UN Marks 25 Years of Women, Peace and Security Agenda, Reaffirms Gender Equality as Key to Lasting Peace

The United Nations has reiterated that gender equality remains central to achieving sustainable peace, as it commemorates 25 years of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, established under UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Describing the resolution as a “game-changer,” Laura Flores, Director of the Americas Division at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), said it fundamentally transformed global perceptions of women’s roles in peacebuilding.

> “People finally started recognising that women are not just victims of conflict but are also key agents in resolving it. It’s about ensuring women have a seat at the table during peace negotiations and that their voices shape recovery and security,” Flores told UN News in an interview published on October 31, 2025.

According to the UN Secretary-General’s report on Women, Peace and Security, nearly 700 million women lived within 50 kilometres of deadly conflict zones last year. The report also recorded an 87 per cent increase in sexual violence over the past two years, while nine out of ten peace processes excluded women negotiators.

Despite these challenges, Flores noted encouraging progress across the Americas, highlighting that the region currently holds the highest average of women in parliament globally — with Caribbean countries at 41 per cent, South America at 31.9 per cent, and Central America at 30.8 per cent.

She also commended Mexico, Chile, and Colombia for adopting foreign policies that prioritise gender equality in diplomacy, peacebuilding, and development.

> “These policies are still new and require strong coordination to take root, but they mark a significant step forward,” she said.

The UN continues to support member states in implementing the WPS Agenda. In Chile, it backed a presidential commission addressing conflict affecting Indigenous Mapuche women; in Colombia, it helped craft the nation’s first National Action Plan aligned with Resolution 1325; and in Haiti, it partners with UN Women to assist survivors of gender-based violence.

However, Flores cautioned that gender-based violence remains alarmingly high in Latin America, with at least 11 women murdered daily. She also warned of increasing political violence and online harassment targeting women leaders.

> “The region has momentum, but sustaining it requires protection, investment, and strong political will,” she stressed.

Flores also celebrated the resilience of Indigenous women, calling them “central to peace and democracy.”

One of such women is Otilia Lux de Cotí, a Maya K’iche’ leader and the only Indigenous woman to have served as a minister in Guatemala’s government. Reflecting on her country’s 36-year civil conflict, which claimed over 200,000 lives, Lux said she has dedicated her life to documenting violence against women and Indigenous Peoples.

During Guatemala’s 2023 elections, Indigenous women played a crucial role in defending democracy when the peaceful transfer of power was threatened. Communities gathered in protest, raising varas—traditional staffs symbolising ancestral authority—an act Lux described as a “collective awakening of consciousness,” known in K’iche’ as Yacataj.

> “That moment was not merely a protest; it was an act of democratic participation seen through Indigenous eyes,” she said.

As the UN celebrates 25 years of the WPS Agenda, Flores said the courage and leadership of women like Lux reflect the true essence of Resolution 1325 — ensuring that women are fully represented in decision-making for peace and security.

> “The region’s women are showing that achieving peace means refusing to stay silent,” Flores affirmed.