The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on October 31, 2000.  Resolution 1325’s goal is to involve women in peace-building efforts in post-conflict countries. The resolution recognizes the vulnerability of women and children, who are increasingly targeted by armed factions. To protect the rights of women and children, the resolution calls for UN Member States to incorporate a “gender perspective” and increase the equal participation of women in the “prevention and resolution of conflicts” and in the “maintenance and promotion of peace and security.” Reporting on the status of implementation is left to the initiative of the UN Secretary-General. The resolution “invites” the Secretary-General to submit reports on the progress of incorporating “gender perspectives” into peace-building initiatives and the impact of armed conflict on women.

Sections 1 through 7 of Resolution 1325 enumerate the responsibilities of Member States and the Secretary-General. The resolution calls upon Member States to increase the participation of women at all decision-making levels in the government, nominate candidates for the Secretary-General to appoint as special representatives and increase funding for gender training. The resolution calls upon the Secretary-General to appoint more women as special representatives, increase female representation among UN civilian personnel, military observers and humanitarian personnel, and provide training for incorporating a “gender perspective” to Member States and peace-building forces. 

Sections 8 through 13 of Resolution 1325 enumerate gender-sensitive issues that all parties involved in armed conflict and peace-building initiatives need to take into consideration. Specifically, it calls upon parties involved in peace-building to pay special attention to the needs of women during “resettlement and rehabilitation,” including stays in refugee camps, to incorporate the perspective of local and indigenous peace-building initiatives, to incorporate the human rights of women in the electoral, judicial and policing systems, to take into consideration the difference in the needs of male and female combatants, and to actively prosecute genocidal rape and other crimes against humanity that victimize women.  Furthermore, it calls upon parties involved in armed conflict to abide by international law that protect the rights of civilian women and girls and to incorporate policy and procedure that protect women from gender-based crimes, such as rape and sexual assault.