The UN Security Council convened a high-level debate Monday to mark 25 years since the adoption of Resolution 1325, with Secretary-General António Guterres calling for binding targets to boost women's participation in peace processes and a 'gender data revolution' to address systemic gaps.
Progress and Backslides
Guterres warned of rising sexual violence, maternal mortality rates, and targeted harassment against women in public life, while noting girls globally face increasing barriers to education. 'We cannot build peace while half the population is excluded from decision-making,' he stated.
Concrete Targets Proposed
The UN chief revealed a new benchmark: at least one-third of participants in UN-led peace processes should be women. He emphasized the need for standardized data collection to 'make women's experiences visible' and inform policy reforms across conflict prevention and recovery efforts.
Legacy of Resolution 1325
Adopted in 2000, the landmark resolution first recognized women's critical role in peacebuilding. While 107 countries have since developed National Action Plans, Guterres stressed that 'implementation remains inconsistent' amid growing geopolitical tensions.
