Date:
The five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – have come together to develop the first Women, Peace and Security Regional Action Plan (WPS RAP) for Central Asia. This landmark initiative aims to drive transformational change for women's equal participation and rights in all regional peace and security processes. It will serve as a framework to bolster regional commitments and support national efforts across the four pillars of the WPS agenda: Participation, Prevention, Protection, and Relief & Recovery. In short, the RAP will help unify and amplify each country's actions under UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the cornerstone global agreement on WPS, through a coordinated regional approach.
Central Asian countries have demonstrated a growing commitment to the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 through the adoption of National Action Plans (NAPs) and other policies advancing Women, Peace and Security (WPS) priorities. Four countries out of five have adopted WPS NAPs and across the region, there is growing recognition of the important role women play in peacebuilding. Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in peace and security decision-making both globally and in Central Asia. For example, in the region, women made up only 9% of cabinet ministers (global average 23%) and 6.2% of diplomats (global average 7%) indicating womens' underrepresentation in high-level decision-making roles while, as a positive trend, women's number in national parlaments in Central Asia has been increasing from 28% to 34,8% between 2025 – 2025.
The WPS Regional Action Plan will foster cross-border collaboration to collectively implement WPS commitments, adapting them to regional context. For instance, it supportsparticipation ofwomen and young women to actively participate in addressing new and emerging security threats by creating spaces for intergenerational dialogues around water and climate resilience andsecurity, emergency preparedness and hybersecurity s, as well as on preventing gender-based violence and violent extremism.
The WPS Regional Action Plan is grounded in the understanding that inclusive peace is lasting peace. When women are at the table, peace agreements are more durable and communities are safer. By investing in women's leadership and protection, Central Asia's governments and civil societies are affirming their commitment to a stable and peaceful future.
The call to develop a WPS Regional Action Plan for Central Asia was reflected in the outcome document adopted at WPS Forum in 2024, which marked the launch of the initiative. The draft RAP reflects the shared vision articulated at that event led by the Central Asian Women Leaders Caucus, national WPS experts and Government Representatives. The development of the WPS Regional Action Plan started in 2025 with the draft WPS RAP finalized early 2026 that was shared with the Governments review and consideration in March 2026.
The development is being led by National Focal Points and WPS Experts from the five Central Asian countries, with support from UN Women Office for Europe and Central Asia (UN Women ECARO). Members of the Task Force for the WPS multistakeholder platform for Central Asia and South Caucasus actively participate in the discussions.
The accompanying workplan is a living document that will be updated regularly. It outlines the timeline and key milestones for the regional action plan's development.
The first WPS RAP Plan for Central Asia provides a shared framework for regional coordination and implementation of WPS commitments. It responds to evolving regional dynamics, including climate-related insecurity, migration pressures, and social vulnerabilities, while reaffirming women's central role in resilience-building, conflict prevention, and disaster recovery across all four pillars of the WPS agenda.
The WPS RAP is designed to translate national WPS commitments into regional actions to accelerate progress across the four pillars of WPS. It will strengthen national implementation by aligning policies, sharing good practices, and supporting development of next-generation WPS champions and NAPs in the region.
The initial outline for the WPS Regional Action Plan for Central Asia was drafted by the National Focal Points and WPS Experts from the five Central Asian countries in early 2025. Building on this, the first draft plan was then developed in late 2025 following broad consultations, with direct inputs from women and youth CSO representatives.
The final draft plan was submitted to the Governments review in March 2026 and will be finalised based on the feedback received in April 2026. The draft WPS RAP can be accessed here.
The draft Plan is informed by extensive civil society consultations conducted in 2025, including ten consultations organised across the region in both online and in-person formats. In total, the consultations engaged over 200 representatives from civil society, government, and partner organizations, including women-led and youth organizations. Participants included 113 women civil society representatives, representatives from 32 women-led NGOs and 111 youth leaders.
The consultations allowed the incorporation of diverse perspectives and lived experiences, particularly from women's civil society, youth organizations, experts, and local actors, directly informing the priority areas of the WPS RAP.
Youth Voices at the Center
Recognizing that young people make up more than half of the population in the whole region of Central Asia, the WPS RAP process placed strong emphasis on youth engagement. Youth consultations were held at national levels, creating space for young activists to voice their concerns and offer solutions to inform the RAP.
These dialogues highlighted the specific challenges youth face within the WPS agenda — from lack of access to decision-making spaces to vulnerability in emergencies and crises. Importantly, participants also shared concrete recommendations and visions for change, including the kind of support they need to lead peacebuilding efforts in their communities. This allowed integrating YPS commitments into the WPS RAP and offers a good practice of integrating WPS and YPS agendas.
Reports showcase the outcomes of the consultations conducted with in total 111 young people in five respective Central Asian countries and highlight the priorities and solutions identified.
Read the Brief for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan →
This brief provides an overview of the goals, process, and emerging priorities shaping the first-ever RAP on WPS for Central Asia. It highlights the collective vision of the five countries, the key pillars of the WPS agenda, and the inclusive consultations guiding the plan’s development. Whether you are a policymaker, practitioner, donor, or advocate, this document offers valuable insight into how the region is working together to drive transformative change for women and peace.
🔗 We invite you to read and share the brief with partners and stakeholders.
This brief presents concrete action suggestions gathered through inclusive civil society consultations supporting the development of Central Asia’s first Regional Action Plan (RAP) on WPS. It outlines the change the RAP seeks to create, introduces the four pillars of the WPS agenda, and highlights four high impact priority areas identified by participants. The document also summarizes a consolidated set of recommendations aimed at driving both immediate action and long-term transformation across the region.
🔗 We invite you to read and share the brief with partners and stakeholders.
This brief summarizes the outcomes of the final validation consultation on the draft RAP on WPS for Central Asia, held on 5 December 2025. It highlights how women civil society leaders and youth champions helped confirm the RAP’s four priority areas, refine the plan’s structure, and identify strategic entry points for implementation of the WPS agenda and UNSCR 1325. It outlines recommended implementation approaches, funding and resource strategies, and mechanisms for strengthened civil society and youth inclusion.
🔗 We invite you to read and share the brief with partners and stakeholders.
