On October 24th, 2024, the Swedish Dialogue Institute for the Middle East and North Africa cohosted an online meeting on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda with its WPS informal network1 in collaboration with the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD). As part of a series of meetings, held in connection with the WPS week at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the session focused on the way ahead of the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which will be marked next year. It provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress, challenges, and future of the WPS agenda in the Arab region
During the discussions, network members highlighted the need for collaboration, inclusivity, and strategic action to advance the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. Key points included the establishment of a Common Funding Arrangement (CFA) to support coalitions and equitable
resource distribution, the importance of grants encouraging partnerships between wellestablished and newly formed organizations, and the creation of a community of practice to engage governments and civil society. Participants emphasized addressing challenges such as shrinking civic spaces, improving NAP implementation, revisiting terminology to suit local contexts ahead of the WPS agenda’s 25th anniversary, and pursuing legal reforms and stronger donorgovernment coordination to ensure meaningful progress.
This meeting built on the momentum of recent regional WPS conferences, which emphasized the need for a unified Arab voice and coherent strategies to advance the agenda. By convening key stakeholders, including academics, civil society representatives, policymakers, and international experts, the meeting provided a platform for discussions and exchanges that reflected on regional priorities and contributed to the global reassessment of UNSCR 1325 in 2025.
Read the full report from the WPS meeting Towards the 25th anniversary of UNSCR1325
