Cooperation for better security – national stakeholders in Moldova discuss next steps for UNSCR 1325 implementation

August 13, 2018 by Agnieszka Fal-Dutra Santos

“Security means different things to different people. Especially today, human security is crucial. The National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325 is important because it brought together different actors and governmental institutions to ensure comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable peace in Moldova” – said Ms. Elena Marzac, the civil society coordinator for the NAP process in Moldova. Moldova adopted its first NAP on 27 April 2018 – an important achievement, especially in the context, in which the effects of the separatist armed conflict in 1990s are still felt, both in the complex political situation and in everyday lives of the citizens.

On August 13, 2018, GNWP in partnership with Gender-Centru, Foreign Policy Association (APE) Moldova and the Moldovan State Bureau for Reintegration, and with support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), held a workshop aimed at identifying the next steps and strategies for the implementation of the NAP. The workshop brought together government officials from the key Ministries responsible for NAP implementation; civil society representatives, including from the separatist region of Transnistria; media representatives; and international partners, including UN Women and the Austrian Embassy.

The workshop included expert presentations on the latest global developments on the Women, Peace and Security agenda; the Localization as a strategy for NAP implementation; and the process, content and challenges related to the Moldovan NAP. The participants also listened to Localization accounts and experiences from the representatives of civil society in Georgia and Ukraine, who participated in the workshop as part of GNWP’s Peace Exchange program.

The knowledge gained through the presentations allowed the participants to identify key gaps and next steps needed to effectively implement the Moldovan NAP. These included using media and social media to promote positive images of women in the security sector; and establishing or strengthening reporting and accountability mechanisms for sexual harassment in security institutions. Moreover, by bringing together representatives of different sectors, the workshop reinforced the cooperation and coordination on the NAP implementation. As Ms.Valentina Bodrug, President of the Gender Centru concluded, “Everyone has to be involved in NAP implementation – government, civil society, international organizations and the media all have a role to play”.  The workshop brought Moldova one step closer to an effective, intersectoral implementation of UNSCR 1325.