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Context

The 2025 UN Secretary-General’s Report on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) reveals that gender equality progress is rapidly vanishing.

What is Women, Peace and Security (WPS)?

It is a global framework rooted in the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), which was unanimously adopted in 2000, to recognise the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls.  

The WPS agenda is built upon four interconnected pillars:

• Participation: Demands the increased representation of women at all levels of decision-making in peace and security.
• Protection: Calls for specific measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, especially sexual violence, in conflict zones.
• Prevention: Focuses on preventing violence against women and integrating a gender perspective into conflict prevention strategies.
• Relief and Recovery: Ensures that all relief and recovery efforts are gender-responsive and address the specific needs of women and girls.

What are the Findings of the Latest Report? 

Risk Exposure: 676 million women now live within 50 kilometers of a deadly conflict, the highest figure since the 1990s. 

Surge in Casualties: Civilian casualties among women and children have quadrupled in the last two years.

Explosion of Sexual Violence: Conflict-related sexual violence has surged by 87%, used as a weapon of war.

Mass Displacement: By the end of 2024, over 123 million people were forcibly displaced, with women and girls facing heightened risks of violence and exploitation. (Source: UN Refugee Agency)

Weaponized Hunger: In 2024, over 295 million people in 53 countries faced acute hunger, with millions of pregnant and breastfeeding women in crisis zones malnourished.  (Source: UNICEF)

Why Women's Participation is Crucial for Sustainable Peace?

• More Durable Peace: Peace agreements with women signatories are 35% more likely to last for at least fifteen years. (Source: UNWOMEN).
• Broader Agendas: Women at the negotiating table expand discussions to include human rights, justice, health, and education, rather than just military power-sharing.

In 2024, nine out of ten peace processes had no women negotiators, and women constituted only 7% of negotiators and 14% of mediators globally.

What are the Challenges in Implementing the WPS Agenda?

Lack of Political Will: Peace and security decisions are male-dominated, with no accountability for excluding women.

The "Dangerous Imbalance" in Funding: In 2024, global military spending exceeded $2.7 trillion, while women's conflict organizations received only 0.4% of aid. (Source: UN)

Shrinking Civic Space: Women human rights defenders and peacebuilders face growing threats, harassment, and work restrictions.

Militarization over Diplomacy: Prioritizing military solutions over diplomacy exacerbates global conflicts and endangers civilians.

Emerging Threats: Climate change multiplies conflict; digital violence and misinformation threaten women's safety and participation.

Recommendations by the Report 

Strengthen Accountability

Member states must strengthen WPS accountability, ensuring justice and reparations for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

Increase Financing for WPS

Increase funding for women-led and women's rights organizations in conflict and crisis settings. The UN's Gender Equality Acceleration Plan targets 15% of UN spending for gender equality by 2026.

Mandate Meaningful Participation

Set binding targets and quotas for women's full, equal, and meaningful participation in all peace and security decision-making, including negotiations, mediation, and post-conflict governance.

Invest in Prevention

Prioritize conflict prevention efforts that address root causes, integrate gender analysis, and support local women's peace initiatives.

Gender Data Revolution

Invest in disaggregated data collection to make women's realities in conflict zones visible and to inform evidence-based policies and accountability.

Address Emerging Threats

Integrate gender perspectives into responses to climate change, digital violence, and arms control to ensure inclusive and effective strategies.

Conclusion

The 2025 UN report calls for a shift from war to inclusive, sustainable peace. Member states, including India, must empower women by ensuring equal participation in peace processes, directly funding women's organizations, and increasing accountability for crimes against women and girls. 

Source: DOWNTOEARTH