UNSCR 1325, 20 Years Hence: Celebrating Gains, Learning Lessons, Moving Forward

[PRESS RELEASE]
[For immediate release]

Manila, the Philippines — Around 100 women leaders, advocates and civil society organizations working on gender equality and peace will be gathered in a series of online activities this October to mark the 20th year anniversary of the adoption of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security.

The celebrations will be led by UN Women, in partnership with the Women Engaged in Action 1325 (WEACT 1325) as well as the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC), with support from the Government of Norway.

In 28 October, an online forum will be conducted to celebrate the work done by civil society organizations in protecting and preventing violence against women and girls; enabling women’s participation in conflict resolution, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, among other processes; and, engaging women in post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

In 30 October, the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) will launch the Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (RAPWPS), 2020-2022. UN Women supported the BWC in the review of the ARMM RAPWPS in September 2019, given the establishment of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as well as in the conduct of consultation with internally displaced women leaders from the SPMS Box (Salibu, Pagatin, Mamasapano, and Shariff Aguak) in Maguindanao in December 2019 to deepen the framing and contextualization of the RAPWPS. This launching activity will be held in collaboration with The Asia Foundation (TAF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

It is expected that these activities will enable national, regional and local governments to solidify their support to women, peace and security efforts by providing spaces for women’s voices to be heard; strengthening women’s participation in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding; and addressing the needs and issues of women and girls in the context of conflict- and post-conflict situations. Greater support for civil society efforts through collaboration and synergy between government, communities and organizations is likewise to be derived from these activities.

Since 2015, UN Women is working with grassroots women from the five provinces of the Bangsamoro to strengthen their leadership and meaningful participation in governance and peacebuilding. It has also supported government agencies in mainstreaming women, peace and security interventions in their policies, plans and programs. At present, UN Women is supporting efforts on gender equality and women’s empowerment in conflict-affected and post-conflict areas in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.