NAP Development

The NAP does not note how civil society will be involved in the development of the NAP.

WILPF does not have a country section in Paraguay and therefore was not involved in the development process of Paraguay’s NAP.

The government offices in charge of developing the text were: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Women, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and the Command of the Military Forces of Paraguay.

NAP Implementation

The NAP does not note how civil society will be involved in the implementation of the NAP.

The Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Women and the Chief in Command of the Military Forces of Paraguay are the members of the Council of Ministries for the Implementation of the UNSCR 1325, which is the body in charge of the implementation of the NAP.

NAP Monitoring and Evaluation 

The NAP notes that the The Council of Ministries for the Implementation of the UNSCR 1325 (CMI 1325) will monitor implementation of the NAP in coordination with civil society but does not specify how this will be achieved.

The Council of Ministries for the Implementation of the UNSCR 1325, which includes the Ministries mentioned above, will meet annually every 29 May, the International day of United Nations Peacekeepers, to evaluate and held accountable society about the implementation of the NAP by the Interinstitutional Monitoring Committee. The members of this Committee will be appointed by the Ministries, each Ministry will select two. This body, in coordination with civil society, will monitor UNSCR 1325 implementation.

The Paraguayan NAP does not include a dedicated timeframe, but it sets short-term goals for 5 years.

The Action plan includes a long-term goal:

• Contribute towards the elimination of cultural barriers that hinder the full participation of women in all aspects related to negotiations and resolution of conflicts, peace and security at the national level.

It also includes four short-term goals (5 years):

• Increase women’s participation in institutional decision-making process regarding peace, prevention and conflict resolution;
• Incorporate a gender perspective in all areas related to peace processes and conflict resolution;
• Promote peace culture to prevent conflicts, with an active women’s participation;
• Establish an effective coordination at the interinstitutional, intersectional and international level in order to develop joint actions, and to implement and evaluate UNSCR 1325.

Each four short-term goals have different actions assigned. For instance, the first goal, “Women’s participation in decision-making progress”, include six actions:

1. Diffusion of research opportunities for women in military and police careers.
2. Creation of normative and concrete measures aimed at including and maintaining women in the National Army and National Police bodies.
3. Equal rights mainstreaming in the processes of selection, preparation and send to peace missions until the monitoring and evaluation.
4. Promotion of the incorporation of women in high rank positions in the Army and Police bodies, as well as their participation in decision-making.
5. Promotion of women participation in the Local Emergency Councils (Consejos de Emergencia Locales).
6. Creation of a Gender Observatory  for the analysis of women and men’s participation in the Military, Security Forces and peace missions.

Regarding the second short-term goal, “Incorporate a gender perspective in all areas related to peace processes and conflict resolution”, there are eight actions established and each action has an indicator. The following are the eight indicators for the eight actions established:

1. A gender perspective and UNSCR 1325 is included in student's handbook of the different educational institutions of police and military.
2. Percentage of material used which consider gender.
3. Atlas de Riesgo  Nacional written with a gender perspective.
4. Protocol and manual with a gender perspective.
5. At least one Seminar every two years, national or international.
6. Amount of courses hold a year.
7. Mental Health protocol functioning.
8. Amount of services and human resources participants.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Women, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and the Command of the Military Forces of Paraguay are the members of the Council of Ministers for the implementation of 1325, which will meet every May 29 International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers for evaluation and accountability about the  Monitoring Interinstitutional Committee implementation process.

Every ministry will appoint two representatives to be part of the Committee. The latter will, in cooperation with the civil society, monitor the UNSCR 1325 implementation by holding periodic meetings.

The Paraguayan National Action Plan does not include an allocated or estimated budget. No indicators or actions are included that formulate fundraising strategies, detail what level of funding is required for which specific activities, or what accountability mechanisms will ensure funding is raised and used in implementing the NAP.

The National Action Plan does not address disarmament issues or connect the proliferation of weapons with women’s insecurity. Instead, Paraguayan NAP showcases the intention of the Government to re-frame women’s role in society so that women see themselves as key participants in the country’s defense sector, rather than addressing intransigent obstacles to women’s participation and rights.