Strengthening and amplifying efforts to secure protection of women is critical to ensure women's and girls safety, physical and mental health, overall well-being, economic security and dignity. It involves the promotion and safeguarding of women's human rights, as well as a incorporating gender perspective into legal and institutional reforms. 

While protection remains vital, it cannot be separated from women’s agency and participation. Women must be consulted about their security needs and concerns and must be engaged in their own protection through participating in the design and implementation of protection strategies and programs. In addition, the protection framework should not ignore the need to prevent conflict so as to eliminate the need for protection from its effects. As many women, peace and security advocates have argued, SCR 1325 was not intended to make war safe for women.