Putting Women at the Centre of Peace and Security: Malta’s Second National Action Plan

By Sarah Bugeja

A Women, Peace and Security Agenda event targeting Malta’s Second National Action Plan for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2025–2030) took place on 3 December 2025 under the auspices of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, in collaboration with various stakeholders. This Second NAP aims to further raise awareness of the role of women, peace, and security in both local and global contexts.

Panellists and public during the Conference held on December 3, 2025

With global prosperity and peace in decline, growing anti-gender backlash, the rise of far-right movements, and mounting geopolitical challenges, global stability is under pressure now and likely for years to come. In particular, women and girls are already facing the brunt of these challenges and therefore the WPS agenda is crucial more than ever. 

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 ( UNSC 1325) on Women, Peace and Security seeks to ensure a more inclusive and sustainable approach to conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution.)

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda emphasizes that achieving sustainable peace requires women to be active agents of change. In order to achieve the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 1325, Malta’s Second National Action Plan places itself as a key tool to implement an agenda nationally and globally, to not only meet its international commitments and ensure an equitable future,  but also to embed the Resolution and relevant resolutions into Malta’s national, security and diplomatic infrastructure. 

Malta’s second NAP eagerly looks forward to enabling a more peaceful and secure world where gender equality is an integral component in all peace and security efforts. It is a plan which seeks to ensure that the fundamental rights of women and girls are enabled to their full potential.

The aims of this Second National Action Plan prioritise the following:

• Promoting the WPS agenda domestically and globally by raising awareness initiatives at schools, educational institutions and uniformed personnel,

• Prevent all forms of violence and gender inequality,

• Have an increased means of participation and representation of women at decision-making level,

• Recognise the needs of survivors, displaced and vulnerable women and their agency and insights. 

In practicality, this second NAP will also ensure the organisation of workshops with Armed Forces of Malta and The Police corps, continue spreading education awareness through actions such  a WPS Course at the University of Malta, the ‘Nisa u Paci’ (Women and Peace) Radio Programme, Mediation training for diplomats, promoting awareness by campaigns on gender-based violence and many others.

It is noteworthy that the WPS agenda increasingly recognizes the importance of including men and boys. In this regard, the Ministry has partnered with several civil society organizations to challenge norms that fuel violence, discrimination, and inequality, norms that jeopardize the progress achieved toward gender equality over the past years.

As AMAM, we truly affirm this initiative and value the importance of this action plan, where the efforts of women are a cornerstone to society’s progression. We also believe that this new action plan will continue to build on the First Action Plan’s originated values and look forward to seeing how the implementation and actions of this Second National Action Plan will bear fruit in our society.