National action plan: women, peace and security

March 8, 2007 – (admin.ch Media Information) President of the Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey today presented the Swiss action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security on the occasion of International Women's Day. The action plan contains a catalogue of measures by units of the federal administration involved in the promotion of women.

During the event organised by women's organisations and the Equality Office of the Canton Geneva to mark International Women's Day as well as in the framework of an International Labour Organization event, Micheline Calmy-Rey presented the Swiss action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This resolution from the year 2000 is the first UN Security Council Resolution which expressly refers to the effects of armed conflicts on women and girls and underlines the importance of women in peace processes.

The resolution contains three priorities:

* Women should be more involved in peace promotion measures.
* Gender-specific violence against women and girls in armed conflicts must be prevented and the rights and needs of girls and women must be protected.
* Peace promotion activities by states must take into account that men and women are differently affected by armed conflicts and play different roles in them.

Switzerland is already actively promoting these priorities. The action plan is designed to coordinate and strengthen this activity. It contains a catalogue of measures for the period 2007 - 2009 for the implementation of the three priorities. The plan is the result of inter-departmental cooperation and can be adapted and updated at any point. It also includes co-determination measures for the further development of the catalogue of measures for persons and organisations involved in peace promotion.

The Swiss action plan is available in French, Italian and English.

From: http://www.admin.ch/aktuell/00089/index.html?lang=en&msg-id=11339