UN Women convenes first Regional Open Day on Women, Peace and Security in the Arab States, marking 25 years of UN Security Council Resolution 1325

[Press release]

Amman, Jordan - UN Women’s Regional Office for the Arab States today opened the first Regional Open Day on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), bringing together high-level government officials, women peacebuilders, civil society organizations, regional bodies, youth networks, and international partners. The three-day convening marks the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and provides a unique regional platform to assess progress, elevate women’s leadership, and shape a forward-looking agenda for the next quarter century.

Across the Arab States, protracted conflicts, political transitions, displacement, and recurring humanitarian crises including Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen continue to disproportionately impact women and girls.

Today, an estimated 22.4 million women and girls across the region require humanitarian assistance. Despite these challenges, the region has made notable progress, including the adoption of eight National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security to date, while persistent structural inequalities, shrinking civic space and declining global funding continue to hinder full implementation.

Opening the event, Dr. Moez Doraid, UN Women Regional Director for the Arab States, underscored the urgency of renewed commitment: “Twenty-five years after the adoption of Resolution 1325, the Arab States region stands at a critical crossroads. Women have led peace efforts in many corners of the region, often under extraordinary pressures, yet their contributions remain undervalued and underfunded. This Open Day dialogue offers an opportunity to recognize their leadership and chart the next 25 years of meaningful participation, accountability, and action.”

The 2025 Regional Open Day takes stock of progress, identifies emerging priorities, and generates actionable recommendations to strengthen WPS implementation in a rapidly evolving landscape in the Arab States region.  The discussions are informed by global normative commitments and strategic policy processes, including the 2025 UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and the Beijing+30 review, and will contribute to preparations for the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).

“When women participate in peace processes, agreements become more durable. When women lead recovery efforts, communities rebuild stronger and faster. The future of peace and stability in our region depends on investing in women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation,” added Dr. Doraid.

The event features high-level plenaries, expert panels, thematic discussions, and Chatham House–based working groups designed to deepen regional dialogue and cooperation. A dedicated civil society workshop will feed into a WPS@25 Civil Society Roadmap, outlining priorities for protection, participation, accountability, and women’s leadership in mediation and peace and security processes across the Arab States.

The Amman Open Day builds on the momentum of commemorating the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325, ensuring that diverse women’s voices from across the Arab States inform global policy discussions and shape peace and recovery efforts in the region.

This event is organized by UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States with the generous support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and the Government of Japan.