20 October 2025, in the UN Press Conference: Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN Women Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results and Sarah Hendriks, Director, Programme, Policy and Intergovernmental Division, UN Women hold the expose of Secretary General’ 2025 Report on Women, Peace and Security. This expose is coincidence with the commemoration of:
- 25th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325, which committed the international community to women’s full participation and protection in peace and security.
- 30 years since the Beijing Platform for Action, which logically must be a solution as a turning point
- 2025 World Statistics Day, which reminds us of how important the gathered qualified data in decision making process.
Essentially, the report exposes a dangerous imbalance. Global military spending surpassed USD 2.7 trillion in 2024 while women’s organizations in conflict zones received only 0.4 per cent of aid. Many frontline women’s groups are facing imminent closure due to financial constraints. The report underscores urgent need for gender data revolution. Without disaggregated data, women’s realities in war zones remain invisible and unaccounted. Closing these gaps is vital for accountability and for placing women’s experiences at the center of decision-making. In 2024; the fact shows 9 out of 10 peace processes had no women negotiators, with women making up just 7 percent of negotiators and 14 percent of mediators globally.
This report also warns that 676 million women now live within 50 kilometers of deadly conflict, the highest level since the 1990s. Civilian casualties among women and children quadrupled compared to the previous two-year period, and conflict-related sexual violence increased by 87 percent in two years. The fact says two decades of progress are unraveling. Despite overwhelming evidence that women’s participation makes peace more durable, women remain largely excluded from decision-making process. The fact says there are increasing number of countries have developed national action plans to implement resolution 1325, the result in tangible change for women still has not resulted.
To support the technocratic essence of this report:
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda – UN Women’s Deputy Executive Director calls for actual attention and action for women who works directly at frontline to resume peace. She emphasizes that gender equality and multilateralism are under growing attack. 25 years after Resolution 1325, women are still shut out of decisions on war and peace. The data says last year there was 87 percent of peace talks took place without a single woman at the table, and the fact shows those who working for peace on the ground are left without the support they need to continue. Therefore, it is wise once we are marking the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325, and 30 years since the Beijing Platform for Action, there must be a solution as a turning point.
Sarah Hendriks – UN Women’s Director of the Program, Policy and Intergovernmental Division, provides details to guide the essence:
- In just two years, civilian casualties among women and children in conflict have quadrupled. Statistics show a deep sobering. Sexual violence in conflict rose by 87 percent. The escalation of war worsens the situation, including the ways in treating on bodies of women and girls, in shocking disregard the international law.
- Funding cuts are weakening the collective capacity to deliver gender equality and peace.
- The withdraw of peacekeeping missions means there is potential of security vacuums, violations go unmonitored which may cause women lose access. They don’t only lose access to justice but also lose access to protection to live decently.
Related link:
– UN Secretary-General’s report on women, peace and security – Press Conference | United Nations
