Why Women, Peace and Security

Women have voice and power to be agents of change.

Women’s agency, voice and capacities, as well as a real gender perspective are critical to local dialogues, better policies and more equitable peace deals. 

We have seen it in Libya, Yemen, Nigeria, Colombia and everywhere else in the world. 

The Women, Peace and Security Agenda has a transformative potential. It is a powerful tool for moving from exclusive to democratic decision-making, from gender inequality to gender justice and from conflict and violence to sustainable and feminist peace.

The Agenda is now recognised internationally, but there are still challenges. Patriarchy, inequalities, militarised masculinities and discriminatory power structures inhibit effective conflict prevention, inclusive peace, women’s rights and participation.

To realise a transformative potential of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, it is time to move from verbal commitments to action: Governments, the United Nations, civil society, the private sector and other actors must implement relevant commitments across all thematic areas!

Ensuring a gender perspective and women’s participation, protection and rights is critical, including in prevention and disarmament, protection in displacement settings, peacekeeping, policy-making and reconstruction.

Action is critical to build a sustainable and peaceful world for all of us.

  • The Problem
    UNOCI Conducts Disarmament Operation in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

    Women are excluded from decision-making. Gender inequalities are neglected. Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda lags behind words and rhetoric. Too much is spent on arms and military security, and too little on gender …

  • Solutions: Innovative WPS Agenda
    93rd Anniversary of the Republic of Tripolitania Featuring Celebratory Scenes in a Fairground Atmosphere in the City of Mesallata East of Tripoli. Photo Credit: United Nations Photo/Lason Foounten.

    The Women, Peace and Security Agenda is an innovative tool-box to leverage more equitable peace. The violence and wars in Rwanda, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and South Africa in the 90s showed again the gender impacts and …

  • What Can You Do?

    Don’t be a bystander. Join the movement!Get involved, take action, and raise your voice! The more we work together, the bigger our collective impact. Who are you? Security Council MemberDefend women’s meaningful participation, …

  • Proof: Impact and Cases

    Investing in women’s participation and rights for peace is both important because women are part of humanity and also because it is critical to preventing violence and conflict and promoting peace. Here are a few cases that …

  • Critical Issues

    Through our context analysis, WILPF has identified five critical issues relevant to peace and security. These resonate with WILPF’s mandate, and underline the areas of change which WILPF aims to address. The issues identified …

  • WILPF International

    Learn more about the work of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Since WILPF's establishment in 1915, they have brought together women from around the world who are united in working for peace by non-violent means and promoting political, economic and social justice for all.

Women who were displaced after fleeing violence in their native Darfur villages collect water from a tank installed by UNAMID Sudan