Promoting Women in Peace and Security

During her first official visit to Bangladesh, UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka attends the National Women Peace and Security Symposium jointly organized by the Government of Bangladesh and UN Women from 29-30 January, which aims to further the development of a National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). The NAP will be a blueprint for the country’s efforts to ensure women’s meaningful participation in the prevention of conflict and violent extremism, and the protection and advancement of women’s rights to promote resilience during crises. The Executive Director provided the closing address at the Symposium and focused on the effectiveness of the NAP, where the civil society actors are able to continue to play an integral role going forward, sharing their invaluable expertise and vision for a more peaceful and equal society. Photo: UN Women/Saikat Mojumder

UN Women works with women from targeted communities by supporting their leadership and economic empowerment to promote peaceful coexistence, build social cohesion and strengthen resilience at the community level. It will strengthen women’s groups and networks working on social cohesion and de-radicalization by building their capacity to influence the development of gender-sensitive approaches to national policies and strategies to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism.

At the policy level, UN Women is providing supporting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in drafting the very first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. We are working with a core committee formed with representatives from different ministries to provide technical inputs as well as supporting the implementation of the plan from respective divisions and departments working on women, peace and security agenda.