political and public life. For example, the Office supported the Equal Opportunities Caucus of the Ukrainian Parliament in organizing the first-ever Ukrainian Women’s Congress, in 2017.

                  We in the OSCE have supported Governments and civil society in 25 participating States to develop results-oriented national action plans to implement resolution 1325 (2000). Currently, almost 60 per cent of the 57 States participating in the OSCE have adopted a national action plan. The most recent country to adopt such a plan was Albania, where the OSCE was able to closely support its preparation process.

                  Pakistan

                  Commitments

                  As a leading troop contributor, will continue to ensure that its troops respond to the special needs of women and girls. Will also plan to further streamline training on gender sensitization.

                  _______________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  In 2015, Pakistan committed to "ensure that our troops respond to the special needs of women and girls and streamline training on gender sensitisation."

                  _______________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Palestine

                  2017 Update!

                  Palestine adopted its 2017-2019 National Action Plan, with a focus on protection, ensuring accountability and furthering women's political participation. Palestine joined core international humanitarian law and human rights instruments, including the CEDAW.

                  Commitment:

                  Palestine made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Panama

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  Paraguay

                  Commitments

                  Recently finalized its national action plan, which will allow it to implement the mandates set out in resolution 1325 (2000). The national action plan, which will be officially released later in October 2015, is the fruit of the efforts and coordination carried out by various national institutions since 2012, including the Ministry of Women, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, with the valuable support and continuing assistance of UN-Women.

                   Pledge to see increase percentage of female participation in awareness programmes and training for peace operations through the efforts of the relevant institutions to promote the greater participation of women in the contingents of peacekeeping missions in which the country is a participant. 

                  Peru

                  Commitment

                   Commits to work with other States to address the remaining problems in that area, with the goal of achieving a peaceful environment in which all women, without exception, are able to lead full lives free of any form of abuse, in particular in contexts of violence and conflict, where they are most vulnerable. 

                  _______________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Peru has been increasing the participation of female personnel in each of the six peace missions to which it contributes.

                  Peru created a registry of displaced persons, which has allowed for the adoption of measures to protect the rights of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations.

                  Commitment:

                  Peru strongly believes that the Women, Peace and Security agenda should be a central element of the process to reform United Nations peacekeeping operations.

                  _______________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Peru has been gradually increasing women’s participation in the armed forces they send to United Nations peacekeeping operations, and has surpassed the minimum 15 per cent required in the resolution.

                  Peru's Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations has created a displaced persons registry that enables them to quickly recognize and address issues relating to the rights of women and girls who were affected during the years in which Peru was battling terrorism.

                  Philippines

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  The Philippines developed 3 National Actions Plans.

                  A training kit on mainstreaming Women, Peace and Security in development planning processes was recently developed and launched by the Philippines with the support of UN-Women.

                  On 29 August 2017, a composite all-female civil relations company was sent to Marawi to assist in the implementation of rehabilitation and recovery programmes for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the city.

                  The Phillipines have been training women in the IDP camps on community organizing for livelihood generation, as well as actively engaging them in women and peace conversations.

                  Commitment:

                  The Philippine government is committed to protecting the affected population — especially women and children, who are particularly vulnerable, including to trafficking in persons.

                  It also remains committed to preventing violent extremism.

                  _______________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  In March 2017, the Philippines launched the second cycle of its national action plan on women and peace and security and, within 16 months, had achieved significant milestones under the pillars of empowerment and participation, protection and prevention, and promotion and mainstreaming of women’s roles in peace and security. On the implementation of the gender-specific recommendations of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission, the Philippines is the first country in the world to formulate and implement a regional action plan on women and peace and security. The plan is part of the Government’s efforts to implement resolution 1325 (2000) locally. It is now in its second year of implementation.

                  Women meaningfully participated in the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that led to the eventual passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law last July.

                  Poland

                  Commitments

                  Continue to support the work of the International Criminal Court, both by sharing its expertise and by contributing financially to the Court’s Trust Fund for Victims.

                  Financial commitments

                  Earmark a minimum of 15 per cent of all our future funding for the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund to be dedicated to women’s specific needs, and in particular to advancing gender equality in post- conflict situations.

                  _______________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of Poland did not address whether 2015 commitments to support the ICC and donate to the court's trust fund for victims had been met.

                   

                  Portugal

                  Commitments

                  Commits to promoting increased participation by women in international missions for the strengthening and maintenance of peace and security, and for humanitarian aid and crisis management; to continuing to actively promote the women and peace and security agenda in the main multilateral forums to which Portugal is a party, such as the United Nations, the European Union, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO.

                  Commits to raising awareness in all the relevant international forums of the importance of establishing national actions plans for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

                  Pledges to providing information for the United Nations indicators in order to track the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and for relevant documents on the implementation of the resolution.

                  Commits to conducting training programmes on gender equality and violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings, for national personnel in the field of justice and for members of the armed and security forces assigned to international peacekeeping missions.

                  Pledges to including the women and peace and security agenda in Portuguese development aid programmes; and, finally, to continuing to engage with civil society organizations on women and peace and security agenda issues

                  ________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of Portugal did not address whether 2015 commitments to provide training programmes to prevent SGBV among Peacekeeping forces were met.

                  The representative of Portugal did not address efforts to increase women's participation, as was promised in 2015.

                  ________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  In 2009, Portugal adopted its first National Action Plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). A second plan, adopted in 2014, will be in force until 2018.

                  Portugal strengthened measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, joined the Circle of Leadership and contributed to the United Nations Trust Fund for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.

                  Commitment: 

                  Portugal reiterated its pledge to continue conducting training programmes on gender equality and violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings, for national personnel and members of the armed and security forces assigned to international peacekeeping missions.

                  ________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  We are organizing exchanges and sharing of experiences of officials deployed to peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions.

                  Portugal is providing training on gender equality and violence against women and girls to officials in the justice sector, the armed forces and the security forces. A total of 81 Portuguese women are taking part in United Nations and European Union bilateral and regional missions.

                  Qatar

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  ________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Commitment:

                  Qatar aims to contribute to an international study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). That is part of the State of Qatar’s efforts to implement its national 2030 vision, which it seeks to do at the national, regional and international levels.

                  Qatar is attempting to integrate work on the Women, Peace and Security agenda in all of its development and humanitarian programmes.

                  Qatar remains committed to strengthening women’s participation in international peace and security.

                  Qatar is an active member of the Group of Friends of Gender Equality within the United Nations, and it supports various programmes and activities aimed at ensuring that an increasing number of women occupy important posts within the United Nations.

                  ________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  The State of Qatar, together with Colombia, has therefore recently published a book entitled HERstory: Celebrating Women Leaders in the United Nations, which highlights the accomplishments of women leaders in the area of peace and security throughout the history of the United Nations.

                  Commitment:

                  Qatar, Finland and Colombia, in collaboration with the United Nations Special Envoy on Youth and a number of United Nations relevant agencies, will hold in Helsinki, from 5 to 7 March 2019, of the first international conference on youth participation in peace, in which some 80 key stakeholders in the area of youth engagement in peace will take part.

                  Republic of Korea

                  2017 Update!

                  The Republic of Korea adopted its own national action plan on women and peace and security in 2014, and has been scaling up its efforts to increase women’s participation in peace efforts ever since.

                  Commitment:

                  The Republic of Korea made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  ________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  The Government recently launched a new initiative called “Action with Women and Peace”. The initiative involves increased funding and a policy focus directed towards protecting women and girls during and after armed conflicts and empowering them in post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding processes. The Government has partnered with UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund and launched new development cooperation projects aimed at increasing awareness among and the empowerment of local communities, providing safe spaces and legal support. Their new women and peace and security project, through the African Union Peace Fund, will also help local communities be better prepared to increase women’s participation in various peace processes.

                  The Republic of Korea has now exceeded the 15 per cent goal they set for female staff officers and military observers in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

                  The ratio of women among Cabinet members has also reached 27.8 per cent. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is currently led by the firstever female Minister, 60.9 per cent of all 650 diplomats newly recruited over the past 10 years have been women, and their retention rate stands at 94.5 per cent.

                  Romania

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  ________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  In implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), the Romanian Ministry of Defence adopted a Plan of Action to implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

                  Romania also joined the network of Women, Peace and Security national focal points officially launched in New York on 23 September 2016.

                  On 13 and 14 June 2017, the Romanian Ministry of Defence organized a regional conference in Bucharest on gender mainstreaming in security and defence.

                  Currently, 40 Romanian military women are involved in United Nations missions or of other international organizations, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, the Balkans and Georgia.

                  Romanian representatives participate in the United Nations Senior Missions Leaders Training Course, which is currently taking place in Dakar and is being organized by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support.

                  Romania is involved in the Female Military Officers Course, co-organized by UN-Women in Nairobi.

                  Commitment:

                  Romania made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  ________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Currently, female Romanian officers account for 13 per cent of its staff in the police contingents deployed in peacekeeping operations.

                  Commitment:

                  As a candidate country for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the period 2020-2021, Romania renews its strong commitment to enhancing the participation of women in peacekeeping missions under the banner of the United Nations

                  Russian Federation

                  Commitments

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  ________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Russia ensured a 15 per cent female presence in peacekeeping efforts. Russia also trains women police officers in United Nations certified training centres.

                  Commitment:

                  Russia plans to train women soldiers in in United Nations certified training centres by the end of the year.

                  ________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Rwanda

                  2017 Update!

                  Rwanda developed a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security based on two pillars, the first being that of promoting the equal participation of women and men in all peace initiatives at all levels, and the second of integrating gender perspectives into peace and security efforts.

                  Commitment:

                  Rwanda made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  ________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  In October, the President of the Republic appointed a fully genderbalanced Cabinet. Women occupy 61 per cent of seats in the Rwandan Parliament. Fifty per cent of judges are women, and 50 per cent of provincial governors are women.

                  Saudi Arabia

                  2017 Update!

                  Women have also been a focus of Saudi Arabia's development efforts, including the 2030 Vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which the Kingdom launched in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

                  Commitment:

                  Saudi Arabia made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Senegal

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  ________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Senegal adopted the Dakar Declaration on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) committing itself to strengthening the role of women, especially in mediation, promotion of a culture of peace and facilitation of early warning systems.

                  As a result, a number of initiatives have been taken, such as the establishment of a gender unit within the executive secretariat of ECOWAS, the establishment of a gender development centre, the adoption of a strategic gender plan and the drafting of a gender policy.

                  Senegal has adopted and implemented a sectoral gender strategy, including the institutionalization of gender in Senegalese defence and security force interventions.

                  Senegal’s gender policy led to the adoption of a law on full gender parity in all elected and partially elected posts at both the national and local levels.

                  Commitment:

                  Senegal made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Serbia

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Slovakia

                  2017 Update!

                  Slovakia is currently in the process of drawing up its National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

                  The Government continues to promote all national efforts aimed at strengthening the role of women in society through the national gender equality strategy for the period 2014-2019 and the gender-equality action plan.

                  The Ministry of Defence has approved its own gender-equality plan, with its implementation under the responsibility of the general staff of the armed forces and with sustained, allocated funding.

                  Slovakia strongly supports the Secretary-General’s vision of peace and security grounded in long-term conflict prevention, inclusivity and gender equality, as well as his victim-centred approach to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.

                  Commitment:

                  Slovakia made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Slovakia, as a co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Security Sector Reform, works closely with the Group of Friends of Gender Parity to explore opportunities to strengthen United Nations support for gender-responsive national SSR processes, enhance gender parity and gender equality and improve programming and advocacy efforts.

                  Slovenia

                  Commitments

                  Continue to promote the women and peace and security agenda in our activities in international and regional organizations and to strengthen cohesion among them.

                  Continue to raise this agenda item in the Human Rights Council, in particular when addressing country situations and within the scope of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism.

                  Continue to pay particular attention to training and education on women and peace and security in the military, police and judiciary. In 2016, plan to develop a strategy on gender equality in international development cooperation, which will also take into consideration women and peace and security issues.

                  Promote the role of women in the international peace and security agenda and will strengthen efforts for their protection in conflict situations. (one of the goals of the new national programme on equal opportunities for women and men for the period 2015-2020)

                  _______________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of Slovenia did not discuss whether the plans promised in 2015 to develop a security strategy with a gender perspective were undertaken.

                  The representative of Slovenia did not discuss any specific steps to increase women's participation.

                  The representative of Slovenia did not discuss any specific steps to further promote women's human rights.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Slovakia is currently in the process of drawing up its National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. The Government continues to promote all national efforts aimed at strengthening the role of women in society through the national gender equality strategy for the period 2014-2019 and the gender-equality action plan. The Ministry of Defence has approved its own gender-equality plan, with its implementation under the responsibility of the general staff of the armed forces and with sustained, allocated funding.

                  Slovakia strongly supports the Secretary-General’s vision of peace and security grounded in long-term conflict prevention, inclusivity and gender equality, as well as his victim-centred approach to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.

                  Commitment:

                  Slovenia made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Slovenia supports projects on the empowerment of women in the Western Balkans, Lebanon, Jordan, Uganda and Rwanda. Those projects contribute to women’s resilience by encouraging awareness-raising, education and employment, balanced representation and the promotion of economic and psychosocial empowerment. Slovenia has decided to dedicate part of their biggest foreign policy event — the Bled Strategic Forum, which is hosted every summer — to marking the fortieth anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the twentieth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000).

                  Commitments:

                  Slovenia’s second national action plan on women and peace and security for the period 2018- 2020 will be adopted by the Government this year.

                  South Africa

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  South Africa provides training for women mediators in the African region. Such mediators will make up an African women mediators’ network that can assist in peace negotiations.

                  The South African National Defence Force operates the Peacekeeping Training Centre in Pretoria, where women peacekeepers from South Africa and throughout the region receive training.

                  The National Defence Force is highly aware of the fact that gender issues need to be highlighted, which is reflected in the fact that at present 30 per cent of its National Defence Force comprises women.

                  South Africa recently held the third Gertrude Shope Annual Dialogue Forum on Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking in Africa. That initiative includes participants from across the African continent and inspires women to play more important leadership and peacebuilding roles than they have traditionally played, without necessarily being part of an official delegation.

                  Commitment:

                  South Africa continues to engage with representatives of civil society and academia to find ways to further empower women and remove obstacles that impede their participation in peacekeeping missions and mediation efforts on the African continent.

                  _______________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Slovakia made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made

                  Spain

                  Commitments

                  Update National Action Plan and approve periodic follow-up reports to be submitted to Parliament. Establish national focal points; create an international network of focal points; and involve civil society in designing and providing follow-up to actions.  

                  Enhance training on gender equality for members of the armed forces and the state security forces, particularly those who are deployed on international missions. Continue to promote the participation of female soldiers in peacekeeping operations and ensure that women are present in mediation teams.

                  Continue to strictly implement the zero-tolerance policy with regard to incidents of sexual violence involving members of Spanish civilian and military missions abroad.

                  Financial Commitments

                  -Increase the percentage of our official development assistance earmarked for women and peace and security.

                  -Contribute to funding the Gender Unit within the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat in 2016.

                  -In 2016, make a contribution of €1 million to the new Global Acceleration Instrument for Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action and the multi-agency Fund for Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict.

                  __________________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  National Action Plan: Spain has drafted a new National Action Plan, no date is set thus far for its release, however the representative described it as “very progressive” and bound to “usher in change.”

                  Spain attended the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial Meeting in London and adopted the resulting London Communique. Through the London Communique Spain committed to double the number of women participating in Peacekeeping operations by 2020, and address all cases of SEA. Spain also surpassed targeted 20% quota of women peacekeepers in Colombia

                  The representative of Spain did not address whether the state had undertaken efforts to provide gender-sensitive training for peacekeeping forces.

                  Sri Lanka

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  __________________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  Sri Lanka is pleased to announce that Sri Lanka has taken the initiative — together with the participation of the Permanent Mission of Canada, the International Civil Society Action Network and the Association of War Affected Women — to co-host a side event at the United Nations on 31 October on ending sexual exploitation and abuse and increasing the numbers of women in peacekeeping, in order to mark the seventeenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000).

                  Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to sign the Secretary-General’s voluntary compact on preventing and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse. The President, His Excellency Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, has joined the Secretary-General’s Circle of Leadership on preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations operations, and Sri Lanka has made contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund in support of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.

                  Sri Lanka adopted a women’s charter two years before the Beijing Platform for Action, and Sri Lanka already has in place a National Plan of Action on women.

                  Commitment:

                  Sri Lanka’s long-drawn-out conflict has resulted in a large number of victims, including orphans, war widows, single mothers and female-headed households. Sri Lanka is committed to addressing their immediate concerns and making them participants in all areas of peacebuilding and peacekeeping. This will continue to be a priority in its post-conflict peacebuilding efforts. In a reflection of Sri Lanka’s commitments, the Government has appointed an 11-member task force of eminent persons to hold nationwide consultations on reconciliation measures.

                  Sri Lanka is equally committed to including its highly trained and disciplined women forces in its peacekeeping efforts.

                  As Sri Lanka proceeds in its reconciliation and peacebuilding process, with the active participation of women at all levels, it will continue to share its experiences and practices, especially in relation to the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

                  __________________________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Sri Lanka is in the process of implementing peacebuilding projects, which involve joint programming with the United Nations Development Programme — along with agencies such as UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization and UN-Women — to implement the joint United Nations programme on preventing and responding to gender-based violence in Sri Lanka, funded by UN-Women.

                  A national secretariat for widows and households headed by women has been established in former conflict areas in order to serve target groups better. A toll-free help line has been established in the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs to receive complaints and provide redress to victims through referral services.

                  In that regard, the Government has allocated a quota of 25 per cent of posts for women in local Government bodies. The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has also set aside at least 25 per cent of budgetary allocations for projects for rural economic development for women’s economic enhancement.

                  Sri Lanka is also working to reserve a minimum of 25 per cent of the representation in Parliament for women in the near future.

                  Commitments:

                  Sri Lanka also launched a national action plan for human rights for the period from 2017 to 2021, which reiterates the need to achieve substantive equality, particularly in the economic, political and cultural spheres.

                  Sweden

                  Commitments

                  Commits to strengthening women’s human rights, improving their access to resources and increasing their representation, in times of war and in times of peace.

                  Recently revised national action plan will make women’s participation in peace and security a top priority.

                  ______________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of Sweden did not acknowledge whether the 2015 commitment to strengthen "women’s human rights, improving their access to resources and increasing their representation, in times of war and in times of peace" had been met.

                  ______________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Sweden has worked to put more language on women’s participation into mandates, for instance, through ensuring the inclusion of gender reporting in mission mandates and adding criteria for listing sexual and gender-based violence in sanctions regimes.

                  In Afghanistan, Sweden has supported local female leaders in building their capacity to participate in mediation and dialogue processes.

                  Commitment:

                  Sweden stands ready to work with the United Nations to enhance data collection and the analysis of gender-disaggregated data.

                  ______________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Sweden had the pleasure of hosting the first Multi-stakeholder Forum on Women, Peace and Security in October, at which Security Council members had the opportunity to listen to more than 50 civil society representatives.

                  Switzerland

                  Commitments

                  Increase commitment through humanitarian and development activities as well as through the promotion of programmes to promote peace and address the past. Also, support, inter alia, UN-Women’s Justice Rapid Response, based in Geneva, which is aimed at enabling the quick and thorough investigation of accusations of sexual violence.

                  Call for zero tolerance for preventing and punishing sexual abuse by UN personnel servince in PKOs.

                  ______________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of Switzerland did not address any specific efforts undertake to protect women and girls from SGBV, or implment the Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy for peacekeepers.

                  Actively support the implementation of inclusion of WPS Agenda in the UN PoA on preventing violent extremism.

                  Financial commitments

                  $4 million over the next four years to be provided to the the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, the first global effort to support local initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience against violent extremism.

                  ______________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs recently launched its first comprehensive strategy on gender equality and women’s rights, which highlights the agenda on Women, Peace and Security as one if its main pillars.

                  Switzerland insists that women must be included in all mediation training and activities. It also promotes local women’s networks that are active in peace and security.

                  Commitment:

                  Switzerland made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  ______________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  With Benin, Switzerland works on a project to promote women’s participation in decision-making at the local level. Actions undertaken in that regard include mentoring potential female candidates for local elections and mpromoting the political leadership of women while raising awareness among men, including in particular husbands, and advocacy within political parties for a better positioning of women on electoral lists. In Bangladesh, Switzerland supported a network of elected women representatives in the national Parliament and local Government councils, both by setting up a network of mentors and advocating among male elected representatives for structural change. In Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Switzerland supported communities and women to secure land rights through a certification system. In addition to promoting the economic empowerment of the people concerned, that approach has been decisive in the peaceful mediation of land disputes.

                  In the Great Lakes region, Switzerland has also worked to improve the economic prospects of victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

                  Commitments:

                  Switzerland recently adopted fourth national action plan on women and peace and security.

                  Tanzania

                  Commitments

                  Plans to fully domesticate all women’s rights treaties and develop a stand-alone act on violence against women.

                  Will promote and support financing for the sustainable implementation of national and local authority plans to end violence against women and children and ensure harmonized protection at all levels.

                  Will ensure that the principle of 50-50 representation of women and men — gender equality — in all key decision-making positions is achieved. It will continue its dedication to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

                  Thailand

                  Commitments

                  Government agencies have undertaken the rigorous process of drafting a national action plan on women and peace and security. A draft of that plan is currently undergoing a public- hearing process.

                  ______________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  In 2016, Thailand adopted national measures and guidelines on Women, Peace and Security that encompass the aspects of prevention, protection, capacity-building and empowerment The national economic and social development plan of Thailand also underlines the concept of women’s rights, as enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

                  Commitment:

                  Thailand made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  ______________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Thailand submitted a voluntary report on the status of the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda, including data and analysis to assist in the preparation of the 2018 Secretary-General report on women and peace and security (S/2018/900). Projects are now being launched in areas such as capacity-building, effective negotiation and mediation, engagement with community leaders and fund allocation to promote women-led entrepreneurship.

                  Seven of 27 Thai peacekeepers serving at Thailand's three peacekeeping missions are women, accounting for 20 per cent of the total. Thai women peacekeepers are also at the forefront of community engagement efforts to promote sustainable development throughout their services in peacekeeping missions.

                  Trinidad and Tobago

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  ______________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Trinidad and Tobago remains a strong proponent of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). In 2010, Trinidad and Tobago introduced General Assembly resolution 65/69, which was the first General Assembly resolution on women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control, which focuses on the participation of women in processes geared towards the advancement of disarmament and international peace and security.

                  Commitment:

                  As a current member of the Executive Board of UN-Women, Trinidad and Tobago pledges to continue to work with Member States towards the universal achievement of gender equality.

                  ______________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  In the spirit of advancing the dual agenda of the attainment of international peace and security and the empowerment of women, in 2010 Trinidad and Tobago introduced the first General Assembly resolution on women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control — resolution 65/69. The present iteration of the resolution is currently being addressed within the context of the First Committee of the General Assembly and continues to enjoy the support of a large number of States.

                  A national of Trinidad and Tobago was elected to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women for the period 2019- 2021.

                  Tunisia

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  ______________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  The Tunisian Parliament recently unanimously adopted a historic law to eliminate all violence against women.

                  A three-year project undertaken under the auspices of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs, with the support of UN-Women and other partners, is under way to implement a National Action Plan for Tunisia on the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

                  Commitment:

                  Tunisia made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made. 

                  Turkey

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Ukraine

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  ____________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Two initiatives were launched in Ukraine : “The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in Action” and “Gender Equality at the Centre of the Reforms”.

                  In 2016, the Government of Ukraine adopted its National Action Plan for implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) for 2016-2020.

                  The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is also a constant feature of Ukraine's annual national cooperation programmes with NATO.

                  The Ukrainian Government has taken the decision establish a Government Commissioner post on gender equality.

                  The Government has developed the State Target Programme on Recovery and Peacebuilding in Eastern Regions of Ukraine, which integrates a gender perspective in all of its pillars.

                  The President of Ukraine has appointed a woman to a position in charge of the process of peaceful settlement in the Donbas region.

                  Commitment:

                  Ukraine committed to adopting a multi-year gender-equality strategy for the security and defence sector.

                  It claimed to continue to work towards the development of a full range of judicial and non-judicial measures and institutional reform, in line with international standards.

                  ____________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  The National Action Plan provides for the inclusion of the principle of gender parity in professional training, a policy on expanding women’s participation in peacebuilding processes and a system for protecting women and girls who are victims of the conflict. One important component is preventing and combating gender-based violence during military action.

                  Ukraine introduced gender quotas and a special position on gender policy issues.

                  With a view to defining the full extent of the violations of human rights, including sexual violence, in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas, Ukraine has been insisting that special observers be sent from the special monitoring and humanitarian missions of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

                  UN Peacebuilding Fund

                  2017 Update!

                  For the first time since its inception in 2005, the PBC has appointed gender focal points to implement the gender strategy it adopted in September 2016, with Bangladesh and Canada currently serving as those focal points.

                  Commitment:

                  The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) will build on the Commission’s ongoing work to promote gender dimensions in peacebuilding efforts.

                   

                  UN-Women

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  United Arab Emirates

                  Commitments

                  Committed to advancing sustainable peace by promoting and respecting women and girls’ human rights and meaningfully integrating women within all efforts to prevent, resolve and rebuild from conflict.

                  Financial commitments

                  Will allocate $500,000 to UN-Women, to be utilized in countering extremism within the context of the women and peace and security agenda.

                  Will host a conference in Abu Dhabi in February with the United Nations High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing.

                  __________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  Initiatives: "The United Arab Emirates and UN-Women opened a UN-Women Liaison Office in Abu Dhabi just last week. The Office will enhance and strengthen collaboration to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls — a core part of any WPS Agenda in the region."

                  __________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  The UAE has focused on the protection and empowerment as women as one of the three key pillars of its external assistance strategy. Respect for the rights of women and girls underpins every aspect UAE’s approach to this global response. 

                  The UAE considers its partnership with UN-Women a key part of its strategy to implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Accordingly, the UAE has supported UN-Women since its inception. In this regard, UAE has contributed $15 million to support its critical work over the next three years. UAE also contributes to data and research collection.

                  The UAE has supported the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in the development and implementation of an action plan on conflict-related sexual violence.

                  Commitment:

                  The UAE pledge their continued support to UN-Women for its role in advancing this agenda. Moreover, as a sponsor of the resolution and a strong advocate of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, the United Arab Emirates is committed to building a strong framework for action to realize the full implementation of this agenda.

                  The UAE will continue to advocate for the full, effective and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of senior leadership and decision-making.

                  __________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  The 2018 contribution of the United Arab Emirates to UN-Women of $5 million is unearmarked, but they have urged UN-Women to use part of those funds to ensure the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda around the world. Peacekeeping: Responding to the Secretary-General’s call to increase the number of women in peacekeeping, the United Arab Emirates General Women’s Union, the Ministry of Defence and UN-Women will organize a military and peacekeeping training for Arab women.

                  Commitments:

                  The United Arab Emirates recently launched a “100 per cent women” policy, which aims to ensure that, by 2021, 100 per cent of bilateral and multilateral foreign assistance will target or integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment as key components of policy and programming.

                  United Kingdom

                  Commitments

                  Promote the active participation of women in such peacebuilding discussions through political and/or financial support. Provide support, including lobbying, at the highest levels, to ensure that women’s voices are represented in wider peace processes, negotiations and State-building. We will also provide support at the local levels so as to build the capacity of women to participate effectively.

                  Ensure that all future relevant military doctrine is gender-sensitive. By November 2016, all United Kingdom troops deployed on overseas missions will receive training on women and peace and security and on preventing sexual violence.

                  Ensure that, by September 2016, all our early warning and joint conflict analysis and assessment tools are fully gender-sensitive.

                  Drive forward the preventing sexual violence in conflict initiative, by tackling impunity for sexual violence crimes, while ensuring widespread implementation of the international protocol on the documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict.

                  Encourage greater support for survivors, including children and men, and we will work with other Governments to deliver a more effective multilateral response. Champion the road map to action to protect women and girls in emergencies and help secure positive outcomes for women and girls at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016.

                  Continue to provide technical and other support to help other Governments develop, implement and measure the impact of their own action plans on resolution 1325 (2000) and also help Iraq and Afghanistan implement their action plans.

                  Ensure that overseas work to counter violent extremism includes upstream activity targeted specifically at women. Women will be at the centre of the delivery of programming of overseas extremism work, both nationally and locally.

                  Financial Commitments

                  Contribute $1 million of start-up funding to the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action to help address the global deficit in funding for the implementation of the resolution.

                  Provide additional funding of over $800,000, each year for two years, to support new research at the Centre for Women, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics, bringing total Government funding from the United Kingdom for the Centre to over $3 million.

                  ____________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The UK provided support to the UN in Yemen to get women a seat at the negotiating table, provided support to the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board and the Women’s Consultative Committee, and provided "diplomatic and financial" support to the Colombian Peace Process.

                  The UK is currently updating gender-sensitive training to forces deployed on peacekeeping missions. The UK also hosted the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial Meeting in London and was the penholder on the London Communique to double the number of women participating in Peacekeeping operations by 2020.

                  The representative of the UK did not address any efforts taken to provide increased support for survivors of SGBV.

                  The representative of the UK did not address any specific efforts to Peacekeeping: increase women's role in combating violent extremism

                  The representative of the UK did not follow up regarding integrating a gender perspective in early warning and joint conflict analysis tools.

                  ____________________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  The UK has championed the prevention of sexual violence in conflict including through launching the global principles on stigma in the General Assembly this year, running 23 projects in conflict and post- conflict countries to support survivors, end stigma and deliver justice; and contributing $2 million to the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund.

                  The UK troops on large-scale overseas missions, whether for the United Nations or anyone else, are now receiving pre-deployment training on preventing sexual violence and on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda more broadly.

                  This year, the UK appointed its first ever special envoy for gender equality, putting that issue at the heart of the UK foreign policy.

                  Commitment:

                  The UK will be launching its fourth National Action Plan, building on progress made, lessons learned and discussions with civil society and focus countries.

                  Alongside their Bangladeshi and Canadian partners, the UK will be launching a new global network of military gender champions at the 2017 United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference in Vancouver in November 2017.

                  ____________________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  The United Kingdom brought members of the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth network to New York in October to exchange experiences with other regional networks of women mediators and to explore ways to collectively drive the agenda forward.

                  The United Kingdom has a cross-Government national action plan committed to increasing women’s participation in decision-making and to scaling up initiatives to prevent and to respond to gender-based violence.

                  The United Kingdom has opened all military roles to women and is close to meeting the target of women making up 15 per cent of armed forces.

                  United States

                  Commitments

                  As part of this national action plan, the U.S. will be assisting other nations in their own efforts, announcing new commitments to that end totalling $31 million. This includes more than $40 million for initiatives to protect women from violence and promote their participation in peace processes and decision-making, as well as more than $8 million to implement Secretary of State Kerry’s accountability initiative to fight impunity for sexual violence in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia.

                  Another $1 million will be allocated to a justice initiative based in South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It seeks to educate 50,000 women on their human rights and how to use basic judicial procedures.

                  ________________________________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  Financing: The US allocated 31 million dollars to "new initiatives" in 2016

                  Financing: The US allocated 31 million dollars to "new initiatives" None All Commitments were addressed in 2016

                  _______________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  The US signed the Women, Peace and Security Act of 2017 into law.

                  The US has helped spearhead the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, which already has $340 million in donor commitments.

                  Commitment:

                  The US will support women entrepreneurs in developing countries by increasing their access to finance, markets, technology and networks — everything they need to start and grow a business.

                  _______________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  The United States Government collaborated with Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute to monitor the implementation of the Colombian peace accord, including its inclusivity and gender provisions. The parties to the accord used Kroc’s data to guide strategic decision-making at the national and territorial levels. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. has supported civil-society monitoring and advocacy initiatives related to national action plans. They are also working with the African Union to strengthen its capacity to review, monitor and implement national action plans on the continent. Finally, they provided support to develop national action plans in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Turning to women’s economic empowerment, the United States is working to build communities that are more resilient to conflict. They have invested $50 million in the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, an innovative multi-donor facility that is aimed at expanding access to finance and technical assistance for women entrepreneurs. The United States has also identified Yemeni women experienced in conflict resolution, security and policing, and is encouraging the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen and UN-Women to expand female involvement in the peace process and conflict resolution efforts there.

                  Uruguay

                  Commitments

                  Will continue contributing to the implementation of the agenda and will step up its efforts. First, we will maintain an above-average percentage of women deployed in peacekeeping missions.

                  Will continue the mandatory predeployment training of troops who will be engaged in preventing and responding to violence, exploitation and sexual abuse.

                  Commits to rigorously apply the zero-tolerance policy in cases of misconduct, particularly with regard to cases of sexual exploitation and abuse.

                  _______________________________

                  2016 Update!

                  The representative of Uruguay did not address commitments to maintain above-average levels of participation for women peacekeepers, and to providing gender-sensitive training for forces deployed on peacekeeping missions. Uruguay also endorsed General's zero-tolerance policy for peacekeepers

                  _______________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Uruguay reaffirms its commitment to the agenda on Women, Peace and Security and to continue working with the United Nations and all Member States for its full and effective implementation.

                  _______________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  The Uruguayan Government approved a national strategy for gender equality by 2030. It was developed in conjunction with civil society to address inequality and discrimination from a human rights perspective. The strategy includes political and institutional guidelines and establishes a road map to influence public policies and guide State action on gender equality.

                  Uruguay has also joined the Elsie Initiative on Women in Peace Operations, launched by Canada, to ensure an increase in the number of women deployed in peacekeeping operations. The National Peace Operations Training Institute of Uruguay also provides mandatory training to the personnel that will be deployed on topics such as preventing and responding to violence against women. At the same time, the Uruguayan Government carries out ongoing work in the implementation of a zerotolerance policy in cases of abuse, exploitation or other acts that violate the code of conduct.

                  Commitments:

                  Uruguay will be holding a preparatory meeting with the United Kingdom for the 2019 United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference, and will devote attention to the training of Blue Helmets on issues related to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and specific training for women peacekeepers. Uruguay will have the honour to co-chair the Women, Peace and Security National Focal Points Network, established at the behest of Spain, with Canada in the year 2020.

                  Vietnam/ASEAN

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________

                  2017 Update!

                  Vietnam is proud to see the increased participation of women in all spheres of life, especially the military and security forces.

                  Vietnam is now working closely with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in preparation for the early deployment of the very first Vietnamese woman officer to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Another nine women are prepared to work at level 2 hospital once it is deployed in South Sudan.

                  Commitment: 

                  Vietnam made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  In 2017, ASEAN leaders adopted the Action Agenda on Mainstreaming Women’s Economic Empowerment.

                  Venezuela

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  _______________________________

                  2018 Update!

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.

                  Zimbabwe

                  Made a statement affirming support for the WPS Agenda, but no specific commitment made.