This week saw an historic High-Level Open Debate in New York at the UN Security Council to review the progress over the 15 years since the adoption of UNSCR 1325 on women, peace and security.
The overwhelming consensus of the high-level debate is that failure to deliver on achieving women’s equal participation, protection, and contribution to the prevention of conflict is severely undermining the prospects for sustainable peace around the world. As UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon said: “At a time when armed extremist groups place the subordination of women at the top of their agenda, we must place women’s leadership and the protection of women’s rights at the top of ours.” Ban highlighted that the “one common theme” across the reviews of the UN Peace Operations, Peacebuilding Architecture, and Women, Peace and Security in 2015 is that “any reforms must include gender equality and women’s leadership as central ingredients, and must be strongly grounded in human rights”.
To read the full “The UN, Women, Peace and Security: 15 Years On, Women’s Participation in Peace and Security is More Urgent Than Ever” article co-authored by Associate Professor Sara E. Davies, please visit Australian Institute of International Affairs website.
