OSCE Presence assists Albania in enhancing implementation of Women, Peace and Security agenda
Albanian high-level officials, civil society activists and representatives of embassies gathered on 7 February in Tirana to discuss achievements in the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Albania and the way ahead. The OSCE Presence in Albania together with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare organized the event.
“Albania adopted its own National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in 2018, and works closely with the OSCE to translate its commitment to women in security into a real and tangible contribution. We stand fully committed in supporting the country in implementing the UNSCR 1325,” said Head of Presence Bernd Borchardt.
“The 20th anniversary of UNSC 1325 finds Albania engaged to fulfil the objectives of the national action plan on its implementation. Despite achievements, we still need more women in politics, police, army, peacekeeping missions, diplomacy and municipal councils. There is still much to be done to listen to the voice of women,” said Minister of Health and Social Welfare Ogerta Manastirliu.
Minister of Defence Olta Xhaçka said that the trend of women involvement in the armed forces over the last years has been very positive - women make up 18.2 per cent of the armed forces staff, and that 35.4 per cent of the new officers that joined the army last year were women. “As we work to build a modern and professional army force we want to attract the most talented people. If we were to exclude women, we would have deprived ourselves of at least half of the talented army officers that the Albanian society can offer,” she said.
The event showcased good practices in the implementation of national action plans on the Resolution 1325 in the Western Balkans. The participants discussed the role of state institutions, civil society, international development partners and international relations in fostering the Women, Peace and Security agenda. They stressed the need for effective structures that enable women’s meaningful participation in peace processes and longer-term peacebuilding activities.
The overall message was that challenges in the implementation of UNSCR 1325 cannot be addressed properly if only the government is viewed as responsible. “The conference noted that interventions on Women, Peace and Security need to build on cross-institutional co-operation and active role of civil society and media, as well as on research-based evidence on the implementation of the agenda across the OSCE region. The latest OSCE study Implementing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the OSCE Region, published in January 2020, is a good starting point in this direction,” said Sihana Nebiu, Head of the Presence’s Democratization Department.