Uruguay developed its first National Action Plan in 2021. Uruguay views the WPS agenda as a natural call to develop actions and policies that improve gender equality and implement a gender perspective at all levels of government. The NAP is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 on Gender Equality, and considers the defense of democracy, rule of law, commitment to multilateralism, and respect to the UN Charter as its basis. The NAP’s structure is based on the four pillars of UNSCR 1325: Prevention, Participation, Protection, and Relief and Recovery.
Uruguay’s National Action Plan was developed within the government, and focuses on government activities. In addition, however, there are specific actions to address cyber violence and cyber security, and the gender-based violence perpetuated through digital technologies, as well as the proposal to broadcast national campaigns on the content of the WPS agenda and how the agenda can improve the protection of civilians in the national and local level.
Since World War II, Uruguay hasn’t been involved in any armed conflict, but has a deep tradition of collaborating in UN missions. Uruguay’s NAP states that it has emerged from the context of the country’s experience with UN peacekeeping operations, and is inspired by the need to include WPS on its national agenda (pg. 33). The actions outlined in the NAP promote the implementation of the WPS agenda largely through a foreign policy lens, through participation with the UN and other international organisms. Many of the actions in the NAP are aimed at improving Uruguay’s participation in peacekeeping operations and promoting the WPS agenda in international fora as part of international peace and security strategies. In addition, the NAP links together policies and practices focused on gender equality, in order to identify and overcome the structural barriers and obstacles that prevent further participation of women in all levels of the public and political life, particularly on public and national security. Uruguay served on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in 2016-2017.