The Salvadoran government launched its first NAP in 2017 for a period of six years (2017-2022). The NAP was created to streamline existing strategies and actions for the coordinated implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. The development of the NAP was led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Salvadoran Institute for the Development of Women, and Implementation Committee and its Technical Monitoring Committee. These entities were tasked with convening with UN Women, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Spanish Agency for International Development and Cooperation, the Central American Integration System and lastly the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy. The NAP was also developed in consultation with the Government of Chile and aims at strengthening women’s participation in all decision-making levels of peace processes, creating a culture of zero-tolerance for violence against women, offering protections and basic services to women and girls, increasing reparations for women and girl victims of armed conflict and strengthening the monitoring of the implementation of UNSCR 1325.
El Salvador faced a civil war from 1980-1992, where thousands of people were displaced and over 70,000 people were killed, many of whom were women and children. The country signed a peace agreement known as the Chapultepec Accord in 1992, which outlined a reconstruction plan based on democracy, security and liberty. This peace agreement predates UNSCR 1325, however, women were included in peacebuilding and in the peace negotiations. One of the gaps identified in the peace process regarding women which is highlighted in the NAP relates to the lack of attention made for women and girls in terms of reparations and rehabilitation after the war. Currently, El Salvador has one of the highest rates of homicide in the world, and experiences high levels of gang violence. Women and girls also have been subjected to imprisonment and charged with homicide for accessing their reproductive rights.
By adopting its first NAP, the Salvadoran Government demonstrates its commitment to addressing key issues for women in terms of maintaining peace and security. The NAP offers a cohesive framework for monitoring and evaluating its goals over the six years but fails to include any information on disarmament and financing. The NAP does not elaborate on plans, strategies or mechanisms to ensure activities are funded within ministerial budgets.
El Salvador reported on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and the WPS Agenda in its Beijing+25/CSW64 National Reporting, including on the implementation of the NAP and on women’s participation in networks of women leaders.