Women, Peace, and Security

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda is based on a recognition of the disproportionate effects of conflict on women and girls and their pivotal yet underrepresented role in peace processes. Instituted by the ground-breaking United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 in 2000, the WPS agenda marked a transformation in international security discourse, shifting the narrative from one that viewed women primarily as victims to acknowledging them as key actors in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Its key aim has been to integrate gender perspectives within peace and security efforts and identify four main pillars of advocacy and programming: participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery. This chapter is organised around the four pillars and the impact they have had on peacebuilding. It then goes on to outline some of the key shortcomings of the Agenda and briefly concludes with thinking about the future directions.