Around the world, women, men, boys and girls suffer multiple forms of vulnerability and violence that affect their security, development and well-being every day, particularly in situations of armed conflict. Over the years, a variety of international legal and political commitments, policies and programmes have been formulated to seek attention and address these realities. However, gender considerations continue to be marginalized during conflict and post conflict situations. In particular, women are still largely excluded from conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts. To address women and peace and security issues the United Nations Security Council adopted UNSCR resolution 1325 which established the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. It obliges all UN Member States to promote the participation of women at all levels in peace processes and in the prevention of conflict; to protect women from gender-based violence; and to take their specific needs into account.
The world’s militaries in concert with all other agencies have a significant role to serve within this Resolution. Therefore, in support of UNSCR 1325 and associated resolutions, the Women, Peace and Security Chiefs of Defence (WPS CHODs) Network was launched by Bangladesh, Canada and the United Kingdom in November 2017. Chiefs of Defence from 57 countries are members of the network and membership is still growing. The purpose of the WPS CHODs Network is to provide a collaborative platform for CHODs in order to enhance their ability to move the WPS agenda forward within their own defence forces.
Bangladesh holds the present Chair of WPS CHODs Network. To progress the WPS agenda further, Armed Forces Division, Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh jointly with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh Police), Bangladesh are organizing an International Seminar Women, Peace and Security on 28-29 November 2022 in Bangladesh. The events will be for two days which include a seminar, annual meeting of the WPS CHODs Network and interaction with women in conflict situation at camps for Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.