UNSCR 1325 and gender mainstreaming in the EU

Key EU documents

Key EU Actors

Various units or representatives of the European External Action Service (EEAS) are responsible to follow the implementation of UNSCR 1325. The following are of particular relevance:

  • The EEAS Principal Advisor on Gender and on UNSCR 1325

The position of the Principal Adviser on Gender and on UNSCR 1325 was created in summer 2015. This new position is assumed by Ambassador Mara Marinaki. Since September 2016, her work is supported by a Swedish National Seconde.

The EEAS Principal Gender Advisor’s role is to ensure exchanges and coordination of the EU with other international, regional and national actors on policy and action related to gender and UNSCR 1325. She will also contribute to the EU’s internal coordination on gender and UNSCR 1325 matters, to their enhanced visibility and to their prioritisation in the EU’s external action.

  • The EU Informal Task Force on UNSCR 1325

The EU informal Task Force was set-up in 2009. It is chaired by the EEAS and regularly gathers EU officials from the European Commission and EU member states (from the permanent representations to the EU and/or from national capitals) to share information relevant for UNSCR 1325. NATO, UN Women, OSCE and civil society are also regularly invited to participate. The Task Force also organises annual EU member states meetings on UNSCR 1325 (see the 2014 and the 2015 reports).

  • Other relevant actors (non-exhaustive)

The Political and Security Committee (PSC) gathers ambassadors from EU Member states to discuss and decide on EU policies related to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). The EEAS Principal Gender Adviser regularly reports to the PSC.

The Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM) gathers representatives from EU Member States to discuss issues related to Human rights (including Women’s and girls’ rights).

The United Nations Council Working Group (CONUN) is the working groups responsible to develop common EU policies with regards to UN issues, including the UNSCR 1325.