On 31 October 2000, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. UNSCR 1325 is a landmark legal and political document that obliges all actors involved in conflict and peace issues – the UN, government and non-state entities – to ensure the effective participation of women in decision-making pertaining to peace and security, and to provide the necessary physical and legal protections to them in conflict-affected settings. The year 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of this landmark resolution.

 

Often dubbed as the ‘women’s resolution’, UNSCR 1325 is first and foremost about peace and security. It is rooted in the premise that women’s participation in and contributions to the process and substance of peace and security decision making will improve the chances of attaining viable and sustainable peace. Moreover, UNSCR 1325 acknowledges that violence against women, especially sexual violence, is itself a gross provocation and threat to peace and security.