Women, Peace, and Security: Two Decades of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 Agenda

Mehar Sandhu

Women, Peace, and Security: Two Decades of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 Agenda

Author(s)	Ms. Mehar Sandhu
Country	India
Abstract	The adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 in 2000 marked a transformative moment in international peace and security by formally recognizing the critical role of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, peace negotiations, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction. Over the past two decades, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda has expanded through successive Security Council resolutions and the development of National Action Plans (NAPs), reflecting growing international commitment to integrating gender perspectives into security governance. Despite these normative and institutional advances, implementation remains uneven across regions due to persistent gender inequalities, limited political commitment, inadequate financial resources, underrepresentation of women in peace processes, and the evolving nature of armed conflicts. Contemporary security challenges—including violent extremism, cyber insecurity, climate-related conflicts, forced displacement, and digital misinformation—have further complicated the realization of the WPS agenda while underscoring its continuing relevance. This article critically examines the evolution, achievements, and limitations of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda from 2000 to the present. It analyses the contribution of UNSCR 1325 to international peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and global governance by assessing its four foundational pillars: participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery. Drawing on recent global developments and comparative case studies, the article evaluates the effectiveness of institutional mechanisms, regional initiatives, and national implementation strategies in advancing women's meaningful participation in peace and security processes. It argues that although the WPS agenda has significantly reshaped international security discourse by embedding gender within peace and security governance, its transformative potential remains constrained by implementation gaps, geopolitical rivalries, militarized approaches to conflict, and inadequate accountability mechanisms. The article concludes that strengthening the WPS agenda requires greater political commitment, sustainable financing, intersectional policy approaches, stronger institutional accountability, and enhanced representation of women at all levels of peace and security decision-making. Such measures are essential for building inclusive, sustainable, and resilient peace in an increasingly complex global security environment.
Keywords	Women, Peace and Security; UNSCR 1325; Gender and Security; Peacebuilding; Conflict Resolution; Feminist Security Studies; United Nations; Global Governance.
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-08-10

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Women, Peace, and Security: Two Decades of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 Agenda

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