Solutions: Innovative WPS Agenda

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 consequences of violence and war. To break the silence of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, women peacemakers demanded that women have their own voice. With other women’s rights and peace advocates, PeaceWomen mobilised and led the way in pioneering the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

In October 2000, United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 was drafted and adopted by UN Security Council. It has been followed by nine other resolutions (UNSCR 1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 2106, 2122, 2242, 2467, and 2493), which make up the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. This Agenda has transformative potential - the potential to escape cycles of conflict, to create inclusive and more democratic peacemaking and to turn from gender inequality to gender justice. Women’s agency, voice, and capacities are critical to local dialogues, better policies and more equitable peace deals. The UNSCR 1325 is the most translated Security Council Resolution ever!