26 years since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security
On 31 October 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This was an important step towards international recognition of women’s role in conflict prevention, peace processes and post-war recovery. The resolution also highlighted the need to protect the rights of women and girls during armed conflict and take their needs into account in humanitarian response.
Why was Resolution 1325 adopted?
The resolution was adopted in response to the need to better recognise the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, including the implications for their rights and specific needs. At the same time, it recognised the important role women play in conflict prevention, peace negotiations and peacebuilding, emphasising the need for their equal participation in decision-making on peace and security.
Resolution 1325 established an important principle: women must not only be among those whose rights and safety need to be protected, but also among those who help shape decisions on peace and security. It laid the foundation for the international Women, Peace and Security agenda, which covers women’s participation in peace processes, the protection of their rights, conflict prevention, and consideration of their needs in humanitarian response and recovery.
How is Ukraine implementing the resolution?
Ukraine implements the resolution through national action plans. In February 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the National Action Plan for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 until 2030. It provides, among other things, for creating conditions for the equal participation of women and men in decision-making on conflict prevention, responding to security challenges and the country’s recovery, as well as taking into account the needs of people affected by the war.
Amid the full-scale war, implementing these principles is particularly important. Women’s participation in the security and defence sector, humanitarian response, support for people affected by the war and community recovery is an important part of the country’s resilience.
The Ukrainian Red Cross emphasises the importance of protecting women’s rights during war, taking their needs into account and upholding international humanitarian law.