WPS National Focal Points Network: Women’s Participation in Peace and Security: Conflict Prevention and the Security Sector

In the margins of the high-level week of the General Assembly, Spain, in collaboration with Germany, Namibia and UN Women, is organizing a meeting of the Focal Points Network on WPS as a follow-up of the first meeting which took place in Alicante (Spain) on April 26-27th 2017. It will focus on:

 “Women’s participation in peace and security: conflict prevention and the security sector and its integration in National Action Plans (NAPS) and National Strategies on WPS”

 “Network’s operational achievements and challenges” The Focal Points Network is a cross-regional forum aiming to provide space to exchange experiences and best practices on women, peace, and security.

In the September 2016 joint communiqué at the Foundational Meeting of the WPS National Focal Points Network in New York, members affirmed their commitment to advance women’s participation in decision-making in peace and security, as well as women’s participation in national and regional-level peace and security policies and programs. To further realize this commitment, the first meeting of the National Focal Points Network, held in Alicante from April 26-27th, 2017, focused on National Action Plans (NAPs) for Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). After its launch in New York last September, the Network has established some of its operational elements, such as the Presidency and the Secretariat. Spain is holding the presidency of this Network in 2017. Germany and Namibia will do so in 2018 and 2019 respectively.