Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- World experience in the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution "Women, Peace and Security", including the Republic of Uzbekistan, was discussed during an international "round table" held on 18 December 2020.

The online forum was organized within the framework of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of this UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and is dedicated to the consideration of the best examples of National Action Plans for the implementation of the provisions of the document "Women, Peace and Security".

The discussion was organized by the Commission for Ensuring Gender Equality of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Vienna), the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan has also prepared a draft National Action Plan, which was noted at the opening of the "round table" by the Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva.

“Active promotion of women’s participation in the political, economic and social life of Uzbekistan is a key task of the government of the republic,” T. Narbaeva said. This is confirmed by the recent adoption by the leadership of Uzbekistan of decisions aimed at significantly increasing the role of women in the processes of making vital decisions for the further development of the country.

Measures are being taken in Uzbekistan to implement the Sustainable Development Goals to increase the participation of women in public and state construction, ensure gender equality and prevent discrimination against women. This was noted by the First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the country’s parliament, director of the National Center for Human Rights Akmal Saidov. He stressed that the draft National Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security identifies priority areas in which to change the situation, introduce more effective gender policies and strive to achieve results.

The draft National Plan of Uzbekistan on Women, Peace and Security includes: encouraging the participation of women in the processes of maintaining peace and security; wide dissemination of knowledge on the topic: “Women, Peace and Security”, including among decision-makers; improving the protection system and taking into account the special needs and requirements of women and girls in emergency situations; promoting the participation of civil society in the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

At the heart of Resolution 1325 is the recognition that lasting peace cannot be achieved without the significant participation of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The document calls for the full and equal participation of women in all peace and security initiatives, along with the mainstreaming of gender issues. It is about more active involvement of women in peace negotiations to resolve conflicts, as well as an increase in the number of women in leadership positions both at the international and national levels.

Over the past 20 years, 86 states out of 193 UN member states have developed "Action Plans" for the implementation of the Resolution.

During the roundtable, experts shared their national experience, including the Director of the Conflict Prevention Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, Ambassador Aine Hearns, expert on women, peace and security of the Government of Albania Eralda Kani and others.

In particular, as noted by Aine Hearns, states have a shared responsibility to achieve the agreed UN Sustainable Development Goals, and now it is necessary to achieve the full implementation of Resolution 1325 (2000) and all subsequent resolutions on women and peace and security.

Eralda Kani highlighted the importance for all women, peace and security advocates to amend national legislation and establish strong and firm commitments to ensure that these issues are not backed up by political change, and that these issues are continuously addressed and recognized.