New York (October 30, 2014) – The Arab Women Organization (AWO) of Jordan, in partnership with Karama, highlighted key recommendations on women, peace, and security in meetings with the international community on the occasion of the 14^th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in New York.

The delegation, which consisted of AWO representatives Layla Naffa Hamarneh and Dana Abu Sham, collaborated with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), on the advocacy trip in order to share their shadow report on 1325, the first-ever Arab shadow report to be presented to the UN Security Council. Expressing the urgency of implementing UNSCR 1325 and achieving gender equality in order to ensure long-term peace and security, the report emphasizes gaps that remain in enacting Jordan’s full commitment to international agreements and standards, as reflected in national laws and policies and their enforcement.

The report discussed critical recommendations corresponding to the spirit of UNSCR 1325 in five thematic areas: prevention, participation, protection, relief and recovery, and normative.

Violence against women and gender-based violence are highly relevant to Jordan not only in relation to the local community, but also in relation to victims of the 2011 Syrian conflict who took refuge in Jordan. Both aspects are interrelated because laws adversely affecting Jordanian women also affect Syrian women refugees. For instance, Jordan’s lack of adherence with CEDAW and leniency in allowing child marriage is a major factor affecting the widespread phenomena of child marriage among Syrian refugees.

Delegates also noted a positive step in the establishment of the National Committee, issued by the Jordan National Commission for Women. The committee is tasked with creating a National Action Plan (NAP) to activate UNSCR 1325. Once this plan is developed, it is the responsibility of the Jordanian government to implement it.

The AWO shadow report was shared with high-level representatives included the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Arab States Program Adviser from UN Women and the Arab Region Director from the UNDP, representatives from the missions to the United Nations from Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Jordan. They also met with international activists from the Post-2015 Women’s Coalition, the Women Refugee Commission, and the International Civil Society Action Network.

The international community was responsive, and encouraged increased connection and communication in lobbying the Jordanian government on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) ahead of next year’s 15^th anniversary of Resolution 1325’s adoption by the Security Council.