Open Debates on Women, Peace and Security

Since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, the Security Council has met every year to debate on Women, Peace and Security, usually in October (the anniversary month). The open debates are informed by Secretary-General's annual report on Women Peace and Security. During the debate the Council hears statements from briefers, Security Council members and other Member States. Frequently, the annual debate results in an outcome document, most recently Resolution 2493 (2019).

The briefers usually include the Secretary-General, the Executive Director of UN Women, representatives of other UN agencies, and most importantly a civil society representative selected by the the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, a coalition to which WILPF belongs. The Civil Society statement is developed by the advocate, WILPF, other coalition members, and the NGOWG office. The civil society speakers have included advocates from different conflict situations


Prior to the Open Debates, the Secretary-General submits a report with analysis, updates and recommendations. The Security Council can choose to take action on these recommendations by adopting a resolution, a presidential statement or a press release. The meetings of the Security Council have resulted in ten Women, Peace and Security resolutions.

 
KEY DATES (WPS & SVC Debate)OUTCOMES (SG Reports & Resolutions)CSO Commentary

24 October 2000 (WPS Debate)

Landmark Resolution 1325

UNIFEM Statement

31 October 2001 (WPS Debate)

No debate

NGOWG One Year Report

27 October 2002 (WPS Debate)

Report of the Secretary General

NGOWG Two Year Report

29 October 2003 (WPS Debate)

No report or resolution

None

13 October 2004 (WPS Debate)

Report of the Secretary General

NGOWG report Four Years On

20 October 2005 (WPS Debate)

Report of the Secretary General

NGOWG report Five Years On and Compilation of Statements

17 October 2006 (WPS Debate)

Report of the Secretary General

NGOWG report Six Years On

1 October 2007 (WPS Debate)

Report of the Secretary General

None

29 October 2008 (WPS Debate)

Report of the Secretary General

NGOWG recommendations

19 June 2008 (SVC Debate)

Report of the Secretary General and  Resolution 1820

NGOWG report and PeaceWomen review

5 October 2009 (WPS Debate)

September 2009 SG Report and Resolution 1888

NGOWG Statement

26 October 2010 (WPS Debate)

April 2010 SG Report,
September 2010 SG Report
and Resolution 1960

(December 2010)

NGOWG report

28 October 2011 (WPS Debate)

Secretary General’s Report

NGOWG Statement

24 April 2012 (SVC Debate)

Secretary General’s Report

NGOWG Statement

30 November 2012 (WPS Debate)

Secretary General’s Report

NGOWG Review and Open Letter on debate

17 April 2013 (SVC Debate)

Secretary General’s Report

NGOWG Statement

24 June 2013

Resolution 2106

None

18 October 2013 (WPS Debate)

Resolution 2122 and SG’s Report

NGOWG Statement

24 April 2014 (SVC Debate)

Secretary General’s Report

NGOWG Statement

 

29 October 2014 (WPS Debate)

Secretary General's ReportNGOWG Open Letter

15 April 2015 (SVC Debate)

Secretary General's ReportNGOWG Statement

13 October 2015 (WPS Debate)

Resolution 2242 and Secretary-General's Report

NGOWG Statement

2 June 2016 (SVC Debate)

Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement

25 October 2016 (WPS Debate)

Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement
15 May 2017 (SVC Debate)Secretary-General's Report NGOWG Statement 
27 October 2017 (WPS Debate)Secretary-General's Report NGOWG Statement 
16 April 2018 (SVC Debate)Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement

25 October 2018 (WPS Debate)

Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement
23 April 2019 (SVC Debate)Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement

29 October 2019 (WPS Debate)

Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement
17 July 2020 (SVC Debate)Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement
29 October 2020 (WPS Debate)Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement
14 April 2021 (SVC Debate)Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement
21 October 2021 (WPS Debate)

Secretary-General's Report

NGOWG Statement

18 January 2022 (WPS Debate) NGOWG Statement
8 March 2022 (WPS Debate)  
13 April 2022 (SVC Debate)Secretary-General's ReportNGOWG Statement
15 June 2022 (WPS Debate)  
20 October 2022 (WPS Debate)Secretary-General's ReportCivil Society Statement
14 July 2023 (SVC Debate)Secretary-General's ReportCivil Society Statement