United Nations Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security

When I was a little girl, I clearly remember my mother reading poems to me about young men travelling to the battlefields to fight in the war. I remember listening to how they would travel through the trenches and how their bodies lay dead in the muddy fields. Now, when I read poems to my children about war, there is a stark difference. War has come into our communities and into our homes, literally and figuratively. For those lucky enough, war has come to their homes only by television. Others are not so fortunate. The Rwandan genocide, the war in Sierra Leone, the conflict in the Congo – these are no longer wars fought on a battlefield; rather, they have come to our streets and backyards, directly affecting our men, women, boys and girls.

On October 31^st 2000 the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. This resolution specifically addresses the impact armed conflict has on women and girls. It calls for not only for women’s full and equal participation in decision making but ensures that’s the rights of women and girls are protected. Resolution 1325 is the first of its kind to deal exclusively with issues of women’s peace and security, and results from many years of intense work. As Kofi Annan stated, “Just as your work can promote gender equality, so can gender equality make your work more likely to succeed.”

In Canada, both government and civil society have a clear desire to see Resolution 1325 implemented to the fullest possible extent.

The changing face of war has brought us new challenges, and we must recognize the importance of 1325 in meeting these challenges and the role of women in contributing to the critical task of building sustainable peace for all.

We must work together to make Resolution 1325 a living reality.

Supporting Resolutions

Resolution 1325 has been strengthened by three additional resolutions all of which uniquely deal with impact armed conflict has on women.

Resolution 1820, which was adopted in 2008 deals with sexual violence in armed conflict. The main objective of this resolution is to not only protect women and girls from sexual violence but to also ensure that there is no impunity.

Resolution 1888 which was adopted in 2009 institutes more vigorous implementing commitments.

And finally Resolution 1889 which was adopted in 2009 and targets post-conflict peacebuilding.