On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a round table entitled “Women, peace and security: Minimum standards, harmonised guidelines and common policies for the European Agenda” was held at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
UN Resolution 1325: women’s key role in preventing and combating violence
The round table was organised by the Interministerial Committee for Human Rights (CIDU) at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) and by the Mario Moderni Foundation. During the event, the National Action Plan 2014-2016 (Italy’s second)on “Women, Peace and Security”was presented. The Plan was drawn up in implementation of Resolution 1325 (2000), which was unanimously approved by the UN Security Council in 2000. Resolution 1325 is an expression of states’ commitment to consider the impact of war on the women living in conflict and post-conflict regions. It recognises their fundamental role in political and military mediation and in peace-building, and in preventing and combating violence, especially gender-related violence.
Participants at today’s event included the Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Senator Valeria Fedeli; the Secretary General of the MFAIC, Ambassador Michele Valensise; the Permanent Representative to NATO, Maria Angela Zappia Caillaux; the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, Marriet Schuurman; and representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the embassies of EU countries and members of the CIDU. The round table was coordinated by CIDU Chair Minister Gianludovico de Martino.
Human Rights: one of Italy’s mostly keenly felt battles, says Gentiloni
Referring to Italy’s National Action Plan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni, declared that the battle to stamp out violence against women is one of Italy’s mostly keenly felt in the framework of our work in international fora to protect human rights. Indeed, Italy is in the front line internationally in combating violence against women, with campaigns against practices that harm the fundamental rights of girls and adolescents, and against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early and forced marriages.
Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, sent a message to the meeting. “Discrimination and violence are not ancient and distant horrors. They are a daily drama for millions of women throughout the world and sadly in Europe too, and in Italy, as we are reminded every day in the news”.
