Welcome to Our Secure Future’s monthly Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Digest, “the done for you” newsletter on WPS. Read on for this month’s articles and reports focused on women’s rights and international peace and security matters, featuring a selection of resources from the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69).
CSW69
“On 12 March 2025, UN Women convened leaders and experts at “For ALL Women and Girls: The Beijing+30 Action Agenda” to discuss the six key actions to make faster strides towards fulfilling the commitments made in the Beijing Platform for Action and for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
“As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, governments have adopted by consensus a powerful Political Declaration to respect, protect, and champion the rights, equality, and empowerment of women and girls.”
Islands and Allies for Peace: Towards ‘Women, Peace and Security’ solutions for the Caribbean (United Nations in the Caribbean)
“A call to establish a CARICOM Envoy to lead the Caribbean’s journey to achieve just, peaceful and resilient societies and the commitment of solidarity and support by the African Union, UN Women and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, were some of the major outcomes at the event.”
“Digital poverty is widening inequality. And yet, when women have access to financial services, entire economies grow. When women lead, societies thrive," said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, at a high-level Ministerial Roundtable on 12 March.”
Women’s Rights are Environmental Rights: Climate Change as a Human Rights Imperative at Beijing +30 (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security)
“Climate change impacts like extreme weather, changing rainfall patterns, and environmental degradation disproportionately impact women, infringing on their right to life, food, health, housing, self-determination, and more. As the international community reviews the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) during the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), it is more important than ever to address climate change impacts through a human rights lens in order to realize gender equality and promote women’s rights.”
‘Without us, there is no future’: Youth take over UN Women’s Commission (United Nations)
“‘Support us and include us’ to achieve real progress on advancing equal rights for all, young leaders told the Commission on the Status of Women, as the forum wrapped up the first week of its annual session at the UN Headquarters.”
Roundtable: Status of Women Thirty Years After the Beijing Declaration (Council on Foreign Relations)
“Ambassador Verveer, executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, who previously served as the first U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, and Ambassador Rao Gupta, the most recent U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, reflect on gains for gender equality since the Beijing Declaration and discuss what steps are currently most needed to protect and advance the status of women.”
Advancing Gender, Climate, and Security in the UN Security Council (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security)
“The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security launched two new reports on climate and security at a high-level event hosted by the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations and the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, D.C. on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.”
Defense & Security
WPS and the Shifting Strategic Landscape: Why Women, Peace, and Security Must be Central to US National Security (Modern War Institute)
“The WPS framework advances the very principles of meritocracy essential to US national security. Adopting and implementing WPS as a cornerstone of national security increases partner and ally engagement, strengthens US global leadership, improves conflict resolution outcomes, and promotes sustainable peace.”
Women in Peacekeeping: Interview with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix (United Nations)
“UN News interviews the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix, during the first-ever Conference for Women Peacekeepers on the theme "Women in Peacekeeping: A Global South Perspective" in New Delhi, India.”
Economic Empowerment
Charting the path for women’s economic security in the G20 (Atlantic Council)
“As a forum specifically created to address shared economic challenges, the G20 is critical for accelerating progress on issues of women’s economic empowerment and security. The group’s efforts are especially relevant since compounding crises in recent years have exposed existing economic inequalities.”
Aid to Africa is being cut - but promoting women can make the continent self-sufficient (World Economic Forum)
“Women make up about 58% of the self-employed population in Africa and contribute about 13% of the continent’s GDP. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest female entrepreneurship in the world with 26%. Yet, despite these striking numbers, persistent gender gaps keep holding women back; closing them will add about $2.5 trillion to Africa’s GDP.”
Why we need more women leaders in politics for the future of work (World Economic Forum)
“When women hold political power, economies grow. A 10 percentage point increase in women’s parliamentary representation is associated with a 0.7% percentage point increase in GDP growth. Countries with greater female political representation consistently implement policies that support gender-equal labour markets, such as paid family leave, pay transparency and childcare infrastructure. These policies don’t just benefit women; they increase workforce participation, boost productivity and fuel economic expansion.”
Technology
Women Activists Fighting for a Safe Digital Space (UN OHCHR)
“Around the world, women’s rights defenders are joining forces to combat online gender-based violence, coming up with solutions to create a digital space free from hate and discrimination, and based on human rights. Pushing for accountability and legal reforms, providing training and support, and empowering women, these activists are making a difference.”
Securing a Digital Future for Women and Girls in MENA (Wilson Center)
“Women and other gender minorities online are disproportionately subject to harassment, stalking, hate speech, revenge pornography, and exploitation. The available data from 51 countries shows that up to 38% of women and 58% of young women and girls have experienced online violence themselves and 85% of women have witnessed online violence.”
Climate
Advancing Gender, Climate, and Security in the UN Security Council: A Blueprint for Action (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security)
“Despite more than 70 UN Security Council resolutions and statements highlighting climate-related security risks, efforts to make climate change a standing item on the Security Council’s agenda have failed. Related frameworks like the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda have been slow to integrate climate considerations into thematic resolutions and country-specific National Action Plans (NAPs). To address the urgency of the climate crisis and its gendered security risks, Member States must rapidly scale-up efforts to bridge policy silos. This report examines effective strategies and promising entry points for integrating gender-responsive climate considerations into global peace and security efforts.”
5 ways to advance gender equality in the next round of national climate pledges (UNDP)
“...the next round of national climate pledges under the Paris Agreement, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), offer a vital chance to radically alter our course, transforming the global economy into one that is low-carbon, resilient and inclusive. In this process, it is crucial that we recognize the rights, needs and priorities of those who already shoulder a bigger share of climate change impacts, from women and young people to Indigenous Peoples and communities in the Global South.”
Practical Guidance for Integrating Climate into WPS National Action Plans (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security)
“National Action Plans (NAPs) on Women, Peace and Security are intended to guide WPS implementation at national and local levels but have largely failed to meaningfully address the threat posed by climate change, with many including only a cursory reference at best. To remain relevant and impactful, NAPs must effectively address climate change and its related security risks in their design, drafting, and implementation. This practical guidance note explores effective approaches and best practices to integrate climate related security risks into NAPs and maximize the potential of these policy tools to advance climate-responsive WPS implementation.”
General WPS
Joint Statement of the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Women, Peace, and Security Caucus Ahead of International Women’s Day 2025 (Office of Congresswoman Lois Frankel)
“Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL-22) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Caucus, reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the WPS agenda ahead of International Women’s Day.”
Trinidad and Tobago Strengthens Women, Peace, and Security Framework in Ongoing Preparations for National Action Plan Launch (UN Women Caribbean)
“A two-day technical workshop served as a culminating event in a series of preparatory activities ahead of the official launch of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Hosted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with UN Women, and Our Secure Future (OSF), the high-level workshop brought together key government officials, civil society representatives, and international partners to finalise the operational framework for implementing the WPS NAP, ensuring it moves from policy to action.”
The Status of Women in the World’s Parliaments (Council on Foreign Relations)
“A global organization based in Geneva, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) works to promote democratic governance around the world. One of its objectives is to advance parity in the world’s parliaments. The IPU maintains a global database on women’s parliamentary representation. In a just published report, IPU warns that women’s gains in parliament have slowed to their lowest rate since 2017.”
Women’s Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing (UN Women)
“In 1995, 189 governments unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. It became the most comprehensive and visionary agenda ever for gender equality and the human rights of all women and girls, holding the key to more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive societies for everyone…Yet gender discrimination remains deeply embedded in the structures of economies and societies…Almost one quarter of countries reported that backlash on gender equality is hampering implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.”
No women, no peace: Media’s role in the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (International Media Support)
“The WPS Agenda consists of the UNSCR 1325 and its nine sister resolutions, all centred around two main messages: that women and men have different experiences of conflicts and therefore different needs in peace building processes which all need to be taken into account, and that women need to be part of each step of conflict resolution and peace building in order for peace to be sustainable. The media has a crucial role to play in the success of the agenda. The media can make the stories of women and men, girls and boys affected by conflict, both as survivors and as peace builders, known to the wider public and decision makers, increasing the understanding of the multi-faceted aspects of conflict.”
Women This Week: Russia’s War Against Ukraine Reverses Progress for Women and Girls (Council on Foreign Relations)
“UN Women is calling for a scale-up of assistance to women in Ukraine in light of the conflict’s profound impact on women and girls. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has reversed decades of progress for women and girls. The war has forced more than 1.8 million women out of their homes and has led to approximately 6.7 million women requiring humanitarian assistance.”
Iraq: Personal Status Law Amendment Sets Back Women’s Rights (Human Rights Watch)
“After months of legal and political wrangling, an amendment to Iraq’s Personal Status Law that entered into force on February 17, 2025, violates women’s and girls’ rights to equality before the law and puts them at risk of other abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. Persistent pressure and advocacy by women’s rights groups partly reduced the amendment’s harm by retaining provisions for the minimum age of marriage, child custody, and polygamy, but the amended law contains other provisions that threaten women’s and girls’ rights.”
Syria’s women face new chapter: Here’s how to amplify their voices (Atlantic Council)
“This International Women’s Day, groups worldwide issued a call to accelerate action for gender equality. As post-Assad Syria takes shape, the country has a rare opportunity to achieve major gains in gender equality. But time is limited: The stakeholders involved in mapping Syria’s future must harness this opportunity early, while the country is freshly emerging from the conflict.”
Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker: March Updates (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security)
“Our Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker combines real-time data points and original analysis to offer gender-sensitive insight into conflict dynamics across 25 countries. The WPS Conflict Tracker is updated monthly to reflect developments for women’s participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery.”
Upcoming and Past Notable Events
March 6, 2025 – OSCE parliamentarians and human rights experts explore parliamentary role in fostering gender-sensitive policies ahead of International Women’s Day (OSCE)
“Ahead of International Women’s Day, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights held a webinar today entitled “Towards Gender Parity and Transformative Gender Equality Policy: The Role of Parliamentary Bodies.” The webinar provided a platform to explore diverse approaches to gender equality in parliaments, from formal standing committees to informal women’s caucuses.”
March 14, 2025 – Upholding the Rights of Afghan Women and Girls (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security)
“For over three years, the Taliban’s systematic repression has stripped Afghan women and girls of their fundamental rights, including the right to education, barring them from secondary and higher education. This has not only stifled their individual potential but has also jeopardized Afghanistan’s long-term peace, security, and development.”
April 6, 2025 - For the Future: Women in Peacebuilding Film Screening (Alliance for Middle East Peace)
“Produced in partnership between the Alliance for Middle East Peace and Pendulum - Creative Changency, "For the Future: Women in Peacebuilding" showcases the work and perspectives of three women peacebuilders working in Israel and Palestine. This educational short film profiles the work of Rula Daood of Standing Together, May Pundak of A Land for All, and Nivine Sandouka of the Alliance for Middle East Peace. . . Join us for a premiere screening of the short film followed by a discussion with the three peacebuilders.”
April 17, 2025 - Women in Tech Policy: Defense Tech Investment & the Strength of Women-Led Ventures (Women’s Foreign Policy Group)
“Join us as we launch WFPG’s Trailblazers in Tech Policy series with an event highlighting the important possibilities of ventures in defense and resilience technology, particularly in the context of today’s foreign policy transformation. Hear from experts on the direction of the defense sector, as well as the consequences of past and present defense legislation on future international interactions. The panel discussion will highlight the strength of women leaders in venture capital, and their significant contributions to the defense technology sector. The event will conclude with actionable recommendations seeking to drive greater collaboration and investment in burgeoning defense tech initiatives, ultimately contributing to stronger and more resilient national security.”
Opportunities
Research Fellow: WPS Index (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security)
“The Research Fellow will lead our WPS Index and support our growing research portfolio. Reporting to the Director of Research, the Research Fellow will be responsible for conducting rigorous quantitative and qualitative research analysis for a variety of GIWPS research outputs. Additionally, the Fellow will play a leading role in disseminating research results, engaging with the press, and representing GIWPS at high-level speaking engagements at multilateral, policy, and academic institutions.”
Hillary Rodham Clinton Research Fellow (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security)
“The Hillary Rodham Clinton Research Fellowship is a one-year program that provides unique opportunities to a recent PhD or master’s level graduate to conduct rigorous, policy-oriented research in the field of Women, Peace and Security (WPS).”
Director of Global Advocacy (International Center for Research on Women)
“Reporting to the Interim CEO, The Director of Global Advocacy provides leadership, strategic oversight, and day-to-day management for ICRW’s global and U.S. foreign policy and advocacy initiatives. The Director leads ICRW’s advocacy portfolio – developing and implementing a global advocacy strategy, managing active projects, collaborating closely with colleagues across the global organization, cultivating relationships with key external stakeholders, and serving as a key thought leader and expert on critical policy issues. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, references, and writing sample by Friday, April 4, 2025.”
Senior Policy Advocate (International Center for Research on Women)
“Senior Policy Advocate for Women’s Economic Empowerment coordinates WeProsper, a global policy and advocacy coalition on women’s economic empowerment. Reporting to the Deputy Director, Policy & Advocacy, the Senior Advocate is responsible for the development and day-to-day management of the coalition, with primary responsibility for logistical support and coordination including planning, supervising, and managing coalition activities, member outreach and engagement, and project management.”
Director of Global Communications (International Center for Research on Women)
“Reporting to the interim CEO, The Director, Global Communications, leads the development and execution of ICRW’s Global Communications Strategy. Specifically, the Director leads efforts to uplift ICRW’s brand and promote our mission, research, advocacy, and programs to a wide variety of audiences including the international development community, private sector, donors and potential donors, related organizations, and associations, partners, policymakers, and a general public interested in advancing gender equity globally. The Director is responsible for managing ICRW’s public and media relations efforts across top-tier and emerging national and international media outlets and social media platforms to raise awareness of ICRW’s work and mission.”