The Past, Present, and Future of Women, Peace, and Security
Launched by UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, "The Past, Present, and Future of Women, Peace, and Security" campaign commemorates the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 and celebrates 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 activists working on gender equality and peace across Europe and Central Asia whose significant contributions have transformed their communities, societies, and beyond.
“Peacebuilding is not about being perfect; it is about being present and persistent”
Ana Nemsadze, 33, is a peacebuilder from Georgia. Growing up in a conflict-affected community, participating in cultural exchanges and volunteering with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) expanded her understanding of resilience and social cohesion. She now leads the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) direction at the Women’s Information Centre (WIC).
25 Trailblazing Women in Peace and Security
Building Truth and Trust
Azerbaijan
Arzu Abdullayeva is an internationally recognized peace activist from Azerbaijan, contributing to peacebuilding, democracy, and women's leadership.
Fusing Policy and Research
Türkiye
Nigar Goksel is a conflict analyst and peacebuilder from Türkiye, who has spent over twenty years working at the intersection of policy, research, and diplomacy across the region.
Empowering Youth for Sustainable Peace
Turkmenistan
Guncha Annageldiyeva, 26, Ashgabat activist, inspires youth and young women to lead change in sustainable development and peacebuilding, championing rights and inclusion across Central Asia.
Empowering Women Economically for Peace
Moldova
Zinaida Emelianova, Director of the Agency for Innovation and Development and Women’s Advisory Board Member, champions women’s economic empowerment and leadership in Transnistria, Republic of Moldova, near the Ukrainian border.
Promoting Peace and Dialogue
Finland
Johanna Poutanen, Head of Inclusion and Digital Innovation at CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, champions women’s participation in peace processes and global gender-sensitive mediation, drawing on her extensive experience in international peace and security initiatives.
Power of Negotiation in Gender Advocacy
Türkiye
Selma Acuner is a dedicated gender equality advocate and policy expert who has played a key role in bringing feminist perspectives into international negotiations and multilateral processes.
Following a Legacy
Tajikistan
Bozgul Dodkhudoeva is a trailblazing politician and activist who played a crucial role in post-civil war reconciliation and championed women’s leadership and girls' education in her country.
Building Platforms for Peace
Azerbaijan
Shahla Ismayil, Chair of the Women’s Association for Rational Development and Director of Gender Port, is a leading advocate for gender equality and women’s rights in Azerbaijan, with over 25 years’ experience in advancing peace and inclusion across the South Caucasus.
Leading the March for Peace
Serbia
Sonja Licht is a sociologist and civic activist since the 1960s, who has founded many local and international CSOs and women’s organizations, and received numerous international peace and human rights awards.
Lifelong Commitment to Peace, Leadership and Mentorship
North Macedonia
Colonel Biljana Blazheska has served in the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia for 26 years. As one of the first women to rise through the Army’s ranks, for Biljana, service is not just a profession, it is a lifelong commitment to peace, leadership and mentorship.
From Research to Impact
Moldova
Natalia Albu, PhD. is an Associate Professor at the ‘Alexandru cel Bun’ Military Academy in the Republic of Moldova, and Co-founder of the Platform for Security and Defense Initiatives NGO, and a leading voice on Women, Peace and Security in Moldova, who contributed to key strategies in the country.
Interlinking Water Governance, Social Inclusion and Gender Justice
The Netherlands
Alice Bouman-Dentener is a biologist/ethologist from the Netherlands who has won international acclaim for her expertise on water governance, social inclusion and gender.
Empowering Women as Local Peacebuilders
Uzbekistan
Damira Tukhtasinova is the Director of the Center for Social and Legal Support for Women and Their Families “Kalb Nuri”, Fergana Region, leading efforts to bring together diverse ethnic and cultural groups and confront discrimination and conflict in Uzbekistan’s tense border areas.
Tirelessly Locating Missing Persons
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Seida Karabašić dedicated her life to locating missing persons and advocating for stronger laws and support for women’s rights, roles and recognition in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Advocating for women’s resilience and peacebuilding
Armenia
Knarik Mkrtchyani is an Armenian human rights defender and co-founder of the Women’s Agenda – a women-led civil society organization focused on women’s resilience and peacebuilding.
Advocating for the rights of internally displaced people
Georgia
Ana Nemsadze is a peacebuilder from Georgia who grew up in a conflict-affected community, inspiring her to take action for peace, gender equality and the rights of internally displaced people.
Writing for women's rights
Ukraine
Anna Povkh, 22, is a Ukrainian author who wrote the book "Це дівчача справа!", which features the stories of 36 women confronting a variety of gender stereotypes in war-torn Ukraine.
Leadership and empowering women in security
Albania
Brigadier General Vehbije Kuti, Albania’s only woman general, advocates for more women in command roles and champions their meaningful participation in peace and security decision-making.
Centering women's voices, experiences and leadership in peacebuilding
Armenia
Gulnara Shahinian, an international human-rights expert and the first UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, helped design Armenia’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and champions women’s voices in peace and democracy.
Mobilizing Youth for Peace
Georgia
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 and No Equality Without Peace
Denmark
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
Kosovo
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.
Keeping Peace on the Frontlines
Kazakhstan
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
Iceland
Iris Björg transforms national policing as Head of the International and Border Management Division, championing a forward‐thinking, gender‐responsive approach.
Driving Gender Equality for Lasting Peace
Slovenia
A seasoned politician, professor, and civil society activist, Sonja Lokar's decades‐long fight for women's rights continues to shape global peace efforts.