Rethinking the WPS Agenda: Feminist Peacebuilding in an Age of Backlash

The year 2025 marks two major milestones in the global struggle for gender equality and peace: the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. UNSCR 1325 and its follow-up resolutions set a global precedent by recognizing the unique and disproportionate gendered impacts of conflict, and the essential role of women in preventing conflict, resolving disputes and building sustainable peace.

Against the backdrop of a world increasingly affected by violent conflict, democratic decline, and intensified pushback against gender equality, anti-discrimination policies and feminist achievements, these anniversaries offer a timely and critical opportunity to reflect on both the progress made and the ongoing as well as emerging challenges facing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda. On October 31, the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin will bring together political decision-makers, academics, civil society actors and members of the broader public for a critical and forward-looking dialogue on the current state and future direction of the WPS framework. Together, we will explore whether the gains of the past 25 years have laid a resilient and transformative foundation for feminist and gender-transformative approaches in peacebuilding, as well as in foreign, security and development policy.

We are particularly honored to welcome Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Founder & President of the Umlambo Foundation and former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women as our keynote speaker.

An interactive panel discussion will follow, engaging our international participants and guests in examining how the WPS Agenda must evolve to address current and future challenges, and continue serving as a vital framework for achieving inclusive, gender-just peace in a global order under strain. Following the discussion, we warmly invite you to continue the conversation at our reception.

Agenda

16.00   Welcome by Imme Scholz, Co-President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation

16.10   Keynote by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Umlambo Foundation

16.30   Panel discussion

• Ayak Chol Deng Alak, Independent Expert Peace and Security, Inclusive Peace, South Sudan
• Jeanette Böhme, Policy and Human Rights Officer, medica mondiale; Expert in the “Network 1325”
• Iulia Kharashvili, Chairperson of IDP Women Association “Consent”, Georgia
• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Founder & President of the Umlambo Foundation; former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
• Hannah Neumann, MEP, Greens/EFA Coordinator in the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Member of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE)

         Facilitation: Barbara Mittelhammer, Political Analyst and Consultant

18.00   Reception

This panel discussion will take place in English and German with simultaneous interpretation.

» On-site attendance
at the Heinrich Böll Foundation Headquarters, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin

Please register in advance. Unfortunately, the number of seats is limited.

» Livestream
Alternatively, you can follow the event via livestream without registering.
Livestream in English
Livestream in German

» On the path to accessibility
At the Heinrich Böll Foundation, we strive to continuously break down barriers. Whether in our building, in our publications, or in our online events. All information on this topic can be found at the following link: https://www.boell.de/en/accessibility/towards-greater-accessibilityerefreiheit