On October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted resolution 1325. After years of advocacy, this marked the launch of what’s known as the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.  

In simple terms: Global leaders committed to a new way of looking at conflict and peace, beyond the warring parties and traditional powerbrokers – both dominated by men, even today. Resolution 1325: 

• Acknowledges that women and girls are harmed by conflict in ways that are distinct, horrific and must be stopped 
• Establishes that women’s meaningful participation in peace processes is essential to preventing, ending and recovering from conflict 

After all, how can there be anything close to true peace, if the needs and insights of half of the population are not accounted for? There are now 10 UNSC resolutions on WPS, which are binding for all UN members.

These four pillars align gender equality and peace as shared goals – and responsibilities. 

1. Prevention: First, conflict should be avoided or ended whenever possible. Where there is gender equality, conflicts are less likely. And where there is conflict, parties must prevent all forms of violence against women and girls. 
2. Protection: The rights and safety of women and girls must be protected. Considerations must be given for the ways in which they are impacted, especially by sexual violence. 
3. Participation: All decisions about peace and security, from local councils to the international stage, must include women. With equal and meaningful participation, peace and security processes are more inclusive, and therefore more legitimate and more durable.  
4. Relief and recovery: To rebuild after conflict or crisis, women and girls have specific needs. Often, they are primary caretakers for children and elders. Women-led organizations play a vital role here, ensuring safe access to food, water and hygiene products during conflicts, and after the dust settles.

As we reflect on 25 years of WPS, it’s clear: When women lead, peace follows.

• Where women and girls are empowered, lasting peace can be achieved. In Colombia, the women peace negotiators that helped end the civil war are now defining transitional justice. 
• Women-led organizations are reaching women and girls in even the most difficult conflict settings. In Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, and across the world, they are not giving up. 
• More women are moving to the frontlines. In Ukraine, they’re protecting their communities and one another.  
• Gender parity and quotas are boosting the success of women in peace and security. As more women are putting on security uniforms, they are connecting with communities and maintaining peace in new ways. Meanwhile, military, police and peacekeeping cultures are slowly dropping harmful gender stereotypes and supporting caregivers.  
• Crimes against women and girls are no longer accepted as the price of war. More war crimes against women are being prosecuted, even as challenges to justice remain.  
• Women and girls around the world are calling for peace and disarmament. In Malaysia, young women are campaigning against nuclear weapons. 

When peace spreads across society, it can be seen and felt: More women voting in elections; fewer girls being forced into child marriage; more women leading community dialogues.

Unfortunately, despite progress and promises, women are being actively shut out of peace processes.

The United Nations Secretary General’s 2025 report paints a grim picture of chronic under-investment and weak implementation. As man-made conflicts spread, rates of sexual violence, mental trauma and targeted attacks are on the rise – while one in four countries report backlash to women's rights.

Funding cuts

Let’s be clear: The WPS agenda requires full, reliable funding in times of war and peace. But some donors are turning away from conflict prevention and peacebuilding, even as military spending increases. Drastic cuts are halting frontline organizations and reducing the UN’s abilities to monitor crimes, set up courts and support grassroots peacebuilders. The departure of UN peacekeeping missions will leave women and girls without a critical layer of protection.

Lack of data

Gaps in gender data are making women and girls invisible in conflicts: The lack of statistics on sexual violence leads to fewer prosecutions and fewer resources for survivors. Insufficient tracking is making it harder to ensure women’s representation. And despite strong demand, budget cuts are undermining efforts to collect gender data and train communities on how to utilize it.

Increasing violence

The data we do have point to an alarming rise in violence against women and girls. This includes sexual violence and rape of civilians, as well as physical and digital abuse against officials and activists. Conflicts are growing, with deadly consequences for women and girls – and all civilians – who are being displaced, deprived, attacked and killed.

The violence of conflict can also be insidious: Women in fragile environments are nearly eight times likelier to live in extreme poverty, compared to those in stable regions. And in 2023, 6 in 10 mothers who died during pregnancy or childbirth globally – often from preventable causes – died in countries in crisis.

Gender equality is more than a possibility. It’s a prerequisite for peace. UN Women was founded to advance gender equality for all women and girls – with WPS at its core.  

Among many initiatives, UN Women supports: 

• Amplifying the voices of women and girls in crises and fighting for peace, from the Security Council to their own communities 
• Investigating and documenting atrocities committed against women and girls in war 
• Investing in women-led initiatives to build peace and social cohesion post-conflict 
• Working with governments to support policy reforms and bring more women to the security and justice sectors, and all decision-making platforms 
• Funding women’s grassroots organizations, including youth activists 
• Collecting and sharing data, expanding global knowledge on women, peace and security

Without action, peace will become even harder to reach. Thankfully, the path forward was laid out, 25 years ago.  

Today, 115 countries – and counting – have outlined national action plans with steps they will take to meet the WPS agenda. But too few nations are fully funding these promises.  

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, a global blueprint to achieve gender equality. The Beijing+30 agenda calls for fully financing these national plans, as well as women’s frontline organizations.  

We will see progress when we see more women participating in peace processes and more women receiving relief – from major cities to the most remote villages. We will see progress when nations support WPS not just as policy, but as a growing social movement that reaches across generations. 

When women lead, peace follows. But as women speak out, will world leaders listen?