Today, the UN Security Council held its annual open debate on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda and discussed the latest report by the Secretary-General. Twenty-five years after the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325, which recognized women’s leadership as central to a just and lasting peace, the WPS Agenda is under mounting pressure. The landmark resolution has been followed by weak implementation and inadequate funding. In response, Slovenia proposed three key steps to advance peace.

“Peace begins when women are at the table,” stated Ambassador Samuel Žbogar in his opening remarks, reiterating that the Security Council in its resolution 1325 promised “a more inclusive and peaceful world.” Yet the safety, dignity and human rights of women and girls continue to be undermined.

“Today, 676 million women and girls live within reach of deadly conflict, the highest since the 1990s. It is lamentable, then, that we see today rising military spending and renewed pushback against gender equality and multilateralism,” stressed Sima Bahous, the Executive Director of UN Women, in her address to the Council.

To implement resolution 1325 fully, across all contexts, Slovenia proposed three calls to action. First, women’s participation must be full, equal, meaningful and safe. In that regard, the Ambassador reaffirmed Slovenia’s support for the use of quotas as a tool to advance gender equality.

Second, the women-led organizations that built the WPS Agenda must be able to continue with their mission. For that reason, they need stronger support and increased investment. As the Ambassador pointed out, Slovenia has strengthened its partnership with UN Women and continues to contribute to the Women, Peace and Humanitarian Fund. “In the past seven years, our investment in bilateral development assistance, which includes gender equality, has virtually doubled,” he added.

Finally, upholding international law, the rights of women and girls, and accountability are crucial for the WPS Agenda. “For us, accountability is non-negotiable,” underlined the Ambassador, calling for accountability for sexual and gender-based crimes, including reproductive violence and gender-based persecution.

“Resolution 1325 is clear:  women are leaders of peace for all,” emphasized the UN Secretary-General in his remarks to the Council, calling for more results that reflect this truth. Slovenia stands firm in its belief that women and girls are equal partners in our societies and that the WPS Agenda must deliver measurable impact.

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