Researcher Johan Tejpar has written on this topic in the FOI report “Operational Effectiveness and Resolution 1325 – Practices and Lessons from Afghanistan”. The report was initiated by NATO and written together with the Folke Bernadotte Academy as well as with researchers and practitioners from Norway, Finland and the Netherlands.
“We have studied the benefits to effectiveness to be obtained by integrating Resolution 1325 in military processes and how this is done in the best way,” says Johan Tejpar.

Resolution 1325 emphasizes the importance of strengthening women’s participation in the peace process. Many things have improved for Afghan women since the Taliban were expelled from power in 2001, but as the security situation in the country worsens there have been more attacks on women and girls. Acid has been thrown at schoolgirls and female politicians live under constant threat.

“There is a risk that the situation will become even worse during the fall election,” says Johan Tejpar, who adds that the attacks mean that women lose their mobility and are kept within the home, where they are isolated and unable to contribute to the development of their country.

Johan Tejpar sees this as a question of working internally within one’s own forces and externally toward the Afghan population. The Swedish Armed Forces are several steps ahead on these issues, and have a clear strategy as well as an advisor on location in Mazar-e-Sharif. This contributes to more effective protection of forces in the area, better access to information and possibilities to win ‘heart and minds’.

“In the long-term Resolution 1325 will help to create sustainable peace and compliance with the Afghan constitution, which guarantees the rights of men and women,” he adds.
The results described in the report have been presented to NATO’s political and military executive staff where they have been well received. 

“It is now up to each individual nation to begin or – as is the case in Sweden – to continue to work to create military operations that are as effective as possible and security for the entire Afghan population,” summarizes Johan Tejpar.