Statement on the 25th Anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security
Our Commitment to Human Rights Law in the Face of Ongoing Conflicts
31 October 2025
Thirty-one October 2000 marked an extraordinary milestone for peace and equality. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, a landmark document that recognised women’s essential role in peacebuilding and called for the protection of their rights in conflict, including an end to impunity for violations.
Two and a half decades after its adoption, the message of Resolution 1325 remains as urgent as ever: peace is inseparable from the protection and leadership of women. Yet today those hard-won gains are under threat. As the UN Secretary-General recently warned, “Around the globe, we see troubling trends in military spending, more armed conflicts, and more shocking brutality against women and girls.”
From Sudan to Ukraine, Haiti to Myanmar, women continue to bear heavy burdens of war and instability. More than 650 million women and girls now live near conflict zones — the highest number since the end of the Cold War — leaving them at heightened risk of violence, displacement, and economic insecurity. In 2024, incidents of conflict-related sexual violence rose by 25 per cent, a marked rise from the previous year.
On this anniversary, we urge all governments to fulfil their obligations under Resolution 1325, the Geneva Conventions, CEDAW, and all international human rights instruments — not in words, but in actions.
We honour those working for peace in the world’s most difficult contexts while urgently noting that the vast majority of peace processes still exclude women’s participation.
We stand with all survivors and reaffirm our call to end all forms of violence against women and girls — in every setting, under every circumstance, in every country.
We also celebrate the courageous women whose leadership and persistence made the adoption of Resolution 1325 possible. Their advocacy reshaped the global peace and security agenda. Their leadership reminds us that peace without women’s voices is incomplete, and justice without women’s rights is impossible. We commend the governments and UN entities that listened, collaborated, and acted to adopt this vital resolution.
Such a collaboration among civil society, nations, and international bodies is the cornerstone of a just, equal and peaceful world. In that same spirit, we extend a hand to fellow women’s rights organisations, governments and UN entities for collaborative efforts to accelerate the end of violence against women and girls. Together, we can enact change for the benefit of all.
