Women, Peace and Security: Keeping the Promise. How to revilatlize the agenda 15 years after unscr 1325

In 2000, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 to uphold women’s rights in conflict and their roles in peace and security. Despite signs of progress, the impact on women’s lives and roles worldwide has been sporadic. This briefing argues that 15 years on, the UN and Member States should use a formal review of the Women, Peace and Security agenda as a crucial opportunity to address key gaps. New commitments should focus on women’s participation, preventing conflict and gender-based violence, monitoring and implementation, and financing. 

This paper draws on consultations with other organiations and experts in the field as well as on Oxfam’s experience as a humanitarian and development organisation working in more than 90 countries with a substantial track record of programmes supporting women’s rights and empowerment. The paper makes particular use of evidence and analysis from programmes in Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.