Platforms for peace: “No one builds peace alone; it is always a collective effort.”

Shahla Ismayil has over 25 years of experience advancing gender equality and women’s rights. She chairs the Women’s Association for Rational Development and directs Gender Port – Azerbaijan’s first gender-oriented think tank. She participates in dialogue platforms for peace in the South Caucasus, has led over 130 projects and authored more than 170 publications on human rights, gender and civil society. Shahla is a founding member of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Advisory Council and she helped develop all three of Azerbaijan’s National Action Plans on United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (NAP on UNSCR 1325).

1. Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently to advance WPS?

I believe real progress depends on the strength of partnerships, visibility and inclusivity. If I could do something differently, I would prioritize three areas even more strongly.

First, I would put greater emphasis on building genuine and sustainable cooperation between government institutions and civil society. The absence of dialogue often leads to irreversible consequences, while partnership can transform policies into real change on the ground.

Second, I would engage media more actively, using every available platform to showcase women’s leadership and progress. The more society sees women as drivers of peace and progress, the faster stereotypes begin to shift, especially now, when digital media tools offer so many opportunities.

Third, I would invest even more effort in engaging men and boys. Inclusive transformation requires both women and men to understand that equality benefits everyone. We’ll never be able to defeat discrimination and violence against women if we keep targeting only women.

2. What were your biggest challenges in developing Azerbaijan’s NAP on UNSCR 1325?

Being the author of three official versions of the NAP on UNSCR 1325 was both a demanding and deeply transformative journey. I learned that the foundation of any successful NAP lies in strong political will and a shared understanding of why such a plan is needed. Without this common vision, even the best-designed plan risks remaining on paper. In Azerbaijan, despite years of discussion and advocacy, the NAP has not yet been formally adopted, although it has long been on the table of the Government. One of the biggest challenges throughout the process was the need to continuously demonstrate why it is necessary at every stage: before peace, during negotiation and after agreements.

Another essential aspect is ensuring the NAP truly reflects the needs of conflict-affected communities and the voices and experiences of those who have lived through displacement, loss and recovery. Each version of the Plan has become stronger, more inclusive and more practical – creating a living bridge between women’s experiences, institutional responsibility, and the broader international WPS movement. Learning from their successes and mistakes helped us avoid duplication, use resources more effectively, and ensure that Azerbaijan’s NAP was both locally grounded and globally informed.

3. How do you ensure women’s perspectives are integrated into regional peace dialogues?

Integrating women’s perspectives into peace dialogues is not about adding one more voice to the table – it is about changing the structure and culture of peace processes themselves. From the very beginning of the WPS Advisory Council, I’ve seen my role as creating spaces where women’s knowledge, experiences and priorities are not complementary, but central to dialogue and decision-making. My focus has always been on building a pool of strong women experts across the region from diverse professional and personal backgrounds. This diversity allows us to bring multidimensional insights to complex regional issues. I have also consistently advocated for women to participate not as symbolic figures or observers, but as negotiators, mediators and facilitators – as real actors shaping the outcomes of peace processes.

We work closely with regional and international institutions to institutionalize gender-responsive mechanisms within their structures, so that inclusion becomes a standard practice, not an afterthought. We also continuously monitor how these perspectives are reflected in actual policy decisions and outcomes, offering feedback.

4. How can women-led think tanks shape national and regional policymaking on WPS?

Women-led think tanks occupy a special space where expertise meets empathy and where knowledge becomes a tool for transformation. They generate ideas, give direction and meaning to policymaking, and bridge evidence with advocacy. Through research, analysis and policy papers, women-led think tanks reveal how decisions in peace and security affect women and men differently. They help governments and institutions see what is often invisible – the human side of policies. When grounded in data and experience, their findings become powerful instruments for change.

These think tanks also have the capacity to shape public narratives – through media, publications and dialogue to help societies reimagine women’s roles: not as victims of conflict, but as leaders, negotiators and visionaries of peace.

And through initiatives such as the Women Dialogue School, the first capacity-building infrastructure of its kind in Azerbaijan, we prepare a new generation of women leaders who are not afraid to enter the policy space, ask difficult questions and propose practical solutions. This creates continuity and ensures that women’s leadership is not episodic but institutional. Ultimately, women-led think tanks are engines of change, combining intellect with compassion for more just, human and inclusive policymaking.

5. What guidance would you offer young women interested in peacebuilding?

My advice is: you don’t need a title or position to make a difference. Peace often begins in small, quiet spaces – your school, neighbourhood, family or community. Create spaces for dialogue and understanding. Even if they seem modest, every act of connection matters.

Never stop learning. Study gender justice, human rights, negotiation, communication and empathy – every skill you gain becomes part of your peacebuilding toolkit. Knowledge will give you confidence and empathy will give you strength.

Build partnerships and alliances – with other women, men and institutions that share your values. No one builds peace alone; it is always a collective effort. Be patient, because transformation takes time. Change rarely happens overnight, but persistence shapes history.

Use your voice. Speak, write, question and advocate. Your perspective matters, even if it feels unheard at first – keep using it, and the world will eventually listen.

And finally, take care of yourself. Peacebuilding is emotional work; it requires both courage and tenderness. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Caring for your own well-being is not selfish – it is what allows you to continue caring for others and for the world around you.

This story is published as part of "The Past, Present, and Future of Women, Peace, and Security" campaign, commemorating the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, to celebrate the power of peace. The campaign aims to foster a deeper dialogue on equality, justice and peace, honoring the legacies and amplifying the voices of 25 trailblazing women from across Europe and Central Asia whose significant contributions have transformed their communities, societies, and beyond. The content reflects the personal views and experiences of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the official position of UN Women, its partners, or the United Nations.