Women in the crossfire: OSCE organizes roundtable discussion on gender and security

VIENNA, 28 October 2009. The UK Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation, together with the OSCE Gender Section, organized a roundtable meeting today looking at the gender perspective in conflict resolution and disarmament strategies. 

Exactly nine years ago, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security, stressing the vital importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all aspects of conflict prevention, resolution and reconstruction. The OSCE's commitment to include gender in all the phases of its approach to security is in line with the principles laid down in the resolution.

Representatives of the 56 OSCE participating States and international organizations took part in the discussion moderated by Ambassador Ian Cliff, Head of the UK Delegation to the OSCE and shared their experiences related to implementing UNSCR 1325 in the field.

Opening the discussion, Cliff said: "The OSCE should seize the opportunity to follow up on its commitments outlined in the Ministerial Council Decision on women in conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation".

"The OSCE as the world's largest regional security organization is a very important player in disseminating the principles of including the gender perspective in conflict prevention and resolution," Eleni Sourani, the Greek Deputy Permanent Representative for Politico-Military Issues, said in her speech.

Participants also discussed a gender perspective in the OSCE's work on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).

"The involvement of women in security matters is essential for the OSCE to effectively act on insecurity," said Jamila Seftaoui, the OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues. "The environment in which small arms and light weapons are produced, traded and trafficked, used and misused affects women and men in a different way and thus is not a gender neutral environment."

The Forum for Security Co-operation is an OSCE decision-making body that focuses on military aspects of security.