War and conflict involves tremendous suffering for all and for sustainable peace it is vital that the needs and concerns of everyone are taken into account. For the women’s peace movement, the women, peace and security agenda addresses the fundamental points that women and gender perspectives must be included in peace processes; their needs and concerns must be taken into account and the differential impact of conflict on women and men must be addressed. Women have been systematically targeted in conflict situations and are frequently excluded from decision-making opportunities in peace-process negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction.

The policy framework on women, peace and security extends from the international to the local level and from intergovernmental bodies such as the United Nations to national level governments. As the body responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, it is vital that the Security Council addresses gender and women’s concerns in its policy-making. It does so through its resolutions on women, peace and security – SCRs 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889. These together form the framework for work on women, peace and security at the UN. They do not, however, comprise the entirety of the aspirational agenda for women, peace and security for the women’s peace movement and efforts are continually being made to drive this agenda forward. Read More>>