Jordan brings together int’l partners to discuss women, peace and security agenda

AMMAN — Jordan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, in partnership with the governments of Canada, Norway, Finland, Spain and the UK, hosted a side event on national leadership for the holistic implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 at the margins of the UN Security Council annual Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security.  

Organised with the support of the Jordanian National Commission for Women and UN Women, the event convened more than 100 national and international partners, including security sector agencies, civil society organisations, experts and media professionals, to present progress achieved in the implementation of Jordan’s National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 (JONAP), as well as to discuss challenges and opportunities in promoting women’s equal participation and full involvement in all efforts related to maintaining and promoting peace, according to a statement made available to The Jordan Times.  

Permanent Representative of Jordan to the UN Sima Sami Bahous opened the event, noting: “Defining the intersecting goals of JONAP and the National Strategy for Jordanian Women (2020-2025) is pivotal to ensure the sustainability of the implementation of the agenda through capacity building and institutionalising the relation between all relevant sectors: Security, military, governmental as well as civil society organisations.”

During the event, participants acknowledged the JONAP as a positive example of national leadership for the effective localisation of the women, peace and security agenda. 

Two years after its launch, significant results have been achieved across all its priority areas of actions thanks to national ownership, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and upfront national investments complemented by a dedicated pooled fund mechanism supported by governments of Canada, Norway, Finland, Spain and the UK, read the statement. 

“With the progress achieved in the implementation of the JONAP, Jordan is an important example for other countries to follow. Gender-responsive budgeting, women’s representation in the security sector, gender-sensitive work environments, reformed education sector and wide inclusion of women in all sectors of society, are all important aspects to achieve not only the goals of UNSCR 1325, but the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by year 2030,” said Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN Jukka Salovaara.

Secretary General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women Salma Nims reaffirmed the role of the government of Jordan, which has delivered on its commitments through the endorsement, launching, provision of financial allocations and by mandating the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment to oversee the work of the JONAP’s implementation.

As a result, an increasing number of Jordanian women are serving in security sector agencies and are being promoted in leadership positions, survivors of gender-based violence have enhanced access to protection and legal services, and civil society organisations are leading community-based solutions in the crisis’ response and recovery efforts. This was further underscored following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has further exacerbated the situation of vulnerable women and girls, the statement said. 

“Jordan has been recognised as a model for the localisation of the women, peace and security agenda, demonstrating its transformative impact and translating commitments into action. This was possible through strong national ownership and strategic partnerships. UN Women looks forward to strengthening our partnership on the JONAP,” said Assistant Secretary General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director Anita Bhatia.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the first resolution that recognised women’s leadership and impactful role in achieving international peace and security and their contributions to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. 

On this occasion, member states reconfirmed their commitments to realise inclusive, sustainable peace through the women, peace, and security agenda in the next decade, the statement said. 

The side event provided an opportunity to share evidence-based results and best practices for Jordan’s holistic implementation of the JONAP, according to the statement