Implementing national Women, Peace and Security agenda at the local level
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Localization of the 2018-2020 National Action Plan for Implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (NAP) is one of the priorities highlighted in the draft version under review.
The Inter-Agency Commission on Gender Equality, Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, the responsible body in the executive branch for the development and coordinated implementation of the NAP, is working towards the establishment of mechanisms for improved coordination and cooperation among national and local-level stakeholders regarding Georgia’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
On 21 and 22 November 2017, UN Women, in cooperation with the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), IDP Women Association “Consent” and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), co-facilitated a two-day workshop on the localization of the thirs phase of the NAP.
Ms. Erika Kvapilova, UN Women Country Representative in Georgia, and Mr. Gerhard Schaumberger, Head of ADA, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of engaging local authorities, civil society and grass-roots women’s groups in the coordinated implementation of Georgia’s WPS commitments.
The workshop brought together women’s NGOs, grass-roots organizations and gender focal points from 10 municipalities comprising 101 villages adjacent to the Administrative Boundary Lines. NGO and government representatives from Azerbaijan also joined the workshop to share their insights and observe the experience of their Georgian counterparts.
“Localization of UNSCR 1325 policies is taking place in 15 countries, and the UN Secretary-General in his reports to the Security Council has underlined localization to be a key strategy for successful implementation of the UNSCR 1325 National Action Plans,” noted Ms. Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, CEO of GNWP, who presented examples of how WPS commitments are mainstreamed in local policy development and planning.
At the end of the workshop, participants worked in groups and developed mechanisms for coordinated cooperation between the local and central government. Based on the specific needs and context in their communities, they also identified relevant provisions to be integrated into local municipality plans.
“The knowledge gained during the workshop and exchange of information with our colleagues from different municipalities are critical for our future work around Women, Peace and Security issues,” commented Ms. Leila Goshadze, gender focal point from Sachkhere Municipality.
Localization workshops also took place in the Samegrelo and Shida Kartli regions of Georgia during the week of 27 November. UN Women has been supporting the Government of Georgia to meet its commitments under UNSCR 1325 et al. since 2011.