War has devastating consequences on communities, but women and girls are often disproportionately affected by conflict. They are poorly equipped to protect themselves, frequently make up the majority of displaced populations and refugees, and are targeted by gender violence such as rape and sex trafficking. When it comes to resolving these conflicts, however, women are left out of the conversation and gender perspectives are ignored in peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts.

Women’s participation in peace and security is crucial to achieving sustainable solutions to conflict, and to preventing new conflicts from emerging. In 2000, the UN Security Council passed resolution 1325 on women, peace and security; the landmark resolution recognises the impact of conflict on women and calls on member states to ensure women’s equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. It urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspective in all areas of peace building.

Since the adoption of Resolution 1325, the UN Security Council has adopted seven further resolutions on Women Peace and Security:

Security Council resolution 1325 (2000)

Security Council resolution 1820 (2008)

Security Council resolution 1888 (2009)

Security Council resolution 1889 (2009)

Security Council resolution 1960 (2010)

Security Council resolution 2106 (2013)

Security Council resolution 2122 (2013)

Security Council resolution 2242 (2015)

For more information: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/issues/women/wps.shtml