UNSCR 1325

Based on international comparisons, Israel is in a 'good' spot in the middle. The number of women in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, reached a record high last year, but even then they accounted for only 30% of all Knesset Members (34 out of the 120 Knesset members). The first quarter of 2019 catches Israel at the height of an election campaign. However, it is already projected that following the elections the number of women Members of Knesset will be even lower. And, as everyone knows, the head count tells only part of the story.

Last December, the Israeli Government decided to establish a governmental committee to create a National Action Plan in the spirit  of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The resolution calls on UN member states to protect women from violence, increase the participation of diverse women in decision-making bodies, and for the prevention of armed conflict. This video and the text that follows tells the story of the journey of civil society NGOs to create an Action Plan for Israel.

The Israeli government announced that it is establishing a team to formulate a working plan to advance UN Resolution 1325 in Israel. The resolution calls for women’s equal inclusion in all aspects of decision-making, especially around issues of peace and security. is this a sign that gender awareness is spreading in Israel? (Lilith Blog)

On December 14th, the Israeli Government made an extraordinary announcement of a new plan for promoting gender equality in the country. The plan constitutes a truly revolutionary change in approaches to the elimination of gender inequities.The decision introduces gender mainstreaming tools that take into account gender perspectives and implications in policy-making with a view to increasing opportunities for women in all spheres. The need for bold new ways to deal with festering gender inequities has highlighted the essentially gendered structures of society in Israel, making the struggle for gender equality into a central social issue which requires all-embracing societal solutions (The Times of Israel).

On November 9th, the City Council of Tel Aviv-Jaffa adopted the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Woman, Peace and Security, which makes Tel Aviv the international pioneer in implementing this important resolution. On this historic occasion, a festive reception was held on the Tel Aviv-Jaffa City Hall rooftop. Kerstin Müller, the Director of the HBS Israel Office, was one of the speakers.

“We can only imagine how government ministers would give official statements saying that instead of investing in war, investments will be made to promote joint ventures of social welfare, education, environment and many more”. Heinrich Boell Foundation’s partner Itach Maaki – Women Lawyers for Social Justice has been working to promote such a vision for the past years.  Adv. Anat Thon Ashkenazi analyses how UNSCR 1325 on Women Peace and Security is relevant to the current situation in Palestine and Israel. 

Exactly 11 years ago, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1325 (October 31, 2000). This groundbreaking resolution sent a significant message to many countries,including Israel. The principles of the decision, which emphasize representation of women in peace negotiations and increased protection of women and children against violence in conflict situations, were found to be very relevant to the Israeli society that has been dealing with a long-term conflict situation over the years. Adv. Anat Thon Ashkenazi of the NGO Itach-Maaki Women Lawyers for Social Justice - a partner of the Israel office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, describes the efforts of the implementation of UNSCR 1325 in Israel to date.

On October 31, 2000 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security.” This resolution provides that women be adequately represented on all levels in peace building processes and in the making of security policies.Ten years after the adoption of UN Resolution 1325, the Gunda Werner Institute (GWI) of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in cooperation with the German Women’s Security Council and Peace Women Across the Globe, hosted an international conference in Berlin to examine the implementation of the resolution.Anat Saragusti, a board member of Itach-Maaki - Women Lawyers for social Justice, supported in its 1325 implementation efforts by the Heinrich Boell Stiftung Israel office, was invited to the conference to present the Israel case study at the conference in Berlin on October 28th, 2010. Click to read the presentation given by Anat Saragusti»