Women, Peace and Security

7 December 2007

Together with the Dutch government and thirteen Dutch social organisations, NWO divisions MaGW and WOTRO have become partners in the Dutch National Action Plan 1325. This Action Plan is based on the UN Security Council resolution 1325 women, peace and security. This resolution recognises the adverse, disproportionate effects of war and armed conflict on women and it stresses the important role of women in preventing conflict and the need for their equal participation and full involvement in peace negotiations and political and socio-economic post-conflict reconstruction.
The aim of the Action Plan is ‘to take a number of integrated measures to improve and strengthen the position of women during and after an armed conflict.’ On behalf of the Dutch government, the Dutch Ministers of Development Cooperation, Defence, Education, Culture & Science and the Interior & Kingdom Relations signed an agreement on 4 December 2007. By signing this agreement, the NWO commits itself to encourage academic research in the field of women, peace and security. A research agenda for gender and conflict is being drawn up by researchers in cooperation with NWO divisions Social Sciences (MaGW) and Science for Global Development (WOTRO).

This research agenda is part of the new NWO theme of Conflict and Security.

The four Ministers who signed the Action Plan. Photography: Jurgen Huiskes