On 31 October 2000, the United Nations (UN) Security Council passed resolution 1325, which categorically linked violence against women during conflict and their marginalisation during peace processes with the short and long-term challenges of maintaining internationalpeace and security. Based on a review of 1325 debates and literature, the author presents some of the main obstacles to the resolution’s widespread realisation and explore opportunities for its implementation in the decades to come.
The analysis in this brief is meant to inform policymakers and practitioners about the overall concepts and framework of 1325, including its limits; but it also points to concrete action in some problematic areas of the 1325 agenda.
The brief therefore concludes with a discussion of participation in peace processes; gender mainstreaming; and protection, followed by three detailed policy recommendations:
Creatively bridge the equality gap in participation by:
- expanding the pool of eligible women peacemakers
- broadening the space for negotiators to include women at the grassroots level
Normalise gender mainstreaming by:
- establishing widespread 1325 performance expectations within peace operations
Meet protection obligations by:
- expanding and deepening protection activities
- creating incentives and establishing dialogue with armed groups