ABSTRACT
European countries have been some of the most active supporters of UNSCR 1325 since its adoption in October 2000. They have pushed for action to be taken at the UN level, developed their own national action plans (NAPs) for implementation and have funded various initiatives in conflict-affected countries. As the global leader in funding for development assistance and an increasingly important actor in crisis management and peacebuilding, the EU could play a key role in leveraging support for the mainstreaming of UNSCR 1325 and gender issues into peace and security processes. Nevertheless, until 2008, it was slow to articulate a coordinated policy approach in relation to UNSCR 1325 or to integrate the provisions of the Resolution into its planning and programming. This chapter will first present an overview of the evolution of the EU’s policies in relation to women, peace and security issues. It will then turn to an assessment of some of the key areas where the EU has an added value in relation to the implementation of UNSCR 1325, as well as highlighting some of the ongoing obstacles. Finally, the chapter will conclude by considering some of the factors that enabled UNSCR 1325 to find its way onto the EU’s policy agenda.
