GNWP and its members Localize UNSCR 1325 and 1820 in Liberia
January 2013
By Helena Gronberg
Over the next two weeks the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), a program of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) and its member organizations Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET), Liberia Women Media Action Committee (LIWOMAC), Voice of the Voiceless (VOV) and Women Care Inc. are excited to introduce GNWP’s Localization Program in Liberia.
GNWP’s Localization Program constitutes a bottom-up approach to the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) – particularly UNSCR 1325 – with local authorities and communities taking ownership of the implementation process. The resolutions call for participation of women in all decision-making and peacebuilding processes, prevention of conflict, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, protection of women and girls’ rights, and promotion of a gender-perspective on peace and security issues.
The workshops in Liberia, which will be held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa (January 22-24); and Gbarnga, Gbong (January 27-29) will gather local authorities such as superintendents, mayors, members of the traditional councils, members of the Commission on Decentralization, community leaders, paramount chiefs, and other local key actors who will examine the WPS Resolutions and Liberia’s National Action Plan (LNAP) on UNSCR 1325.
During the workshops participants will identify specific provisions of the LNAP most relevant to the social and cultural context of their communities, discuss how these provisions could be applied at local level, and come up with concrete action plans and recommendations to do so.
Since its piloting in 2010, GNWP and its members have carried out the Localization program in Burundi, Colombia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sierra Leone and Uganda. Burundi, Nepal, DRC and Sierra Leone have developed Guidelines for the integration of WPS resolutions in local development planning.
GNWP and its members in Liberia thank the Folke Bernadotte Academy of Sweden and Cordaid for supporting this program in Liberia.