The United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace, and security recognizes the importance of women’s contributions to conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding. It seeks to ensure that women’s inclusion is valued and their contributions are appreciated in peace and conflict management processes. The resolution is essential for leveraging strategic actions for equitable and sustainable interventions in peacebuilding processes through the involvement of women and girls.
Since the adoption of the resolution in October 2000, member states have undertaken the development of National Action Plans for its implementation. The Kenya National Action Plan (KNAP) has therefore been developed in fulfillment of the country’s commitment to implement Resolution 1325 and related resolutions. The plan, aptly titled ‘Kuhusisha Wanawake ni Kudumisha Amani’ (‘to involve women is to sustain peace’) takes into account the changing nature of insecurity and incorporates a human security approach whose focus is on the protection of individual citizens. The KNAP further recognizes that security threats include social, economic, and environmental factors, and notes that women’s vulnerability is exacerbated by unequal access to resources, services, and opportunities.
The KNAP also takes into consideration progress made by Kenya in advancing the protection
and promotion of the rights of women and girls by observing that the promulgation of the new Constitution of Kenya in August 2010 provided impetus for the KNAP’s development. As a result, the KNAP is anchored in the constitutional values of gender equality, inclusion, and participation, and builds on existing policies in the fields of security, development, and diplomacy. It recognizes that the key beneficiaries of the constitution’s bill of rights are women and marginalized communities. Laws and policies have been developed (and existing ones reviewed) to comply with constitutional provisions on gender equality and public participation.
The implementation of the Medium-Term Plan (2013–2017), with its focus on rolling out devolution, will hasten the delivery of the KNAP’s objectives and simultaneously serve as an additional tool of accountability in the implementation of the constitution and relevant gender equality policies.
As a government, we note that the successful implementation of the KNAP will not only provide a comprehensive approach to the implementation of UNSCR 1325, but will also enhance coordination among the relevant actors, raise awareness among stakeholders, and increase accountability among the actors responsible for its implementation.
We reaffirm our commitment to overseeing the implementation of the KNAP by providing the necessary leadership and building national consensus and ownership in achieving the goals of Resolution 1325 at the two levels of government.