The Women, Peace and Security agenda
Twenty-five years ago, a determined coalition of women, peace activists, governments and United Nations representatives broke new ground for women and girls – and the world at large – at the United Nation’s Security Council.
They showed that gender equality was essential to lasting peace and global security, leading to the adoption of UNSC resolution 1325, known as the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
Conflict is destroying progress on global goals
- Only 1 in 10 peace talks in 2024 included women negotiators
- 4x more women and girls have been killed in conflict (2022–2024 over 2020–2022)
- 9.4 per cent increase in global military spending, while gender equality remains critically underfunded (2024 over 2023)
The agenda enshrines the international community’s commitment to women’s equal participation as agents of peace. It acknowledges the ways in which wars directly impact them – and it goes further to commit to women’s leadership in the decisions that profoundly impact their communities.
The Women, Peace and Security agenda builds on a simple truth backed by evidence: Women’s contributions are essential to bring lasting peace for all of society. When women lead, peace follows.
Today, UN Women, together with women on the ground, continues to uplift women’s leadership at breakthrough moments for peace around the world.
In this moment when active conflicts are at the highest levels since 1946, funding for women-led frontline organizations is being gutted and war is reversing gains for women’s equality. Most major conflicts are now being negotiated behind closed doors – in the absence of women.
As world leaders mark 25 years since resolution 1325, this is an unmissable opportunity to fully enact, invest and recommit to the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Over the next five years, real change is possible.
Watch the 6 October 2025 UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security here.
