Eight actions to advance women’s role in peace and security
Women and girls are enduring conflicts in all regions of the world, from Haiti to Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and beyond.
In 2023, the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled compared to the previous year, and the number of UN-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence increased by 50 per cent.
Despite these dire circumstances, the proportion of international aid committed to supporting gender equality in conflict-affected contexts has actually decreased in recent years, and programmes dedicated to topics such as preventing gender-based violence during humanitarian emergencies are dramatically under-funded.
In the year 2000, the UN Security Council adopted resolution (S/RES/1325), which recognized the vital contributions women make to the prevention and resolution of conflicts.
Now, one year before the international community marks a quarter-century since the resolution’s adoption, a new report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres includes eight suggestions for policymakers and all interested parties to advance women’s role in peace and security.
1. Increase women’s presence in peace negotiations
In 2023, women accounted for just 9.6 per cent of participants in more than 50 peace processes around the world. Among peace processes led or co-led by the United Nations, this figure increased, but only to 19 per cent.
The Secretary-General’s report calls on parties to peace talks to set an initial minimum target for women to comprise one-third of participants in mediation and peace processes, with the goal of ultimately raising their participation to reach parity with men.
2. Repeal laws violating women’s rights
Countries should repeal all discriminatory laws and policies that violate the human rights of women and girls or result in any form of gender-based discrimination, including laws and policies that undermine their bodily autonomy.
The greater involvement of women can significantly shape law and policymaking, as seen in Sierra Leone, where the rise in women's parliamentary representation in 2023 contributed to the prohibition of child marriage in 2024.
3. Increase women’s decision-making power
Women should be involved in decisions on topics including conflict resolution, humanitarian coordination, community security, access to justice, early warnings, and climate mitigation and adaptation.
Gender quotas can be used to increase women’s power. Out of 45 conflict-affected countries cited in the Secretary-General’s report, those with legislated gender quotas saw women’s membership in parliaments average 25 per cent, compared to only 15 per cent in countries without such quotas.
4. Hold violators of women’s rights to account
National authorities should use their criminal justice systems to pursue those who commit crimes against women in all spheres of life, including conflict-related sexual violence, reproductive violence, or violence against women in political and public life both online and offline.
Beyond national authorities, the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court can also advance the cause of gender justice.
5. Ensure gains in women’s rights are maintained after UN missions conclude
In countries where UN peacekeeping and other multilateral programmes are ongoing or recently concluded, relevant parties should commit to scaling up political and financial support to ensure that gender-related issues are taken into consideration in their mandates, preparedness, staffing, budget, and reporting.
6. Protect women peace and political activists
Authorities should take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of intimidation or reprisal against women for their political participation, human rights and humanitarian work, peacebuilding activities, or cooperation with UN mechanisms.
This could entail, for example, providing stronger protection to women human rights defenders at risk, and considering gender-based persecution in asylum claims.
7. Support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence
Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence must have full access to sexual and reproductive care, including emergency care regarding pregnancies resulting from rape, in view of widespread and systematic use of sexual violence as a tactic of war.
Out of 31 peace agreements reached in 2023, only eight (26 per cent) included explicit references to women, girls, gender or sexual violence, a slight drop from 28 per cent in 2022.
8. Prioritize peace
Countries around the world should ensure that a minimum of human and economic resources are devoted to armaments and military spending, and should enact measures to accelerate disarmament.
These measures should include greater transparency in arms transfers and military expenditures, strengthening arms embargoes, adopting gender-responsive legislation to limit weapons sales, and taking steps to mitigate the risks that legally sold weapons are used to commit or facilitate gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence.
The world is facing record levels of armed conflict and violence—there has never been a better time for governments to shift their priorities and focus on promoting the women, peace, and security agenda.