As global conflicts intensify and women’s rights face unprecedented challenges, the annual Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Week in New York, which took place on October 21-25, 2024, was an insight into trends for the decade ahead.
The 2024 open debate, chaired by Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, marked a critical moment in the ongoing effort to advance women’s roles in peace and security worldwide.
Under Amherd’s leadership, the debate addressed the pressing theme of “Women Building Peace in a Changing Environment,” bringing together key stakeholders to confront the complex challenges facing women in conflict zones and peace processes.
The timing proved crucial, as recent data from the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere reveals that more than 600 million women live in conflict-affected areas, underscoring the imperative need to strengthen global commitments to the WPS agenda.
The debate’s significance extends beyond mere discussion, serving as a catalyst for policy development and international cooperation. These annual open debates have historically served as crucial platforms for highlighting women’s roles in peace processes and addressing gender-specific impacts of conflict, leading to concrete policy recommendations and needed changes in how peacekeeping operations integrate gender perspectives.
The WPS Annual Open Debate’s key participants included UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, and Effie Owuor, Chair of the African Union (AU) Panel of the Wise and Co-Chair of FemWise-Africa, who provided insights on the current state of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Speakers addressed specific country situations where women face acute protection and participation challenges, including Afghanistan, Gaza, and Ukraine. A significant development emerged with the launch of a new UN Secretary-General initiative calling for mediating entities to commit to concrete actions supporting women’s participation in mediation activities, with several Council members already announcing their participation.
What Is UNSCR Resolution 1325?
Resolution 1325, adopted by the UN Security Council in 2000, represents a watershed moment in the global recognition of women’s roles in peace and security. The resolution acknowledged the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls while establishing a groundbreaking framework positioning women as active agents of change rather than passive victims.
The resolution’s four foundational pillars—participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery—created a comprehensive approach to ensuring women’s meaningful involvement in peace processes. These pillars mandated women’s inclusion in decision-making processes related to conflict resolution and peacebuilding while establishing robust mechanisms for protecting women’s rights during and after conflicts.
Actions and Issues Ahead of the Open Debate/WPS Week
An open letter signed by 628 civil society organizations from 110 countries was sent to UN Security Council members in advance of October’s debate. In it, signatories warned that the goals of the WPS agenda are under increasing threat from escalating armed conflicts and a global backlash against women’s rights. They called for urgent action to uphold the WPS agenda, emphasizing the need for immediate responses to protect women’s rights in conflict situations.
Despite support for the WPS agenda among Security Council members, implementation faces barriers. According to the latest annual report of the UN Secretary-General on Women, Peace and Security, financial aid for women-led organizations in conflict-affected countries has sharply decreased from $191 million in 2019-2020 to $142 million annually in 2021-2022. Additional funding is crucial for maintaining the operations and resilience of grassroots women’s organizations, which are essential for community interventions. Geopolitical tensions from ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine also hinder the adoption of new outcomes related to WPS.
These challenges have profound implications, suggesting that progress may stagnate or regress without a concerted effort to reform how the Security Council engages with WPS issues, particularly regarding funding and policy implementation. Civil society’s role is non-negotiable in this context, as their advocacy efforts have highlighted the need for gender-responsive conflict analysis and greater political support for women mediators.
The State of the WPS Agenda
This year’s key event was the WPS Focal Points Network Sixth Capital Level Meeting, which united stakeholders from UN Member States, regional organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector. Launched in 2016, the Focal Points Network endeavors to enhance the implementation of the WPS agenda through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Meeting under the theme “Reclaiming Women, Peace and Security: Defining a Path Forward,” participants assessed the agenda’s progress, shared insights on the development and implementation of country-specific National Action Plans (NAPs), and explored tools for better budgeting, monitoring, and reporting.
Our Secure Future (OSF), a United States-based organization that has been leading the promotion of the WPS policy framework, has exemplified the critical role of civil society organizations.
OSF Vice President Sahana Dharmapuri addressed pressing concerns, particularly regarding resource allocation stating, “We must confront the elephant in the room—the issue of funding. It is imperative that we channel more resources towards women peacebuilders and human rights efforts.”
Themes Addressed During WPS Week
The WPS Week discussions highlighted critical challenges to international peace and security, notably the erosion of norms and increasing militarization. Experts linked these issues to rising polarization influenced by social media, which affects politics but also gender, generational, and global tensions. This creates an “us vs. them” mentality that threatens democratic institutions. Participants called for improved civic education and inclusive dialogue platforms to discuss these challenges.
Experts also urged accountability measures for men in power, stressing that leaders should integrate these considerations into their work. The discussions cautioned against oversimplified stereotypes and advocated for nuanced strategies recognizing both men and women as potential agents of peace or conflict.
In this context, intergenerational collaboration is essential for advancing peace initiatives. Participants emphasized creating equitable spaces for different age groups to share perspectives, suggesting mentorship and reverse mentoring programs. They also highlighted the importance of community-level peace work, noting that while women often lead local efforts, they are underrepresented in formal negotiations.
Reflecting on Milestones: UNSCR 1325 and the Beijing Platform for Action
As 2025 approaches, the global community will commemorate two key anniversaries: the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action. These milestones provide an opportunity to assess progress in equality between men and women, and peacebuilding, highlighting the importance of women’s roles in peace processes.
Implementation challenges persist despite the potential of existing frameworks. While about 56% of UN member states have National Action Plans (NAPs), many face outdated plans and lack of funding and accountability. The political landscape is still male-dominated, with bilateral aid for feminist organizations in conflict-affected countries dropping to an average of $142 million annually in 2021-2022, as noted by the report of the Secretary-General on Women, Peace and Security.
As the Women, Peace, and Security agenda approaches its 25th anniversary, the path forward demands more than ceremonies. While convenings like WPS Week show that progress is possible, real change requires increased funding and genuine integration of women in peace processes. These milestone anniversaries present a critical moment to strengthen the framework for conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and equality for everyone.