Peace processes likely to endure with women’s participation

Twenty-six years ago — at the urging of women who refused to take no for an answer, Security Council Resolution 1325 gave voice to a simple truth: Women’s leadership is not just a matter of rights. It is central to building just and lasting peace.

Over the past quarter-century, the women, peace and security agenda has made some progress — and I will speak to that. But let’s face facts: too often, it has resulted in a lot of talk, and not enough action.

Despite the conferences, meetings, reports and resolutions over the last few decades, the plague of gender inequality persists. It persists when women are absent from negotiating tables. It persists when women peacebuilders are underfunded — or not funded at all. And for women and girls caught within the hell of conflict, gender inequality reveals itself in horrific acts of violence — including sexual violence.

In the decades since Resolution 1325 was adopted, we have made some positive strides to fulfill its vision. From the over 110 countries that have adopted national action plans on women, peace and security…

To the increase in women involved in — and often leading — local mediation and other peace processes…

To gender provisions in peace processes and agreements…

To the vital role women’s organizations are playing in helping communities heal after the fighting stops.

From the earliest days of my mandate as Secretary-General, I wanted the UN to become a model for change. So we took action. Setting a minimum target of at least one-third for women’s participation in the peace processes we lead. Achieving gender parity across all senior leadership, all headquarters, and all professional staff — for the first time in history.

Establishing minimum financing levels for women’s organizations on the front lines of crises.

Working with humanitarian partners to ensure women are included in decision-making structures, and channeling more funds to women-led organizations. Calling for zero tolerance for reprisals against women human rights defenders in conflict settings. Doubling the number of women serving in uniform as UN Peacekeepers. And supporting grassroots women-led organizations.

As this Council knows, we now face the highest number of conflicts since World War Two — from Gaza to Ukraine, the Sahel, Sudan, Myanmar and elsewhere. My annual report on Women, Peace and Security highlights a sharp rise in the number of women and girls living within 50 kilometers of armed conflict.

Women and girls continue to face violence, exclusion, discrimination and abuse. The number of UN-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence has sharply increased, reaching over 9,700 last year — with the actual number certain to be much higher.

We are seeing the increased use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, including in Myanmar, Sudan and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with rising casualties among women and girls.

Maternal mortality is rising in crisis zones. Girls are denied the education they need, and to which they have a fundamental right.

Peace processes are more likely to endure when women participate meaningfully in advancing them. Stability is more achievable when women have equal opportunity to shape the future of their communities. And societies are stronger and more resilient when women and girls can live free from fear and violence.

At this fragile moment in our quest to achieve the vision of Resolution 1325, I see three areas requiring urgent action.

First — we need to deliver on the Resolution’s promise: women at every peacemaking table and their needs reflected in every peace agreement.

Durable peace must reflect the leadership, aspirations and contributions of all people — including of women and girls. This includes through the use of concrete measures such as binding targets and quotas, as outlined by our Common Pledge for Women’s Full, Equal, and Meaningful Participation in Peace Processes.

Second — we need to scale-up funding.

The need is especially urgent for women’s organizations in conflict-affected areas and those working to address forced displacement, where women and girls are especially vulnerable.

I call on all countries to live up to their official development assistance commitments, and urgently restore funding to organizations that support women and girls in conflict settings.

(Excerpts of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council’s Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security Statement on 27 October 2026, in New York.)