In his opening address, State Secretary Raščan described the importance that Slovenia attaches to the Women, Peace and Security agenda and called for efforts to implement it to be stepped up. He presented Slovenia’s activities and achievements in this field as well as averring that women’s empowerment is a priority of Slovenian foreign policy. In particular, the State Secretary advocated the strengthening of cooperation between different stakeholders in implementing the 1325 agenda and was pleased to note that the event was focusing on how to strengthen cooperation between the EU and NATO, which is one of the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

State Secretary Raščan also affirmed that the topic will receive appropriate attention in the ongoing strategic discussion between the EU and NATO, at the end of which a new Joint Declaration on EU-NATO Cooperation is expected to be adopted. He stated that Slovenia would continue to support NATO’s financial mechanism for women, peace and security, to the activities of which Slovenia will allocate €30,000 this year.

Stella Ronner-Grubačić, Ambassador for Gender and Diversity at the European External Action Service, and Allison Hart, NATO Secretary General’s Acting Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, also addressed the participants of the event.

The Women, Peace and Security agenda, which is based on UN Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions, has become the cornerstone of global efforts to promote the role of women in peace and security. Amongst others, it affirms that peace and security efforts are more successful and sustainable if women are involved, as equal partners, in preventing violent conflicts, providing assistance, making reconstruction efforts, and building lasting peace.