Untitled Nieuws pagina
On 2 July 2026, NAP 1325 signatories gathered in The Hague for a morning of reflection, dialogue and exchange on the implementation of the Dutch National Action Plan (NAP) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and WO=MEN, the event brought together government representatives, civil society organisations and practitioners to meet each other, discuss progress, challenges and priorities for the years ahead.
At a time when conflicts are increasing globally and women's rights are under pressure, one message resonated throughout the day: the WPS and the NAP 1325- agenda's remains as urgent and relevant as ever.
Migration through a genderlens
The event opened with a keynote speechon the role of migration as integral part of policies. This was partly illustrated with the PROSPECTS Partnership the ministry has with UNHCR and others:The PROSPECTS Partnership | UNHCR
Participants welcomed these efforts while stressing the importance of involving women's organisations from the very beginning. Throughout the discussion, signatories highlighted that meaningful gender-responsive programming requires local expertise, participation and leadership.
A discussion on government progress of NAP 1325-IV
Representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice & Security and Defence reflected on key achievements and challenges regarding WPS over the past two years. From supporting women's political participation in conflict contexts to strengthening work on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), speakers highlighted the collective efforts of government and civil society partners. A recurring recognition was that the successes of NAP 1325 are built on the commitment and expertise of all its signatories. At the same time, challenges remain. It was emphasised that there is a need to move from understanding why a gender perspective matters to implementing how it can be embedded in everyday practice. Leadership, ownership and investment were identified as key ingredients for ensuring that gender responsiveness becomes part of organisational culture rather than a standalone priority.
Mainstreaming a gender lens into national systems in the Netherlands, particularly within asylum, migration and criminal justice processes, remains an ongoing task.
Drawing on recent experience of a former civilian gender expert in South Sudan,shared lessons highlighting a challenge within the WPS -agenda: the gap between policy commitments and realities on the ground. While frameworks and mandates for UN missions are essential, meaningful implementation requires flexibility, local ownership and gender responsiveness to changing contexts.
Accountability, funding and leadership
Looking ahead, participants identified three priorities that will be crucial for the future of NAP 1325 implementation:
-
First, accountability. Representatives highlighted recent efforts to prosecute international crimes, including cases related to gender-based violence. Ensuring justice for survivors remains a cornerstone of sustainable peace.
-
Second, funding. Participants stressed the need for continued and flexible funding for women's rights organisations, peacebuilders and initiatives. Third, gender-responsive leadership. Across sectors, speakers emphasised the importance of leadership that actively promotes inclusion, equality and meaningful participation.
The Strength of the NAP Community
The discussion concluded on how the NAP community can continue to drive change. Participants raised important questions about civilian deployments, diaspora engagement, representation and the Netherlands' role in defending international law and human rights. Despite the challenges, the atmosphere remained hopeful and action-oriented. What stood out most was the strength of the partnership between government institutions and civil society organisations. The ability to learn from one another, challenge each other and work collectively towards shared goals remains one of the greatest strengths of the Dutch NAP 1325.
As the community welcomed new signatories Home | Het ASKV and the About Us - Stichting Jason , the event served as a reminder that the WPS agenda is not only about policy commitments. It is about ensuring that women can participate, lead and shape peaceful and just societies on the ground, facilitated and inspired by a diverse NAP 1325 community.
The overall key takeaways from the day were clear: accountability, sustainable funding and gender-responsive leadership remain essential to turning commitment into action:
A gender responsive approach in the asylum chain Moderated panel discussion with representatives from: COA, MigrationInc, the Women’s Boat Rotterdam and ASKV.
Key take aways from this lively discussion were:
- ASKV:
Invest in awareness-raising and capacity building for the police, municipalities, and support service organizations regarding the position and rights of women without legal residence status. So that immigration status does not constitute a barrier to accessing protection, reporting violence, and receiving support. - MANO Foundation:
MANO advocates for small-scale reception facilities similar to the Women’s Boat Rotterdam (though land-based rather than on a river vessel). The key strength of this model for vulnerable groups lies in the safety created by small-scale accommodation and a target-group-tailored approach, combined with an organization that focuses on preventive mental health support, participation, and connection to the local community. - Migration Inc.:
Meaningfully and structurally involve refugees, women, and community organizations in policymaking, reception systems, and decision-making processes—not merely as target groups, but as equal partners who bring valuable knowledge, lived experience, and solutions. A great deal of expertise already exists within communities themselves
- COA:
Several initiatives and frameworks already exist to support a gender-responsive approach. At the same time, sustainable and stable reception conditions are essential to make these policies workable. Such conditions enable staff, together with partner organisations, to translate policy into concrete support and safe reporting routes.
Women Leadership in the current security context: Moderated panel discussion between the Ministry of Defense and the National Police.
The break out sesson with speaker National Police and Ministry of Defensehighlighted that gender-responsive leadership requires accountability at all levels. Gender equality cannot rely on individual champions; it must be embedded in institutions through leadership commitment, clear responsibilities, resources and monitoring. Leaders should be accountable for translating gender commitments into practice and creating organisational cultures that promote inclusion, safety and equal participation.
Participants also stressed that gender-responsive leadership is not only a women’s responsibility. Men must actively be engaged at operational, tactical and strategic levels. Investing in training, gender awareness and practical tools is essential to ensure that all leaders understand their role in advancing equality and meaningful participation.
Finally, the panel speakers emphasised that a gender lens strengthens security outcomes. Integrating diverse experiences and perspectives into security, policing and peacebuilding efforts leads to more effective, inclusive and sustainable responses to today’s complex security challenges. Women’s meaningful participation remains a cornerstone of lasting peace and security.
What does women's political particpation look like in fragile contexts?: NIMD reflects on a five years WPS programme in Myanmar, Burundi and Colombia
Htet Oo Wai, Democracy Support Lead at NAP signatory NIMD gave an excellent presentation on the reality of supporting women in politics and peace processes on the ground, based on their experience in the last five years. Although the context in the three countries is very different, women kept asking the same questions: How do I stay engaged? How do I stay safe? How do I keep going when change is slow? How do we make sure we're not alone? 
On supporting women in politics in Burundi Htet says:
''It is not about women empowerment. Women are strong and powerful. But there is a need to remove the economic and socio-cultural barriers that prevent them from participating in politics. Therefore: accompany rather than train them''.
Htet also emphasised that it is often not a case of bringing women into politics or peace processes, but rather ''how to keep women in the ring'', how to make sure that they stay relevant when the grounds shift, like in Myanmar during the military coup in 2021. As one of the women in Myanmar remarked: Before, I thought leadership is about speaking in public. Today, leadership means making sure my community survives. 