UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) mandates that women in post-conflict states fully participate in all aspects of the transition. The resolution is historic because of the depth of change — in procedure, assessment, delivery and attitudes — necessary for its full implementation.

Eight years after its adoption, some progress has been made. Resolution 1325 has been reiterated in various Security Council resolutions and other mechanisms and documents. In 2005, UN Security Council released the ‘Report of the Secretary-General on Women and Peace and Security’, which outlines a system-wide action plan for implementation of resolution 1325 and seeks to strengthen accountability across the UN.

The difficulty of taking the recommended actions and realizing the resolution’s commitments remains. Relevant actors continue to lack the knowledge and practical means to facilitate women’s engagement. Political will and resources are lacking across institutions, and to date, only ten UN Member States have developed national action plans for resolution 1325. Still, women from Afghanistan and East Timor to Haiti and Sudan continue to pressure governments and international institutions, demanding its implementation.