At the opening of the seminar, National Assembly Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Marina Ragus, emphasised that Serbia is one of the first countries in the region to develop and adopt a National Action Plan for the Implementation of Resolution 1325. This document is not just a formal framework, but an indicator of the political will and institutional commitment of the state.

She stressed that not only state administration bodies, but civil society organisations, the academic community, as well as the National Assembly, which has a triple role: legislative, supervisory and promotional, participate in the implementation of the National Action Plan.

"Through the adoption of laws and policies that strengthen the position of women in the security sector and public life, oversight of the implementation of adopted measures, as well as by promoting a culture of equality, dialogue and peace, the Parliament makes a significant contribution to the implementation of the Resolution," said Ragus.

She particularly emphasised the importance of the Parliament's cooperation with international partners and organisations, such as the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, as well as with national institutions and bodies responsible for gender equality. According to her, only by acting together can tangible results be achieved on the ground.

She recalled that Serbia shares all the linguistic, cultural and political values of the international organisation La Francophonie and fully supports its commitment to peace, democracy and human rights.

"We believe that by gaining the status of a full member of the community of Francophone countries, Serbia could further contribute to building a world based on peace, understanding and mutual respect. Especially since women in Serbia, unfortunately, have the experience of war, instability and violation of fundamental rights. That is precisely why women from Serbia can make a strong and significant contribution to peace," said the National Assembly Deputy Speaker.

The Head of the National Assembly delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, MA Jadranka Jovanovic, expressed her satisfaction that the National Assembly delegation has been recognised as a reliable and active member of La Francophonie, adding that Serbia, by its own example, promotes dialogue, cooperation and respect for diversity.

She said that the National Assembly, through various initiatives, promotes gender equality, the participation of women in public life and their role in peacebuilding.

"Women bring peace and security because they make decisions more thoughtfully, with greater attention to human needs and long-term consequences," said MA Jadranka Jovanovic, adding that "women know that true peace is not the absence of conflict, it is a state in which differences are respected, in which there is room for dialogue, empathy and understanding."

At the end of her address, she expressed the expectation that this parliamentary seminar would contribute to new ideas, incentives, initiatives and connections, which would empower women in the parliaments and societies of LA Francophonie.

In the introductory speeches, the President of the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie Viviane Teitelbaum, Minister without portfolio in charge of gender equality Tatjana Macura, and the Acting Assistant Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia Sinisa Radovic also gave their presentations.

In the continuation, the participants of the parliamentary seminar discussed the origins of Resolution 1325 and the key provisions of the normative and legal framework of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, presented by international consultant Jelena Pia-Komelja and international expert Katrina Leclerc. The impacts and challenges of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda will also be discussed, and the situation on the ground in Serbia will be presented by Sanja Jevtovic Canovic, representative of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia.