Women, Peace and Security in Dutch Foreign Policy: A Recommendation for the New National Action Plan

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written by On October 6, 2015 in 2010-2016, Uncategorized, WIIS Blog
Women in Afghan National Security Forces take center stage
Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Cassandra Thompson: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/625440
By Alex Paul

The Netherlands has long been at the forefront of women, peace and security issues. A Security Council member when Resolution 1325 was adopted in 2000, it will launch its third National Action Plan (NAP) for 1325 by the end of 2015. However, strong support for the principles and objectives of 1325 has not always translated effectively into Dutch foreign policy, with programming concentrating on one or two key issue areas.

This has resulted in projects (both government and civil society initiated) that by themselves are relatively successful  but lack reference to other issues, such as the societal gender inequalities that prevent the full participation of women in peacebuilding activities. Instead, what is needed is a more coherent, coordinated approach to tackling the full spectrum of discrimination faced by women in post-conflict societies. Incorporating such an approach into the new NAP and focusing on the underlying causes of gender inequality will help ensure that Dutch policy succeeds in enabling women to play a full and equal role in creating safer and more peaceful societies worldwide.

The full article was published by The Hague Institute for Global Justice in the Netherlands and can be accessed here.

Alex Paul is a recent Masters of International Relations and Master of Public Policy graduate interested in the role of international norms in global governance and national policy making - from women, peace and security to nuclear proliferation and fragile states.