I. Launching “1325@25” in October 2024
On October 9th, WIIS launched the “1325@25” Initiative with the event, “The WPS Agenda – Shaping the Next 25 Years,” hosted in partnership with the Embassy of Liechtenstein. This event, moderated by WIIS President & CEO Ariela Blätter, featured Under Secretary Dr. Bonnie Jenkins of the US Department of State, Dr. Carolyn Washington of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security, Dr. Shirley Graham of the Elliott School of International Affairs, and Dr. Marisa Ensor of Georgetown University. They assessed the WPS agenda’s future.
On October 28th, WIIS hosted a book talk on Governing the Feminist Peace: The Vitality and Failure of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda by Laura Shepherd and Paul Kirby. WIIS Research Director Dr. Karin Johnston spoke with co-author Kirby, who discussed the evolution and complexities of the WPS agenda.
II. “Framers of 1325” Series
WIIS’ “Framers of 1325” series compiles essays from the individuals recognized as the “initiators, drafters, and strategists” of UNSCR 1325, whose determination brought about the successful adoption of the first ever UNSC resolution to address WPS issues. The series highlights their visions for the future of the WPS agenda, and their recommendations on how we can overcome the challenges to advancing gender equality in the decades ahead.
We acknowledge that the individuals featured here are not the sole “framers” of UNSCR 1325. Countless other people have worked to make the WPS agenda a reality and we equally celebrate their groundbreaking efforts.
III. Attending CSW69 in NYC
As part of the “1325@25” Initiative, WIIS participated in two high-level side events at CSW69:
On March 13th, WIIS co-sponsored a closed-door roundtable on “Past Reflections and Future Visioning on the 25th Anniversary of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda” with the International Peace Institute (IPI) and the Permanent Missions of Denmark, Luxembourg, Colombia, and Sierra Leone to the UN. This high-level interactive workshop convened 45 participants from across the UN, foreign ministries, civil society, and academia to develop “bold and creative” strategies for the advancement of gender equality through WPS principles.
In her opening remarks, President Blätter highlighted how issues of funding, inclusion, and implementation hinder the advancement of the WPS agenda, and offered concrete solutions to these obstacles to ensure the future viability of the WPS agenda.
On March 10th, President Blätter provided panelist remarks at a side event hosted by the World Jewish Congress (WJC) at the UN Headquarters in NYC on “Women, Conflict, and Peace: A Universal Feminist Vision.” Through expert dialogue with civil society leaders and high-level UN officials, the event highlighted the urgent need to recognize and address violence against women, while showcasing their critical leadership role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. In line with WIIS’ mission and the theme of the event, President Blätter spoke to the persistent under-representation of women in formal peace processes despite their ongoing significant contributions to peace and security efforts.
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