UN resolution 1325 on women, peace & security: Stakeholders review strides, way forward 25 years on.

Participants are reviewing the role of women in preventing conflicts, building peace, and sustaining stability worldwide.

The Cameroon chapter of African Women Leaders Network, AWLN, organised the sessions in partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family and UN Women.

Exchanges are under the theme: “Reaffirming the importance of the Women, Peace, Security Agenda, overcoming obstacles, adopting the new political ambition, and revising the commitment to build a more just and peaceful world together”.

The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Prof Marie Thérèse Abena Ondoa, opened discussions. 

She reaffirmed government’s dedication to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security, WPS agenda. The minister described the implementation of Resolution 1325 as a human imperative that transcends politics.

“It is essential to understand that women’s participation in peace and security processes is not merely a matter of gender equality—it is a determinant of sustainable peace,” she said, noting that: “Women bring unique perspectives and innovative solutions that can enrich dialogue, reconciliation, and reconstruction efforts”.

The Yaounde gathering, she said, will enhance coordination among stakeholders and monitor the implementation of actions related to women’s peace and security in government policy.

Beyond looking at the road covered, the minister said actors are striving to “strengthen the resilience and leadership of women as agents of peace and justice”.

A peaceful and inclusive Cameroon, she noted, is only possible through collective efforts. Resolution 1325, she stated, “calls upon us to build a Cameroon where peace prevails over injustice, and where women’s dignity and equality are safeguarded”.

Marking 25 years since the Resolution was voted, the minister said, would mark a fresh start in building on gains made especially in inclusive governance.

The President of AWLN Cameroon, Baba Mballa Françoise, expressed gratitude to members for their commitment in advancing the cause of women. 

The theme of the commemoration, Baba Mballa said, “…perfectly reflects our collective ambition to ensure that women are integrated into all decision-making processes”.

According to Baba Mballa, engaging stakeholders help in getting actors prioritize women’s priorities in peace and security issues.

She said actors are “working towards the creation of a National Network of Women Mediators in Cameroon”.

Mixed record after 25 years

Representing UN Women, Marie Pierre Raky Chaupin, recalled that Resolution 1325, adopted in October 2000. 

Raky said it called upon states to ensure women’s participation at all levels of decision-making related to peace and security while guaranteeing their protection from conflict-related violence.

She remarked that: “Twenty-five years on, the results are mixed. There have been notable advances, especially with the adoption of national policies promoting gender equality and peace”.

In terms of challenges, Raky mentioned “…women’s underrepresentation in leadership roles, limited funding for local initiatives, persistent stereotypes, and inadequate dissemination of the resolution’s principles at the grassroots level”.

Cameroon, she said, has made progress through the development of two successive National Action Plans for the implementation of the Resolution.

The UN Women official noted that the anniversary “is a moment for reflection, to assess achievements, address challenges, and renew our determination to make Resolution 1325 a living reality”.

Perspectives, challenges

Delivering the inaugural lecture, Prof Rachel Claire Okani revisited the origin and essence of Resolution 1325. 

She stressed that the Resolution promotes women’s inclusion in peace processes and protects their rights during conflicts. The objectives, she said, remain vital, especially in conflict-prone regions.

“Cameroon has made progress since 2000, but women’s participation in political affairs and peacebuilding is still limited. Structural barriers and socio-cultural stereotypes continue to impede gender equality,” Prof Okani noted.

She insisted that: “More must be done to mainstream women’s voices in mediation, governance, and peace initiatives”.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3622 of Wednesday November 12, 2025