This toolkit and guidelines provide technical guidance to national actors tasked with implementing the women, peace and security agenda. They support endeavours to increase women’s participation in meeting emerging security threats and to integrate a gender perspective in national action plans on women, peace and security with strong links to regional and global frameworks. The national action plans present a unique opportunity to deepen engagement and achieve transformative changes so that women and girls assume their rightful roles as lead actors on peace and security at the national, regional and international levels.

 The toolkit emphasises how to implement the women, peace and security agenda at the national level. This can provide a unique opportunity for women and vulnerable groups to actively engage in and lead processes based on their in-depth understanding of local challenges and opportunities.

The toolkit also supports ASEAN member States in successfully implementing global and regional policy frameworks, including the UN Security Council resolutions and the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security. As warranted, key elements of the resolutions can be integrated in the plans of national ministries with portfolios on economic and social development, defence, foreign affairs, gender, interior and justice, among others. Developing a national action plan dedicated to women, peace and security is among many methods for implementation. Critically, it can trigger budget allocations to advance policies, plans and programmes.