UN Women Women, Peace and Security in the Arab States - Phase III

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

Finland has supported UN Women's "Women, Peace and Security" program in the Middle East and North Africa since 2016. UN Women's project strengthens the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 through policy change and community-level action. The goals of the project are: 1) National institutions validate and implement WPS commitments, with stronger civil society oversight; 2) More women benefit from high-quality and accessible multisectoral protection services and transitional justice and accountability mechanisms; and 3) Women participate in social cohesion efforts and inclusive conflict prevention structures at national and community levels through the implementation of WPS commitments. The project aims to respond to the deteriorating peace and security situation in the Middle East and North Africa. Finland's contribution in 2023-2025 is EUR 6,000,000. The project has achieved clear demonstrated results. The results include the development and passage of the first National Action Plans in Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia, and the second ones in Iraq and Jordan. In addition, the implementation of the National Action Plans on women, peace and security has been supported in all project countries as well as the regional plan of the League of Arab States. These are huge accomplishment in a region with only one National Action Plan on 1325 at the time of the inception of the first phase of the programme.