ICELAND
Iceland’s first NAP was for the period 2008-2012, its second for 2013-2016, and its third and current NAP covers 2018-2022.
Objectives of the 2018-2022 NAP
Iceland’s NAP is built around four pillars. Implementation of these pillars falls under the remit of the Defence Directorate and the Directorate for International Development Cooperation for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The pillars build on those of the previous NAPs; each pillar is supported by several outputs. The pillars and their outputs are:
1 Training and Advocacy:
-The personnel of the Icelandic administration and relevant institutions, working in the policy area related to women, peace and security, will receive education about Resolution 1325.
- The personnel of the foreign service, the Iceland Crisis Response Unit and parties who work in the field of humanitarian relief on behalf of Iceland shall receive training regarding Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
- Strategy papers and Iceland’s presidency programmes in the period applicable to the National Action Plan contain information about how to actively work towards the realisation of the goals of Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, where applicable.
- Iceland’s visibility in advocacy efforts relating to Resolution 1325 is significant and the advocacy is effective.
2 Participation
- Increased participation of women and subsequent impact on peace and reconstruction, in Iceland and internationally.
- Support and training of women in conflict zones which is of use in peace processes and reconstruction at an international level.
3 Prevention, protection, relief and recovery
- Additional support from Iceland to peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction contributes to the security, protection, assistance and recovery of women and girls in conflict zones.
- Additional support of Iceland to peace and reconstruction work that contributes to the security, protection, assistance and recovery of women and girls in Iceland.
4 Partnership and collaboration:
- Increased knowledge of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, consultation with stakeholders and increased cooperation concerning the resolution domestically.
- Enhanced cooperation and collaboration with other states concerning Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security
Commentary:
Iceland’s current NAP is more inward-looking than previous NAPS in order to address calls by the global community for states to focus on internal improvement rather than looking outward at other countries. To achieve this, Iceland’s NAP includes increased education and awareness-raising efforts about UNSCR1325, and connecting Iceland’s gender equality work with that of the international community, for example with anti-trafficking initiatives and support for female refugees and applications for international protection. Each of the above pillars is monitored using progress evaluation frameworks developed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that consider objectives, performance indicators, and proposed implementation timeframes.
Civil society involvement in development of the NAP:
Civil Society will be involved in the evaluation of the NAP through participation in mid-term reviews conducted by Iceland’s Steering Group 1325, a body tasked by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with implementing the NAP. Civil Society actors are noted as being important to the fourth pillar especially, with repeated references to the need for domestic collaboration in familiarising key parties with UNSCR1325. However, the Icelandic NAP is clear in its need to better involve civil society organisations in the drafting process. It has clear objectives in how to achieve better implementation of the WPS agenda and is especially focused on deep engagement with the international sector and multilateral efforts, a result of Iceland’s relatively limited involvement in conflicts or direct armed threats.
UN Peacekeeping Statistics:
Iceland does not have an army, and therefore does not send military forces to UN Peacekeeping Missions. However, it does contribute civilian personnel to UN Missions, primarily experts in fields relevant to the mission, through its Iceland Crisis Response Unit that deploys roughly 10-20 experts at any given time. Countries to which experts have been deployed include Afghanistan and the Balkans.
Women in peacekeeping:
Iceland’s NAP specifically mentions including more women in conflict resolution strategies and the necessity of this for strengthening the international community as a whole. They also reference the need to involve more women in peace-building directly, and focus on the need for continued education on issues of gender equality, including sexual violence in conflict, political and economic empowerment of women, and increasing the number of women in political and security institutions.
References and sources:
Iceland National Action Plan
https://www.wpsnaps.org/app/uploads/2019/09/Iceland-NAP-3-2018-2022.pdf
Iceland Crisis Response Unit, Government of Iceland
