This open letter, available in Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Russian, was sent to all UN Member States on behalf of 617 civil society signatories across 100 countries in advance of the October 2023 Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security. The letter calls on the UN, Security Council and Member States to take action to ensure women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in all aspects of peace and security.
Dear Ambassadors,
We write to you ahead of this year’s annual Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) to urge you to take action to realize the foundational demand of Resolution 1325 (2000)—ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peacemaking.
For nearly 25 years, the Security Council, the UN and Member States have pledged their support for women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in peace and security. Yet women’s rights today are under ceaseless attack in contexts marked by intensifying conflict, rising authoritarianism, militarization and backlash. Women’s participation in peace processes remains unacceptably low, and is decreasing even in UN-supported peace processes. Meanwhile the credibility of the UN and the Security Council to protect and uphold these rights has been fundamentally shaken by growing geopolitical divides and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Without principled and decisive action to protect women’s rights and ensure their full, equal and meaningful participation in all aspects of peace and security, we not only risk entrenchment of patriarchal norms, but jeopardize any chance of sustainable peace.
We therefore call on you to demand, and to support, the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation and leadership of the women of Afghanistan, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Western Sahara, Yemen and all other crises on the Security Council’s agenda, in accordance with the standards set by the WPS agenda, in ending conflict and building peace in their countries.
We take this opportunity to remind you of these standards and urge you to uphold them:[1]
“Full”: Full participation requires politically supporting and fully resourcing inclusion of diverse women at all levels and stages of decision-making, in all contexts, from beginning to end.[2] This means women’s participation in all aspects of peace and security, including the design and implementation of all peace processes, the development and monitoring of all agreements, political processes, humanitarian delivery, constitution-building, economic development, transitional justice, post-conflict reconstruction, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) processes and security sector reform (SSR) processes. The Security Council must demand and ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation, in line with Resolution 1325 (2000) and all other WPS resolutions, in all conflicts and crises on its agenda. Further, it should demand that the UN adopt and implement a principled and consistent approach to women’s rights and women’s participation across all its work, without exception.
“Equal”: Achieving equal representation means taking all possible steps to support diverse women’s participation in all peace and security processes with the target of 50 percent. While women’s participation at all levels of decision-making must be supported, we urge the Security Council, UN and all Member States to publicly and robustly support, and to prioritize, women’s equal, direct and influential participation in formal Track 1 or high-level peace and political processes, where it is most glaringly lacking. This must include meaningful representation of women human rights defenders, peacebuilders and feminist movements. Quotas for women’s participation must be enforced, non-transferrable and publicly advocated for by all actors. Additional specific and targeted measures must be implemented to dismantle structural barriers and ensure that women, in all their diversity, are able to participate on an equal footing as experts and leaders.
“Meaningful”: Meaningful participation means direct, substantive and formal inclusion of diverse women and feminist perspectives to influence the design and the outcome of negotiations, across all issues, as well as their implementation. Failure to uphold women’s right to equal participation, even in conflict-affected situations, undermines the UN Charter, contravenes international human rights and humanitarian law, and jeopardizes sustainable peace.[3] Superficial, last-minute, informal, advisory or other observer status without the opportunity to directly influence decisions and outcomes is not meaningful. We urge Member States to demand that the equal, direct and influential participation of women is a standard requirement across all UN-supported peace processes or convenings. No Member State nor the UN should endorse, facilitate or support peace processes where women are not meaningfully represented. This would send an unequivocal message to conflict parties that international backing is not possible without respect for women’s rights.
“Safe”: Participating safely requires enforcing a zero-tolerance approach to any form of attack, intimidation, retaliation or reprisal against diverse women for their political participation, human rights and humanitarian work, peacebuilding activities or cooperation with UN mechanisms, including the Security Council. Member States and UN leadership must, first and foremost, ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society in which women human rights defenders, peacebuilders and civil society leaders are protected, supported and their legitimacy is recognized, and eliminate any restrictions or barriers to their work. Further, Member States and the UN must swiftly and publicly condemn any attacks against women human rights defenders, peacebuilders and civil society, hold perpetrators accountable, and, most importantly, take all necessary measures to protect the lives of those at risk. The UN has a critical role to play in this regard—we urge you to call on the UN system to not only thoroughly monitor and report on attacks and violence against women activists, but also provide systematic and scaled-up support to prevent and respond to such violence; so should all peace operations, in accordance with their mandates to protect civilians and promote human rights.[4] Risks and protection must never be used to limit women’s participation or undermine the independent selection or views of civil society, and resources and explicit political support must be mobilized to enable women to participate safely.
In all conflicts and crises, the international community’s uncompromising support for women’s human rights must be matched by unequivocal demands for women’s meaningful participation.
Women’s rights cannot wait.
Sincerely,
- NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security (NGOWG) – Global
- Amnesty International (AI) – United Kingdom, Global
- Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) – United States, Global
- Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights (CGSHR) – United States, Global
- Global Justice Center (GJC) – United States, Global
- Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) – United States, Global
- Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) – Netherlands, Global
- Human Rights Watch (HRW) – United States, Global
- International Alert (IA) – United Kingdom, Global
- MADRE – United States, Global
- Nobel Women’s Initiative (NWI) – Canada, Global
- Outright International – United States, Global
- Refugees International (RI) – United States, Global
- Women Enabled International (WEI) – United States, Global
- Women for Women International (WfWI) – United States, Global
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) – Global
- Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) – Global
- ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality – Lebanon, Global
- رابطة أمهات المختطفين (Abductees’ Mothers Association) (AMA) – Yemen
- منظمة عبس التنموية للمراة والطفل (Abs Development Organization for Woman and Child) (ADO) – Yemen
- Access Reproductive Justice (ACCESS RJ) – United States
- ACT Alliance – Global
- Action des Volontaires pour la Solidarité et le Développement (AVSD) – Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
- Action for Community Transformation (ACT) – Liberia
- Action for Conflict Resolution (ACR) – South Sudan
- Action for Girls and Women Survival – Liberia
- Action Girls Africa (AGA) – South Sudan
- Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) – United Kingdom
- ActionAid – South Africa, Global
- ActionAid Ireland (AAIre) – Ireland
- Actions de Protection Mère et Enfant (APME) – DRC
- Actions pour la Lutte Contre les Injustices Sociales (ALCIS) – DRC
- Addu Women’s Association (AWA) – Maldives
- Afghan Refugees Solidarity Association (ARSA) – Turkey
- Afghanistan Justice Organization (AJO) – Afghanistan
- Afghanistan Rights Watch (ARW) – Afghanistan
- African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) – Gambia
- African Women and Youth Action for Development (AWYAD) – Uganda
- African Women Leaders Network, Liberia Chapter (AWLN/Liberia) – Liberia
- Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) – Nigeria, Global
- Afrikagrupperna – Sweden
- Agora – Mexico
- Albanian Society for All Ages (ASAG) – Albania, Global
- All India Women’s Conference (AIWC) – India
- All Survivors Project (ASP) – Liechtenstein, Global
- Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development (ALFOPED) – Nigeria
- Alliance Congolaise pour les Foyers et Combustibles Améliorés (ACFCA) – DRC
- مؤسسة السناء لحقوق الانسان (Al-Sanaa Foundation for Human Rights) (SFHR) – Iraq
- Aotearoa New Zealand Campaign on Military Spending – New Zealand
- المعهد العربي لحقوق الإنسان (Arab Institute for Human Rights) (AIHR) – Global
- Arid Lands Development Focus (ALDEF) – Kenya
- Armenian Committee of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA-Armenia) – Armenia
- Articulação Brasileira de Gays (ARTGAY) – Brazil
- Articulação Brasileira de Lésbicas (ABL) – Brazil
- ASAL Humanitarian Network (AHN) – Kenya
- Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) – Indonesia
- Asmaa Society for Development – Sudan
- Asociación Coordinadora de la Mujer (ACM) – Bolivia
- Asociación de Mujeres Afrodescenientes del Norte del Cauca (ASOM) – Colombia
- Asociación de Trabajadoras del Hogar a Domicilio y de Maquila (ATRAHDOM) – Guatemala
- Asociación Latinoamericana de Medicina Social, Red de Género (ALAMES) – Guatemala
- Associação Baiana de Travestis Transexuais e Transgêneros em Ação (ATRAÇÃO) – Brazil
- Associação Cabo-Verdianas de Luta Contra Violência Basesdo no Género (ACLCVBG) – Cabo Verde
- Associação Nacional de Travestis e Transexuais do Brasil (ANTRA BRASIL) – Brazil
- Associação para a Cooperação sobre População e Deenvolvimento (P&D Factor) – Portugal, Global
- Association d’Aide à l’Education de l’Enfant Handicapé (AAEEH) – France
- Association de Lutte Contre les Violences Sexuelles et Appui à la Promotion du Développement Durable (ALUCOVIS-APDD) – Burundi, Global
- Association des Cultivateurs des Collectivités de Batangi et Bamate (ACUCOBA) – DRC
- Association des Femmes Africaines pour la Recherche et le Développement (AFARD-MALI) – Mali
- Association des Femmes de l’Europe Méridionale (AFEM) – France
- Association Development by Young People (ADYP) – Burkina Faso
- Association Djazairouna des Familles Victimes du Terrorisme – Algeria
- Association du Développement et de la Promotion de Droit de l’Homme (ADPDH) – Mauritania
- Association Femmes et Initiatives pour le Développement (FID) – Mali
- Association for Farmers Rights Defense (AFRD) – Georgia, Global
- Association for Progressive Communications (APC) – Global
- الجمعية الوطنية المرأة في اتصال (Association Nationale Femmes en Communication) (FEC) – Algeria
- Association of War Affected Women (AWAW) – Sri Lanka, Global
- Asuda for Combating Violence Against Women (ASUDA) – Iraq
- Australian Civil Society Coalition on Women Peace and Security – Australia
- Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) – Australia
- مؤسسة اوام التنموية الثقافية (Awam Foundation for Development and Culture) (AWAM) – Yemen
- AWO Arnstadt – Germany
- Azadi-e Zan – Australia, Global
- Baghdad Women Association (BWA) – Iraq
- Bahrain Center for Human Rights – Bahrain
- بيتي انا بيتك (Baite Ana Baytac) (BAB) – Syria
- Bana for Peace and Development – Sudan
- Barwaaqo Voluntary Organisation (BVO) – Somalia, Global
- Bella Foundation for Child and Maternal Care (BEFCAMC) – Nigeria
- Besme Group – Lebanon, Global
- Better World Organization for Community Development (BWOCD) – Iraq
- Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC) – Nepal
- BintiAfrika Konnekt (BAK) – Tanzania
- Blue Diamond Society (BDS) – Nepal
- Bolivian Women’s Efforts (BWE) – Bolivia
- Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre (BGBVC) – Botswana, Georgia
- British Black Anti Poverty Network (BBAPN) – United Kingdom
- Brown Dog Consulting LLC (BDC) – United States, Global
- Building Blocks for Peace Foundation (BBFORPEACE) – Nigeria
- Burmese Women’s Union (BWU) – Myanmar, Thailand
- Caesar Families Association (CFA) – Germany, Syria
- CamASEAN Youth’s Future – Cambodia
- Cameroon Women’s Peace Movement (CAWOPEM) – Cameroon
- Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) – Canada
- Caring Hearts Liberia Inc. – Liberia
- CEDAW Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (CCoTT) – Trinidad and Tobago
- Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) – Syria
- Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) – United States, Global
- Center for Strengthening Community Voices (CSCOV) – South Sudan
- Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy (CWPPP) – United States
- Center of International Humanitarian Law & Human Rights (ICHLHR) – Yemen
- Center to Assist and Protect Child Rights of Nepal (CAP-CRON) – Nepal
- Centre for Afghanistan Studies (CAS) – India
- Centre for Environment, Human Rights & Development Forum (CEHRDF) – Bangladesh, Global
- Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy (CFFP) – Germany
- Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD) – Mongolia
- Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ) – South Sudan
- Centre for Peacebuilding & Strategic Studies (CPSS Africa) – Kenya
- Centre for Social and Gender Research “New Life” – Ukraine
- Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) – South Africa
- Centro de Estudios e Investigación sobre Mujeres (CEIM) – Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Género y Economía (Núcleo de Pesquisa em Gênero e Economia) (NPGE) – Brazil
- Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social (CIESAS) – Mexico
- Centro de Justicia y Paz (CEPAZ) – Venezuela
- Centro Ecuatoriano de Desarrollo y Estudios Alternativos (CEDEAL) – Ecuador
- Centro Studi Difesa Civile (CSDC) – Italy
- لايوجد (Cevher Organization) – Syria, Turkey
- cfd The Feminist Peace Organization – Switzerland
- Chanan Development Association (CDA) – Pakistan, Global
- Charitable Foundation “Unity for the Future” (UFF) – Ukraine
- Charity & Security Network (CSN) – United States
- Charity Foundation “Asarkia” – Abkhazia
- Chikka Federation of India – India
- Child Care Organization (CHICO) – South Sudan
- Christian Aid – United Kingdom, Global
- Christian Vision Organization (CVO) – South Sudan
- CIVICUS – South Africa, Global
- Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues (CWI) – United States
- Club des jeunes pour la vie – DRC
- Coalición Nacional de Mujeres del Ecuador (CNME) – Ecuador
- Coalition for Humanity (CH) – South Sudan
- Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) – Indonesia, Global
- Coast Education Centre (COEC) – Kenya
- Collectif des Femmes Rurales pour le Développement (COFERD) – DRC
- Colombia Diversa – Colombia
- Comité de Recherches et d’Actions Multidimensionnelles pour la Paix au Sahel (CRAM-CRAM) – Mali
- Common Action for Gender Development (COMAGEND) – Cameroon
- Community And Family Aid Foundation – Ghana
- Community Association for Vulnerable Persons (CAVP) – Cameroon
- Community Development Association (CDA) – Sudan
- Community Empowerment for Peace and Development West Nile (CEPADWN) – Uganda
- Community Empowerment Network (CENET) – Uganda
- Concertation des Collectifs des Associations Féminines de la région des Grands Lacs (COCAFEM/GL) – Burundi, Global
- Conciliation Resources – United Kingdom, Global
- Conflict Analysis Network (CAN) – United Kingdom
- Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC) – France, Global
- Corporación Conciudadanía – Colombia
- Corporación de Apoyo a Comunidades Populares (Codacop) – Colombia
- Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE) – Colombia, Global
- Crown The Woman – South Sudan
- CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness Feminist Group (CPDE FG) – Global
- Cush Consulting Group – United States, Global
- Dali & Senda for Peace (D&SFP) – Tunisia
- Danish Family Planning Association (DFPA) – Denmark, Global
- Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) – Denmark, Global
- Danish Women’s Society – Denmark
- DefendDefenders – Uganda
- Defis & Objectifs Centrafrique (DOC) – Central African Republic
- Delawari Productions – United States
- Democracy Without Borders (DWB) – Ghana, Global
- ديموس (DemoS) – Syria
- Dhobley Women’s Association (DWA) – Somalia
- Disability People’s Forum Uganda – Uganda, Global
- DUKINGIRE ISI YACU – Burundi
- Dynamique des Femmes Juristes (DFJ) – DRC
- Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives (ECOWA) – Nigeria
- Education Defenders Network (EDN) – Canada, Global
- Egale Canada – Canada, Global
- Empatiku Foundation – Indonesia
- Empowering Women and Girls Organization – South Sudan
- Equal Asia Foundation (Equal AF) – Thailand
- Equality Bahamas – Bahamas
- Equality Fund (EF) – Canada
- Equidad de Género, Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia – Mexico
- EQUITA – Slovakia
- Equity and Empowerment (EE) – Syria
- Escola de Cultura de Pau (ECP) – Spain
- المركز العربي الاوروبي لحقوق الانسان والقانون الدولي (European Arab Center for Human Rights and International Law) (AECHRIL) – Norway, Global
- European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) – Netherlands, Global
- Eve Organization for Women Development (EVE) – South Sudan
- Eyecatcher/Shevolution Associates – United Kingdom, Global
- منظمة فنارات (Fanarat Organization) – Syria
- Farah Social Foundation (FSF) – Lebanon
- Faudar Rural Educational Society for Harijans – India
- Federation of Women Lawyers South Sudan (FIDA-SS) – South Sudan
- Feminist Humanitarian Network (FHN) – Global
- Feminist Legal Clinic Inc. (FLC) – Australia
- Feminist Majority Foundation – United States
- Femmes Burundaises pour la Paix et le Développement (BWPD) – Burundi
- Femmes Droits et Développement en Afrique (WILDAF) – Mali
- Femmes et Droits Humains (F&DH) – Mali
- Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) – Fiji
- FL National Organization for Women (FL NOW) – United States
- Fondation Millennia2025 Femmes et Innovation – Belgium
- Fondation Nicole Ilunga (FNI) – DRC
- Fondazione Pangea – Italy, Global
- Fonds pour les Femmes Congolaises (FFC) – DRC
- Food4Humanity (F4H) – Yemen
- Fòs Feminista – United States, Global
- Foundation for Innovative Social Development (FISD) – Sri Lanka
- Franciscans International – Switzerland, Global
- Frauennetzwerk für Frieden e. V./Women’s Network for Peace (FNF) – Germany
- Freedom Now – United States, Global
- Front Line Defenders – Global
- Fundación Afrodescendiente por las Diversidades Sociales y Sexuales (SOMOS IDENTIDAD) – Colombia, Global
- Fundacion Arcoiris por el respeto a la diversidad sexual (FARDS) – Mexico
- Fundación Mujer & Mujer – Ecuador
- Fundacja Autonomia – Poland
- GALANG Philippines – Philippines
- GameChangers 360 – United States
- Gatef Organization – Egypt, Global
- Gender & Diversity Consulting – Austria
- Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS) – United Kingdom, Global
- Gender Equality Network (GEN) – Myanmar
- Gender Harmony Foundation (YGH) – Indonesia
- Gender Lab – Ghana
- Gender-Centru – Moldova
- Gender, Peace & Security – United Kingdom, Global
- Gender, Peace and Security Centre, Monash University (GPS Monash) – Australia
- Ghasin Al-Zaiton Organization for Youth (GZY) – Iraq
- Girl Up Chikka – India
- Girl Up Sony – India
- Giving Value to Everyone (GIVE) – Liberia
- GLAAD – United States
- Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights (GCENR) – Malaysia, Global
- Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) – United States
- Global Educational Economic and Social Empowerment (GEESE) – Pakistan
- Global Fund for Widows (GFW) – United States, Global
- Global Queer Youth Network (GQYN) – Ireland, Global
- Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation – Nepal
- Global Tamil Movement (GTM) – France, Global
- Good Health Community Programmes (GHCP) – Kenya
- Graduate Women International (GWI) – Switzerland, Global
- Graduate Women Wellington (GWW) – New Zealand
- Grassroot Women Network (GWN) – South Sudan
- Green Jinub Development (GJD) – South Sudan, Global
- Groupe de Réflexion et d’Initiative pour l’Avancement de la Grand’Anse (GRIAG) – Haiti
- Haakro Welfare Association (HWA) – Pakistan
- Haiti Cholera Research Funding Foundation Inc (HCRFF) – United States, Global
- Hands Across the Divide (HAD) – Cyprus
- Hargeisa Women Organization (Hawogroup) – Somalia
- Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) – South Africa
- مساعدة المجتمعات ذات الهشاشة (Helping Vulnerable Communities Organization) (HVCO) – Sudan
- Herasun – Mali
- Héritiers de la Justice (HJ) – DRC
- HFX – United States
- HIMAYA DAEEM AATAA (HDA) – Lebanon
- HIV Justice Network (HJN) – Netherlands, Global
- Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA) – Cameroon
- Hope Raisers Global Foundation (HRGF) – Nigeria, Global
- Hope Restoration South Sudan (HRSS) – South Sudan
- Hope Revival Organization (HRO) – Turkey, Syria
- Horn Initiatives Development Organization (HIDO) – Somalia
- HTOI Gender – Myanmar
- Human Rights Advocates (HRA) – United States
- Human Rights and Civic Participation Association (PaRiter) – Croatia
- Human Rights in China – United States, Global
- Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA) – South Africa
- Human Security Collective (HSC) – Netherlands, Global
- Huquqyat – United Kingdom
- ICAN South Sudan (ICSS) – South Sudan, Uganda
- IDP Women Association Consent (IDPWA) – Georgia
- Iman Research – Malaysia
- Imkaan – United Kingdom
- Immigration Equality – United States
- Impact: Center against Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence in Conflict – Netherlands, Global
- Impunity Watch (IW) – Netherlands, Global
- Insituto Think Twice Brasil – Brazil
- Instituto Brasileiro de Transmasculinidades (IBRAT) – Brazil
- Internacional Feminista – Mexico
- International Action Network for Gender Equity & Law (IANGEL) – United States
- International Alliance of Women (IAW) – Switzerland, Global
- International Center for Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma (ICMGLT) – United States
- International Centre for Civil Initiatives “Our House” (ICCI “Our House”) – Belarus
- International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Sri Lanka (ICES) – Sri Lanka
- International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) – United States, Global
- International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) – France, Global
- International Movement for Advancement of Education Culture Social & Economic Development (IMAECSED) – India, Global
- International Network of Liberal Women – Netherlands, Global
- International Peace Bureau (IPB) – Germany, Global
- International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) – United Kingdom, Global
- International Presentation Association (IPA) – Ireland, Global
- International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) – Switzerland, Global
- International Women’s Fund Azerbaijan (IWFA) – Azerbaijan, Global
- Ipas – Global
- Iraqi Minorities Council (IMC) – Iraq
- شبكة النساء العراقيات (Iraqi Women Network) (IWN) – Iraq
- ISOKO Partners for Peace and Gender Equality – United States, Global
- Jacqui True, Professor at Monash University, Expert on Women, Peace and Security
- Jusoor Center for Studies and Development – Libya
- Just Associates (JASS) – Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras
- Just Like My Child Foundation (JLMC) – Uganda, Global
- Justicia, Derechos Humanos y Género – Mexico
- Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) – Thailand
- Kalkal Human Rights Development Organization (KAHRDO) – Somalia, Global
- Karama – Egypt, Jordan
- Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) – Myanmar, Thailand
- Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO) – Myanmar, Thailand
- Karima Bennoune, Lewis M. Simes Professor, University of Michigan Law School and Former UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights
- Kayan Women’s Organization (KyWO) – Myanmar, Thailand
- Khulumani Support Group – South Africa
- Koneta Hub – South Sudan, Global
- Kuki Women’s Human Rights Organization (KWHRO) – Myanmar
- KULU – Women and Development (KULU) – Denmark
- La Verità Onlus – International Diplomacy (VOID) – Italy, Global
- Lahu Women’s Organization (LWO) – Myanmar, Thailand
- Lanka Fundamental Rights Organization (LFRO) – Sri Lanka
- Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy (LCNP) – United States
- Lawyers for Justice in Libya (LFJL) – Libya
- Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women – Nigeria
- Liberty and Equality Advancement Foundation-Afghanistan (LEAF-A) – United States, Global
- Ligue pour la Solidarité Congolaise (LSC) – DRC
- Lulu Care South Sudan (LCSS) – South Sudan
- Lutheran World Federation (LWF) – Switzerland, Global
- Make Mothers Matter (MMM) – France, Global
- Manzil Organization Balochistan (MOB) – Pakistan
- Marchons Ensemble et Surement dans l’Assistance Scolaire et Humanitaire (MESAS) – DRC
- مؤسسة فتيات مارب (Marib Girls Foundation) (MGF) – Yemen
- MARTA Centre – Latvia
- منظمة مزايا النسائية (Mazaya) – Syria
- Men’s Association for Gender Equality Sierra Leone (MAGE SL) – Sierra Leone
- MenEngage Global Alliance – United States, Global
- Mercy Without Limits (MWL) – Turkey
- Mesa Amplia de Profesores y Porfesoras de Universidades Públicas (MANPUP) – Colombia
- Mile Organization for Environmental Protection (MILE) – Iraq
- Milgo Initiative Organization (MNO) – Somalia
- Mina’s List – United States
- Mines Action Canada (MAC) – Canada
- Mitini Nepal – Nepal
- MOSAIC MENA – Lebanon
- Mother and Children Development Aid (MACDA) – South Sudan
- Mother of Hope Cameroon (MOHCAM) – Cameroon
- Možnosť voľby/Freedom of Choice (MV/FoC) – Slovakia
- MPact Global Action – United States, Global
- Mujeres en Zona de Conflicto (MZC) – Spain
- Murna Foundation (MF) – Nigeria
- Muwatin Media Network – United Kingdom
- Namibia Diverse Women’s Association (NDWA) – Namibia
- Nasaem Khair (NKO) – Turkey, Global
- الجمعية الوطنية لتمكين الاسرة (National Association for Family Empowerment) (NAFE) – Jordan
- National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal (NACASUD) – Nepal
- National Organization for Women (NOW) – United States
- National Relief and Development Corps (NRDC) – South Sudan
- National Women Empowerment and Rehabilitation Organisation (NWERO) – South Sudan
- Natracare – United Kingdom
- Nazra for Feminist Studies – MENA
- Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) – Ghana
- Общественная организация “Взаимодействие” (NGO Interaction) – Moldova
- NGO “Women Association Sphere” – Ukraine
- Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) – Switzerland, Global
- Nordic Women Mediators DK (NWM-DK) – Denmark
- NOVE Caring Humans (NCH) – Italy
- Observatorio de Género y Equidad (OGE) – Chile
- غصن زيتون (Olive Branch) (OB) – Turkey
- Operation 1325 – Sweden
- Organisation Paysanne pour le Développement Durable (OPDD) – DRC
- Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies (DROPS) – Canada
- Pa-O Women’s Union (PWU) – Myanmar, Thailand
- Pacific Women Mediators Network/GPPAC Pacific (PWMN) – Fiji
- PAIMAN Trust – Pakistan
- جمعية الدراسات النسوية التنموية الفلسطينية (The Palestine Developmental Women Studies Association) (PDWSA) – Palestine
- Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD) – Palestine
- Paradigm for Social Justice and Development (PSD) – Uganda
- Participatory Development Action Program (PDAP) – Bangladesh, Global
- Partners in Health – United States, Global
- Partners West Africa (PWA) – Senegal
- PartnersGlobal – United States, Global
- Pathways for Women’s Empowerment and Development/Integrated Agricultural Training Center (PaWEDIATC) – Cameroon
- PAX – Netherlands, Global
- Pax Christi USA (PCUSA) – United States
- Peace and Development Network Trust-Kenya (PeaceNet-Kenya) – Kenya
- Peace and Development Organization (PDO) – Pakistan
- Peace Corps Organization South Sudan (PCO-ss) – South Sudan
- Peace Direct (PD) – United Kingdom, Global
- Peace Movement Aotearoa – New Zealand
- Peace Track Initiative (PTI) – Yemen, Global
- حركة السلام الدائم (Permanent Peace Movement) (PPM) – Lebanon
- Phoenix Business Consulting – Ethiopia
- Planet Ally – Global
- Platform for Dialogue and Peace (P4DP) – Liberia
- Platform Women & Sustainable Peace (PVDV) – Netherlands
- PMU – Sweden
- Polish Migration Forum Foundation – Poland
- Population Aid Services (PAAS) – Somalia
- Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights (Plataforma Portuguesa para os Direitos das Mulheres) (PpDM) – Portugal
- PRO Global/Pensioners without Borders – Sweden
- Professor Laura J. Shepherd, FHEA, Professor of International Relations, University of Sydney
- Programme Amkeni Wamama (PAMA) – DRC
- Programme d’Actions pour le Développement au Congo (PADCO) – DRC
- Progressive Voice – Myanmar
- Psychological Responsiveness NGO (PSR) – Mongolia, Global
- “Qadın və Müasir Dünya” Mərkəzi (Center “Women and Modern World”) (CWMW) – Azerbaijan, Global
- Q&A Management Consultancy – South Sudan
- Radha Paudel Foundation – Nepal
- Rafto Foundation for Human Rights – Norway, Global
- Rainbow Railroad – Canada
- Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc (RYVSLU) – Saint Lucia
- Reach Out Cameroon (ROC) – Cameroon, Nigeria
- Red Dot Foundation – India, Global
- Red Hemisférica Somos Lideresas (RHSL) – Colombia
- Red Nacional Universitaria por la Equidad de Género en la Educación Superior UdeA (RENUEGES) – Colombia
- Regional Centre for International Development Cooperation (RCIDC) – Uganda
- Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO (RSHM NGO) – United States, Global
- Reproaction – United States
- Réseau des Org Femmes du Bassin du Lac Tchad (RESOF-BLT) – Niger
- Réseau Femme et Dévéloppement (REFED) – DRC
- Réseau Femme et Développement au Nord Kivu (REFED/NK) – DRC
- Réseau MUSONET – Mali
- Réseau Ouest Africain des Defenseurs des Droits Humains (ROADDH/WAHRDN) – West Africa
- Réseau Ouest Africain pour l’Édification de la Paix (WANEP-Niger) – Niger
- Rights for Women Welfare Society (RWWS) – Bangladesh
- Rights Monitor – United Kingdom
- مؤسسة رووم لإعمار الأرض (Room Foundation) (RF) – Yemen
- Rural Women for Development (RWDSS) – South Sudan
- صدى الجنوب الاعلامية (Sada Aljanub) – Syria
- Saferworld – United Kingdom, Global
- Safety and Risk Mitigation Organization (SRMO) – Afghanistan
- Salam for Democracy and Human Rights (Salam DHR) – United Kingdom, Bahrain
- جمعية سما للتنمية (Sama for Development) (SFDO) – Lebanon
- Sautiya Mama Mukongomani (SMM) – DRC, Global
- Save the Marginalized People Organization (SMP) – South Sudan
- SecurityWomen – United Kingdom, Global
- SEEK Feminist Network – Netherlands, Global
- Servas International (SI) – United States, Global
- Shafak – Turkey
- Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) – Myanmar, Thailand
- She4Society Initiative – Yemen
- Silambam Asia (SILA) – Malaysia, Global
- Siren – Protectors of the Rainforest, Inc. (SirenProtect) – United States, Global
- Sister’s Hand Liberia (SHL) – Liberia
- Social Research and Development Institute (SORADI) – Somalia
- Society for Orphan & Neglected Youths (SONY) – India
- Society for the Improvement of Rural People (SIRP) – Nigeria
- Society for the Rights of the Excluded and Disempowered (SOREX) – Nigeria
- Society Of Local Volunteers’ Effort (SOLVE-Nepal) – Nepal
- Solidarité Féminine Pour la Paix et le Développement Integral (SOFEPADI) – DRC
- Somali Youth Volunteers Association (SOYVA) – Somalia
- Somaliland Family Health Association (SOFHA) – Somalia
- Somaliland National Disability Federation (SNDF) – Somalia
- Sonke Gender Justice – South Africa, Global
- Soroptimist International (SI) – United Kingdom, Global
- Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) – United Kingdom, Global
- SOS Foundation for Development (SOSFD) – Yemen
- South Sudan Women with Disabilities Network (SSWDN) – South Sudan
- Southeastern Women Development Association (SEWODA) – Liberia
- التكتل النسوي الجنوبي (Southern Feminist Coalition) (SFC) – Yemen
- مساحة سلام (Space Of Peace) (SOP) – Syria
- Step Up Youth Initiative – Uganda
- Steps Without Borders NGO – Mongolia
- STEWARDWOMEN (STW) – South Sudan
- Stichting Female Journalists Network/Syrian Female Journalists Network (SFJN) – Syria
- Student Consortium on Women, Peace and Security (SCWPS) – United States
- Success Capital Organisation – Botswana
- جمعية نساء سودانيات للسلام والتنميه (Sudanese Women for Peace & Development Association) (SWPDA) – Uganda
- Sukaar Welfare Organization (SWO) – Pakistan
- Suma Veritas Foundation – Argentina
- Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN) – Uganda
- Support for Women in Governance Organization (SWIGO) – South Sudan
- Support Women Initiative for Progress Organisation (SWIPO) – South Sudan
- منظمة سوار (Supporting & Empowering Women’s Advancement & Rights) (SEWAR) – Syria, Turkey
- سِكَك (SYCAC) – Syria
- Synergie des femmes pour les victimes de violences sexuelles (SFVS) – DRC
- رابطه الاطباء المغتربين السوريين /سيما (Syrian Expatriate Medical Association) (SEMA) – Syria
- التجمع النسوي السوري (Syrian Feminist Society) (SFS) – Syria
- Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO) – Myanmar, Thailand
- TALAY’AN NGO – Morocco
- تستقل (Taskatel) – Syria
- Tavoyan Women’s Union (TWU) – Myanmar
- TERRE DES FEMMES (TDF) – Germany
- Terre des Hommes Netherlands – Bangladesh
- Terre des Hommes Netherlands – Netherlands, Global
- Terre des Hommes Netherlands – Philippines
- The Big Smile Foundation – Nigeria
- The Canadian Federation of Business & Professional Women (BPW Canada) – Canada
- The Circle – United Kingdom, Global
- The Civic Conscious Collective (TCCC) – Sri Lanka
- The Gender Agency – Australia
- The Global Sunrise Project – Canada, Global
- The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights – United States
- The Kosova Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (KRCT) – Kosovo
- The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation – Sweden, Global
- The Norwegian Human Rights Fund (NHRF) – Norway, Global
- The Ocalenie Foundation – Poland
- The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) – Palestine
- The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in Southwest Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA) – MENA
- The Scottish Women’s Convention (The SWC) – United Kingdom
- The Shoe Project – Canada
- The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network) – Uganda
- Titi Foundation (TF) – South Sudan
- Trócaire – Ireland, Global
- S. Campaign for Burma – United States
- Ukrainian Association for Research in Women’s History (UARWH) – Ukraine
- Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association “JurFem” – Ukraine
- Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA) – France, Global
- Union pour la Promotion/Protection, la Défense des Droits Humains et de l’Environnement (UPDDHE/GL) – DRC
- Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) – United States, Global
- United Against Inhumanity (UAI) – France, Global
- United Children Integrated Development Action Uganda (UNCIDA) – Uganda
- United Nations Association – UK (UNA-UK) – United Kingdom
- United Nations Association, San Diego (UNA_USA, SD) – United States
- United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) – Netherlands, Global
- Universal Network for Child Defence Rights (UNCDR) – South Sudan, Global
- Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism (UAF) – United States, Global
- Uror Women Peacebuilding Initiative (UWPI) – South Sudan
- Vanuatu Human Rights Coalition (VHRC) – Vanuatu, Global
- Vanuatu Women Against Crime and Corruption Advocacy Group (WACC Vanuatu) – Vanuatu
- Vanuatu Young Women For Change (VYWC) – Vanuatu, Global
- Vecinas Feministas por la Justicia sexual y Reproductiva en América Latina – Latin America
- Venezolanas Globales – Venezuela, Global
- Vikas Adhyayan Kendra (VAK) – India
- Vision GRAM-International (VGI) – DRC, Canada
- VOICE – United States, Global
- Voice for Change (VFC) – South Sudan
- VWA FANM AYISYÈN (VFA) (Voice of Haitian Women) – Haiti, Global
- ورد البلد (Ward Albaalad) – Turkey
- We Effect – Sweden, Global
- We Women Lanka – Sri Lanka
- Wi’am – Palestine
- Widows for Peace through Democracy (WPD) – United Kingdom, Global
- WILPF Afghanistan – Afghanistan
- WILPF Australia – Australia
- WILPF Austria – Austria
- WILPF Centrafrique – Central African Republic
- WILPF Colombia (LIMPAL Colombia) – Colombia
- WILPF RDC – DRC
- WILPF Denmark – Denmark
- WILPF España – Spain
- WILPF Senegal – Senegal
- WILPF UK – United Kingdom
- WILPF Ukraine – Switzerland
- WILPF US – United States
- وجود للأمن الإنساني (Wogood for Human Security) (WHS) – Yemen
- WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform – Netherlands
- Womankind Kenya (WOKIKE) – Kenya
- Women & Peace Studies Organization (WPSO) – Canada
- Women Action Society for Development Peace and Justice (WASDPJ) – South Sudan
- Women Adults and Youth Organizations (WAY) – Lebanon
- Women Against Violence and Expediency Handling Initiative (WAVEHI) – Nigeria
- Women Agency for Progress Organization (WAPO) – South Sudan
- Women and Child Rights Initiative (WCRI) – South Sudan
- Women and Children Legal Research Foundation (WCLRF) – Afghanistan
- Women and Youth Empowerment Initiative (WAYEI) – South Sudan
- Women Committee Access for Humanitarian Foundation (WCHF) – South Sudan
- Women Development and Youth Education Center (WODYEC) – Liberia
- Women Education and Development Organization of Liberia (WEDOL) – Liberia
- Women Empowerment Against Poverty of Nepal (WEAPoN) – Nepal
- Women Empowerment Alliance (WEA) – South Sudan
- Women Empowerment Centre-South Sudan (WECSS) – South Sudan
- Women Empowerment for Peace and Development Organisation (WEPDO-SS) – South Sudan
- Women for Justice (WJ) – Myanmar
- Women for Justice and Equality – South Sudan
- Women for Peace and Democracy Nepal (WPDNEPAL) – Nepal
- Women for Peace and Participation (WPP) – Afghanistan, Global
- Women for Peace and Unity Growth Initiative (WPUGI) – Nigeria
- Women Graduates-USA – United States, Global
- Women in AI – France, Global
- Women In Development Europe+ (WIDE+) – Belgium
- Women in Global Health Canada – Canada
- Women In International Security (WIIS) – United States, Global
- Women in Security Peace and Diplomacy Network (WISPAD) – Nigeria
- Women Media and Development (TAM) – Palestine
- Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) – Liberia
- Women Now for Development (WND) – Syria
- Women of Sudanese Civic and Political Groups (MANSAM) – Sudan
- Women Problems Research Union (WPRU) – Azerbaijan
- Women Relief Aid – South Sudan
- Women Vision – South Sudan
- Women with Disability Self Reliance Foundation (WWDSRF) – Nigeria
- Women Working Group (WWG) – Indonesia, Global
- Women’s Advisory Council of United Nations Association-UK (WAC-UNA-UK) – United Kingdom
- مركز شؤون المرأة_غزة (Women’s Affairs Center-Gaza) (WAC) – Palestine
- Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (ICAN-WASL) – United States, Global
- Women’s Center for Guidance and Legal Awareness – Egypt
- Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) – Palestine
- Women’s Democracy Network Africa (WDN Africa) – Zimbabwe
- Women’s Human Rights Education Institute, Instituto DDHH Mujeres – Canada, Global
- Women’s International Peace Centre (WIPC) – Uganda, Global
- Women’s League of Burma (WLB) – Myanmar
- Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP)
- المنظمة النسائية للعدالة الانتقالية (Women’s Organization for Transitional Justice) (WOTJ) – Turkey
- Women’s Peace Network (WPN) – Myanmar
- Women’s Platform – United Kingdom
- Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WOREC) – Nepal
- Women’s Right to Education Programme (WREP) – Nigeria
- مركز الدراسات النسوية (Women’s Studies Centre) (WSC) – Palestine
- Women’s UN Report Network (WUNRN) – Global
- Women’s Voice in Action – United States, Global
- Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF) – Switzerland, Global
- Women4Nonviolence (W4NV) – Norway, Global
- World Federalist Movement/Institute for Global Policy (WFM/IGP) – United States, Global
- World Silambam Association (WSA) – Malaysia, Global
- World Yoga Association (WYA) – Malaysia, Global
- XOESE, Le Fonds pour les Femmes Francophones – Togo, Global
- Yemen Center for Human Rights Studies (YCHRS) – Yemen
- يمن فيوتشر للتنمية الثقافية والاعلامية (Yemen Future for Culture and Media Development) – Yemen
- منظمة مدرسة السلام (Yemen Peace School Organization) (YPS) – Yemen
- Young Women’s Christian Association of Bangladesh (YWCA) – Bangladesh
- Young Women’s Christian Association of South Sudan (YWCA) – South Sudan
- Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) – Nigeria, Global
- Youth Leadership Development Foundation – Yemen
- Youth Link – South Sudan
- Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT) – Uganda
- Zan Times – Canada
- جمعية زنوبيا للمرأة السورية (Zenobia Syrian Women’s Association) – Syria
- ГО “Жива-Я” (Zhiva-Ya) – Ukraine
- Zonta International – United States, Global
[1] S/RES/1325 (2000), PPs 5, 10; S/RES/1820 (2008), PPs 10, 11; S/RES/1888 (2009), PP 14; S/RES/1889 (2009), PPs 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, OPs 1, 11; S/RES/2106 (2013), OP 1; S/RES/2122 (2013), PP 4, OPs 1, 8, 14; S/RES/2242 (2015), PPs 11, 14, OPs 1, 13, 15, 16; S/RES/2467 (2019), PPs 1, 11, 22, OPs 16, 30; S/RES/2493 (2019), PP 5, OPs 2, 3, 4, 8; S/RES/2171 (2014), PP 21, OPs 18, 19; S/RES/2419 (2018), PP 12, OP 16; S/RES/2532 (2020), OP 7; S/RES/2535 (2020), PPs 13, 17, 22; S/RES/2553 (2020), PP 8, OPs 5, 24; S/RES/2616 (2021), PP 19; S/RES/2686 (2023), PP 10, OP 5; S/RES/2558 (2020), PP 6; S/RES/1645 (2005), PP 15; S/RES/2282 (2016), PP 22, OP 21; S/RES/2417 (2018), PP 12; S/RES/2573 (2021), OP 10; S/RES/2117 (2013), PP 14, OP 12; S/RES/2220 (2015), PP 19, OP 18; S/RES/2396 (2017), OP 39; S/RES/2617 (2021), PP 36; S/RES/2665 (2022), PP 8; S/PRST/2022/5, para. 8; S/RES/2086 (2013), PP 12; S/RES/2538 (2020), PP 5; S/RES/2663 (2022), PP 19.
[2] CEDAW/C/GC/30 p. 6. Diverse women includes women from minority, ethnic and religious groups, LGBTQI+ individuals, young women, displaced and migrant women, women with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
[3] Under the equality provisions of international human rights law, women have the right to full and equal representation, and States have a duty to guarantee that women fully exercise their human rights on an equal footing with men, free from discrimination. The binding principles of equality and nondiscrimination form the backbone of the international human rights protection system, and are enshrined in the UN Charter (including Article 1(3)), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (including Article 2), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (including Articles 2, 3 and 25 and General Comment 28), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (including Articles 2 and 3), the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (including Articles 7 and 8), and CEDAW General Recommendations 23, 25, 28 and 30, in addition to Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1889 (2009), 2106 (2013), 2122 (2013), 2242 (2015), 2467 (2019) and 2493 (2019).
[4] Data on this violence must be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability to account for the intersectional risks faced by women and girls across different contexts, including the impact of laws, policies and norms that contribute to stigmatization or criminalization of LGBTQI+ women or impede the work of women human rights defenders in specific areas, such as sexual and reproductive health and rights.