Over a decade after a landmark global effort to increase the
participation of women in peace and security efforts much of the
Americas is still behind the curve. UN Security Council
Resolution 1325 (UNSC 1325), passed in 2000, reaffirms the
important role of women in the prevention and resolution of
conflicts and in all efforts aimed at promoting peace and
security. One pillar of this resolution is to increase the
participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in
all UN-administered peace and security efforts. It also calls on
all parties to conflict to take special measures to protect
women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape
and other forms of sexual abuse. But actually operationalizing
the resolution requires individual countries to adopt National
Action Plans (NAPs). And here's where the region falls short.
National Action Plans serve as a guide for governments to
articulate priorities and coordinate the implementation of
Resolution 1325. This includes integrating different