Women Lead Peace Follows
Date:
1325 is more than a milestone — it's a movement.
Every policy, decision, and action taken under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 has contributed to building a more inclusive and peaceful world — anchored in women's leadership. Yet, the path to lasting change and peace is long, and our commitment must be stronger than ever.
Centering women's voices, experiences and leadership in peacebuilding
An international human-rights expert and the first UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Gulnara Shahinian champions women’s voices in peace and democracy.
Driving Gender Equality for Lasting Peace
A seasoned politician, professor, and civil society activist, Sonja Lokar's decades‐long fight for women's rights continues to shape global peace efforts.
Pioneering Women's Leadership in Policing
As Iceland's first female National Commissioner of the Police, Sigríður champions inclusive security forces that protect and empower all citizens.
Keeping Peace on the Frontlines
Major Dana Zhamaliyeva, a military observer in Western Sahara, is forging a path for women in Kazakhstan's Armed Forces to lead global peace missions.
Leading Equality in Border Security
Iris Björg transforms national policing as Head of the International and Border Management Division, championing a forward‐thinking, gender‐responsive approach.
Mobilizing Youth for Peace
As a young peace activist, content creator, and researcher, Eleonora Tchania works to address the gap in youth-accessible, reliable information about conflict transformation and peacebuilding.
No Peace without Equality
Ida Brorsdatter Harsløf, a long-time peace activist from Denmark and a participant of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, reflects on the progress achieved since 30 years.
Justice for War-Time Sexual Violence Survivors
Drita Hajdari, a human rights lawyer from Kosovo[1] and the first domestic prosecutor to file an indictment for war-time sexual violence as a crime against humanity in the country, reflects on the importance of justice for conflict-related sexual violence survivors.
For a cultural change to happen, we need strong women leaders.
Female peacekeepers are the vital force in building a safer world.
To foster peace and security more women need to play a critical role.
We need a global movement for peace and disarmament.
Young women are not just participants in peacebuilding – we are its pulse.
For a cultural change to happen, we need strong women leaders.
Female peacekeepers are the vital force in building a safer world.
The devastating consequences of war are present to this day.
To work actively to increase equality can be grueling but rewarding.
Representing your country in a peacekeeping mission is a huge responsibility.
It is vital to remove barriers to women´s participation in security.
Peace and equality are inseparable concepts.
The devastating consequences of war are present to this day.
To work actively to increase equality can be grueling but rewarding.
2000
Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
2000
Sonja Lokar (Slovenia), Executive Director of the Central and East European Network for Gender Issues, chaired the OSCE-led Task Force on Gender under the Stability Pact.
2001
The EU integrated UNSCR 1325 into its conflict prevention and resolution approach.
2001
UNIFEM launched its Regional Project on Women for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding in the Southern Caucasus.
2002
The Council of Europe adopted a Gender Equality Action Plan, highlighting gender integration in conflict prevention and resolution.
2003
UNIFEM and Women's CSOs created "Women for Peace" networks in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, later uniting them into a regional South Caucasus WPS Network.
2004
The UN Secretary-General called on member states to develop national or regional action plans to implement the WPS agenda.
2004
Tetyana Podashevska became Ukraine's female police general.
2004
The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling stronger EU commitment to UNSCR 1325.
2004
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Recommendation 1665 and Resolution 1385 on women's roles in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict reconstruction.
2004
OSCE adopted its Gender Equality Plan which commits to implementation of UNSCR 1325.
2005
Decision No. 14/05 on Women in Conflict Prevention, Crisis Management, and Post-Conflict Rehabilitation by OSCE.
2006
Women's CSOs in Georgia initiated a draft of NAP 1325.
2007
NATO adopted its first formal WPS policy, focusing on integrating gender perspectives in operations.
2007
EU Comprehensive Approach to Security and Development policy, integrating UNSCR 1325 into its crisis management operations and strategies.
2008
The UNSC adopted Resolution 1820, recognizing sexual violence as a tactic of war and a threat to international peace and security, requiring a security response.
2008
The Geneva International Discussions (GID) were launched in October 2008 to address the aftermath of the August war in Georgia, based on the 12 August Ceasefire Agreement. Co-chaired by the OSCE, EU, and UN, the GID brings together representatives from Georgia, Russia, the US, and Georgia's breakaway regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
2008
Slovenia appointed its first female Minister of the Interior and the first female Minister of Defence.
2009
The UNSC adopted Resolution 1888, strengthening efforts to end sexual violence in conflict by establishing a Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG-SVC) and a team of experts on rule of law and sexual violence.
2009
The Office of the SRSG-SVC was set-up and leads efforts to prevent and punish SVC, recognizing it as a serious crime undermining peace and security, not an inevitable wartime consequence.
2009
The UNSC adopted resolution 1889, establishing indicators to monitor UNSCR 1325 and requesting the Secretary-General report on women's participation and inclusion in peacebuilding.
2009
Portugal adopted its first NAP on UNSCR 1325, focusing on gender equality in international peacebuilding.
2009
Sweden adopted its second NAP 1325.
2010
The UNSC adopted Resolution 1960, creating a monitoring and reporting mechanism on sexual violence in conflict.
2010
UN Secretary-General's 2010 report on women's participation in peacebuilding set a target of dedicating 15% of UN peacebuilding funds to projects focused primarily on gender.
2010
July, Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the first NAP 1325 in Southeast Europe. Serbia followed with its NAP in December.
2010
UNIFEM held the first cross-regional Open Day for Peace in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, with women activists from Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, alongside UN and OSCE. The participants' appeal was later delivered to UN Secretary-General during his visit to Kazakhstan in November 2010.
2010
Sweden replaced male-only conscription with a gender-neutral system.
2010
The EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Development 2010 - 2015, emphasized UNSCR 1325 integration in its external actions.
2010
The Council of Europe's Recommendation CM/Rec (2010) 10 on the role of women and men in conflict prevention and resolution and in peacebuilding.
2011
The Secretary-General's annual report on women, peace, and security was released for the first time.
2011
May, Georgia adopted its first NAP UNSCR 1325 for 2012-2015.
2011
11 May, the Council of Europe adopted the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. It applies both in peace and conflict, without suspension - even in war or emergencies.
2011
The Council of Europe's Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017 reinforced UNSCR 1325 commitments and women's roles in peacebuilding.
2012
The Secretary-General's first report on sexual violence in conflict was released.
2012
Tajikistan established the Women's Peace Corps, a group of female peacekeepers actively involved in conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction after the civil war.
2013
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s General Recommendation No. 30 on women in conflict and post-conflict settings, clarifying the Convention’s applicability in such contexts and affirming its relevance to the WPS agenda.
2013
The UNSC adopted 1) Resolution 2106 to stress accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict and promote women's political and economic empowerment; 2) Resolution 2122 to highlight the role of women's organizations in conflict resolution and peacebuilding to urge creation of dedicated funding and increased support for local women's organizations, setting new targets for women's participation in peace processes.
2013
Kyrgyzstan became the first country in Central Asia to adopt a NAP 1325.
2013
Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted its second NAP 1325 for 2014-2017.
2013
North Macedonia adopted its first NAP 1325 for 2013-2015.
2014
Norway formed Jegertroppen, an all-female special forces unit.
2014
Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (2011) entered into force, applying in both peace and conflict.
2014
The EU released its "Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy," integrating gender equality and UNSCR 1325 into broader human rights strategies.
2014
Tajikistan adopted its first NAP 1325 for 2014-2018.
2015
The UNSC adopted Resolution 2242, establishing an Informal Experts Group (including Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, UK, USA) to address obstacles in implementing the WPS agenda—such as financing and institutional reforms—promote integration with counter-terrorism efforts, and improve UNSC working methods on WPS.
2015
UN Women’s “Global Study on the Implementation of UNSCR 1325,” assessing progress and offering recommendations for further action.
2015
Analysis by the International Peace Institute found that peace agreements are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years when women participate in the process.
2015
The Nordic Women Mediators established as a collaborative forum of five national networks - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden - to advocate for women’s inclusion in peace processes.
2015
Norway became the first NATO member and first European country to make national service mandatory for both men and women.
2016
The UNSC adopted two resolutions on 1) Women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control; and 2) Strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution.
2016
Ukraine adopted its first NAP 1325.
2016
Georgia adopted its second NAP for 2016-2017.
2016
The UK lifted its ban on women serving in close combat roles.
2016
Manushaqe Shehu became Albania's first female Armed Forces General, receiving the rank of brigadier general.
2017
Canada launched the multilateral Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, which focuses on increasing the participation of uniformed women in police and military roles.
2017
Canada chairs the 63-member Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, an informal network representing all five UN regional groups’ countries.
2017
The global WPS Index for 2017-2018 was first released by the Georgetown Institute on WPS, ranking 153 countries and highlighting key achievements and gaps across three dimensions. It embodies the vision that countries become more peaceful and prosperous when women enjoy full and equal rights and opportunities.
2017
Radmila Shekerinska became North Macedonia's first female Minister of Defence.
2017
Albania formed its first CSO Coalition on WPS, now comprising 29 active organizations.
2017
Georgia established the Inter-Agency Commission on Gender Equality, Violence against Women, and Domestic Violence to coordinate national efforts on gender equality and WPS commitments.
2017
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers established the position of Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, who also serves as the WPS Focal Point.
2017
The Mediterranean Women Mediators Network was launched n Rome, Italy, with around 40 women mediators and experts.
2018
The Secretary-General’s report on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse was released.
2018
The UNSC adopted a resolution on UN action against sexual exploitation and abuse.
2018
Kazakhstan became the first Central Asian country to deploy peacekeeping units to the UN mission in Lebanon, including 8 women peacekeepers.
2018
In Italy, the G7 WPS Partnership Initiative was launched.
2018
Moldova and Albania adopted their first NAPs 1325.
2018
Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted their NAPs 1325 for 2018-2020.
2018
The EU’s 2018 Council Conclusions on WPS set its policy framework for Women, Peace, and Security.
2018
The Strategy for the Prevention of and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence was developed in Ukraine.
2018
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted Law #2523-VIII, amending legislation to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men serving in the Armed Forces and other military formations.
2018
The Ukrainian Women’s Fund initiated the establishment of the first five UNSCR 1325 Regional Coalitions in Ukraine.
2018
Lyudmyla Shuhaley, Head of the Military Medical Office of Ukraine's Security Service, became the country’s first female military general.
2018
Slovenia became the first country in the world to appoint a female Chief of the General Staff (Chief of Military).
2018
Slovenia appointed its first female Director-General of Police.
2018
Sweden obligates both women and men to complete military service.
2018
In the UK, women became eligible to apply for all roles in the British Armed Forces.
2018
The Council of Europe’s “Gender Equality Strategy 2018–2023” included measures on UNSCR 1325 implementation.