UN Security Council Resolution 1325
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What this document is
This page summarises United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted unanimously on 31 October 2000. It is a landmark text on Women, Peace and Security (WPS): the first time the Security Council formally recognised the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and the essential role women play in preventing conflict and in building lasting peace.
The resolution reaffirms earlier commitments on gender equality and calls on all parties to armed conflict to respect the rights of women and to protect them from gender-based violence. It also urges the wider inclusion of women in peace negotiations, peacekeeping and reconstruction.
What it covers
Commentators generally organise Resolution 1325 around four pillars:
- Participation: greater representation of women at all decision-making levels of conflict prevention and resolution;
- Protection: safeguarding women and girls from conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence;
- Prevention: improving efforts to prevent conflict and violence against women;
- Relief and recovery: meeting the specific needs of women and girls during repatriation, reintegration and reconstruction.
The text calls on the Secretary-General, member states and negotiating parties to translate these principles into concrete action, including through gender-sensitive training for peacekeepers.
Why it matters
Resolution 1325 is widely regarded as the foundation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. It shifted international policy by treating the participation and protection of women as central to security rather than as a side issue.
It has since been reinforced by a series of related Security Council resolutions and has shaped National Action Plans adopted by governments around the world. This is why the document is frequently cited and linked from academic, humanitarian and policy sources — the reason we host this neutral summary to preserve those references.
Frequently asked questions
When was Resolution 1325 adopted?
The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 unanimously on 31 October 2000. It was the first Security Council resolution to place women, peace and security squarely on the Council’s agenda.
What are the four pillars of Resolution 1325?
The resolution is commonly summarised around four pillars: participation of women in decision-making and peace processes; protection of women and girls from conflict-related violence; prevention of conflict and of gender-based violence; and relief and recovery in post-conflict settings.
Is Resolution 1325 legally binding?
Security Council resolutions carry significant weight in international relations, and 1325 established a framework that member states and UN bodies have since built upon. It launched what is now known as the Women, Peace and Security agenda and was followed by further resolutions such as 1820, 1888 and 1889.
Where can I read the full text?
The authoritative text is published by the United Nations. This page only summarises the document for reference and is not the official source.