UNSCR 1325+15: Previewing a Month of Action around the 15th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda

By Cynthia Sularz and Cristel Taveras

It’s almost here - the 15th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and the Women, Peace and Security agenda!

Although plans have had to change after Spain’s recent announcement that they are moving the debate on Women, Peace and Security to October 13th, 2015 (10 full days earlier!) -- we are determined to use this "October WPS month" to bring attention to the need for feminist foreign policy that goes beyond anniversaries for concrete and meaningful change.

As part of our actions this October, we will host a WILPF delegation including from Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cameroon, Colombia, Spain, Sweden, India, and Lebanon in New York and engage in a variety of actions and events throughout the month to build momentum for action. As part of discussions around a possible eighth resolution addressing countering violent extremism, we will also work with our coalition, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, to advocate for strengthened attention to conflict prevention and implementation of commitments into action.

We hope that you will join us!

  • October 13th: Security Council 15th anniversary debate on Women, Peace and Security (PeaceWomen will monitor! Follow along on UN Web TV)
  • October 14th: Launch of the Global Study and Global Acceleration Instrument around the High Level Review (WILPF Secretary General Madeleine Rees attends with the High Level Advisory Group)
  • October 15th: Conversation with Global Study author Radhika Coomaraswamy on strategies for implementing global study recommendations (hosted by WILPF and MADRE)
  • October 20th: “Mobilising Women: Localising Peace” (Internal WILPF workshop)
  • October 21st: Voices from the Field/ Prelude to the Peace Forum developing good practice and calls to action (co-hosted by WILPF)
  • October 22nd: WILPF Reaching Critical Will event the Arms Trade Treaty, UN Program of Action, and Gender Based Violence
  • October 28-30: Peace Forum on engaging men and going beyond anniversaries for action (co-hosted by WILPF)

Interested in participating in upcoming events celebrating #1325at15 but not in New York? Join the conversation! Join WILPF in supporting the October 12-13th Tweet-a-Thon led by the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders by tweeting your response to the question: “What does 1325 mean to you?” (Hashtag: #1325Means). You can also follow along the events either in person or webcast and share with hashtags: #October1325ready and #UNSCR1325.

For a full list of events, please see UN Women's website here>>

Coming Soon

In honour of the 15th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325 and the High-level Review of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda this October, PeaceWomen will launch our highly-anticipated UN Security Council Scorecards an updated version of our mobile application!

More on our UNSC Scorecards: PeaceWomen’s UN Security Council scorecards will serve as a tool for analysing, evaluating, and monitoring the Council’s work to address Women, Peace and Security. Our analysis will be based on the actions of Security Council Members in 2015 and their in-country implementation efforts. The UNSC Scorecards are set to launch the final week of October.

More on our mobile application: The PeaceWomen app will allow users to access updated information on the WPS agenda from anywhere and everywhere. Although it fits in the palm of your hand, this app acts as a powerful tool to monitor the international community’s progress on integrating gender into its laws and policies. By providing up-to-date information into app users hands, WILPF aims to empower activists at all levels.

For further information on the PeaceWomen application, please see here>>