On November 15, 2015, UNFPA Armenia, RA Ministry of Defense (MoD) and RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) organized a workshop on the implementation of UN Security Ccouncil Resolution 1325, in particular, devoted to the experience of Armenia.
The workshop was attended by representatives of RA MoD, RA MFA, RA Parliament, NATO, and other international organizations and diplomatic agencies, civil society, and academia.
LTC Aleksandr Avetisyan (PhD), MoD, Mr. Samvel Mkrtchyan, Head of Arms Control and International Security Department, MFA, and Mr. Garik Hayrapetyan, UNFPA Armenia Assistant Representative, greeted the participants.
Mr. Avetisyan presented the implementation process of the 1325 resolution in Armenia, noting that the country has made visible progress, but still has a lot to do. Kristina Baleisyte, Deputy Head of NATO Liaison Office, talked about the NATO best practices and vision on the issue.
Mr. Vahan Asatryan, Senior Expert at the International Center for Human Development, spoke about the study supported by UNFPA that targeted the involvement of women in the sphere of defense in Armenia, while his colleague, Mr. Artur Atanesyan, Head of Chair of Applied Sociology, Yerevan State University, presented details of the upcoming book "Woman and Army" covering various aspects of interaction and involvement of women in the armed forces.
The discussion continued long after the closure of the event.
The Security Council resolution 1325 on women and peace and security was adopted in 2000. The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. Resolution 1325 urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts. It also calls on all parties to conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in situations of armed conflict. The resolution provides a number of important operational mandates, with implications for Member States and the entities of the United Nations system (un.org).
