UN Security Council Resolution 1325

UN Security Council resolution 1325 was unanimously adopted during the Namibian presidency of the UN Security Council in October 2000. It is a landmark legal and political framework that acknowledges the importance of the participation of women and the inclusion of gender perspectives in peace negotiations, humanitarian planning, peacekeeping operations, post-conflict peacebuilding and governance.

In particular, resolution 1325 calls for:

The participation of women at all levels of decision-making, including:

• in national, regional and international institutions;
• in mechanisms for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict;
• in peace negotiations;
• in peace operations, as soldiers, police and civilians;
• as Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General.

The protection of women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence, including:

• in emergency and humanitarian situations, such as in refugee camps;
• through developing and delivering pre-deployment and in-theatre training to peace operations personnel on the rights of women and girls and effective protection measures.

The prevention of violence again women through the promotion of women’s rights, accountability and law enforcement, including by:

• prosecuting those responsible for war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and other violations of international law;
• respecting the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps;
• excluding sexual violence crimes from amnesty agreements, as they may amount to crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide;
• strengthening women’s rights under national law;
• supporting local women’s peace initiatives and conflict resolution processes.

The mainstreaming of gender perspectives in peace operations, including by:

• appointing Gender Advisors to all UN peace operations;
• considering the specific needs of women and girls in the development and design of policy in all areas;
• incorporating the perspectives, contributions and experience of women’s organizations in policy and programme development.