PRESS RELEASE

National Consultation pour the effective implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security in Chad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

N’djamena, June 17th 2019 – Without the full and effective participation of women, there can never be sustainable peace and development. On June 17, 2019, key actors of peace and security policy in Chad – including representatives of the government, civil society, women’s associations, and traditional and religious leaders – convened for a National Consultation to discuss strategies for the better inclusion of women and a gender perspective in all decision-making processes, peace and security in Chad. The Consultation was organized by the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood Protection and National Solidarity, in partnership with Swiss Cooperation and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), an international NGO specializing in the implementation of resolutions on women, peace and security.

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the eight supporting resolutions on Women, Peace and Security emphasize that women are often the first to detect and deal with the signs of conflict, and that their contributions in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding must be recognized and supported. Resolution 1325 also recognizes the disproportionate impact of conflict, including armed conflict, on women, and the need for women’s inclusion and gender perspectives in conflict prevention, negotiations, humanitarian planning, peacekeeping operations and post-conflict reconstruction and recovery.

The implementation of UNSCR 1325 and supporting resolutions on Women, Peace and Security constitute the foundation for the promotion of human rights, development and good governance, particularly in complex security contexts, such as Chad. As the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood Protection and National Solidarity emphasized in her speech of the opening of the National Consultation, the Chadian government has taken important steps towards the implementation of the resolutions Women, Peace and Security. The adoption of a National Gender policy and its action plan, the National Strategy to combat gender-based violence and the road map against child marriage and female genital mutilation create an opportunity to advance women’s rights and ensure their participation in decision-making, development, peace and security.

However, Chad does not yet have a National Action Plan for the implementation of resolution 1325. “A National Action Plan is a fundamental tool for the implementation of Women, Peace and Security. – said Ms. Agnieszka Fal-Dutra Santos, GNWP Program Coordinator. “Although the development of such a plan must involve all stakeholders – especially civil society and grassroots actors – our experience in more than 20 countries shows us that political will and strong leadership of the government, as well as a dedicated budget are necessary elements for the effective implementation. We are pleased to see the commitment of the Minister and other stakeholders who came to the Consultation, and hope to see the effective implementation of resolution 1325 in Chad. ”

Willi Graf, Director of the Swiss Cooperation in Chad, further emphasized: “The implementation of Resolution 1325 is at the top of the government’s responsibility; but the government is not alone in this effort – strong involvement of civil society is essential. This inclusive and joint work is to be seen as a process where everyone brings added value: the government for example through its specific skills and generation of political will and civil society through its expertise and knowledge of the challenges and experiences of the populations it represents.”

For all inquiries, please contact:

Dinah Lakehall
Program Officer
Global Network of Women Peacebuilders
dinah@gnwp.org