The Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network was launched in 2016 to assist UN Member States and regional organizations, in close collaboration with civil society, to improve and strengthen the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda at the origin of decision-making processes.
Italy and the Philippines are the Network’s 2026 Co-Chairs. UN Women serves as the Secretariat.
In 2026, under the co-chairship of Italy and the Philippines, the Network will build on the momentum of the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and the Network’s 10th anniversary by shifting from commemoration to sustained implementation and accountability.
Recognizing the increasingly complex global security landscape, the Network will focus on translating political commitments into measurable institutional, operational, and financial action. In particular, it will seek to:
The Eighth Capital-Level Meeting, to be convened in Rome, Italy from 9 to 10 June 2026, will serve as the principal platform for advancing these discussions. Its outcomes will inform the annual ministerial meeting in New York during the eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly.
By the end of 2026, the WPS-FPN aims to consolidate a more structured approach to WPS implementation across its membership. This includes strengthening peer exchange mechanisms, enhancing reporting and evaluation practices, and reinforcing linkages between WPS commitments and broader security strategies. Ultimately, the 2026 co-chairship will aim to anchor the WPS agenda more firmly within national institutions and multilateral practice, ensuring that gender equality is not treated as an auxiliary objective but as a core component of peace and security policies.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), the more than 100 members of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Focal Points Network (FPN), comprising member states and regional organizations, will meet throughout the year in Tokyo, Oslo, and New York, alongside representatives of UN entities and civil society, to consolidate global political will and further advance the WPS agenda.
Under the chairship of Japan and Norway, the Network will unite its members in a shared re-determination to commitments made 25 years ago through Resolution 1325 and the subsequent nine WPS resolutions.
Recalling the cumulative efforts and achievements made since 2000, as well as the severe challenges and backlash against women and girls in conflict and crisis settings, the Network meetings and events planned during 2025 will emphasize the need for impactful actions. These actions will aim for the comprehensive participation of women and, where appropriate, girls, in all aspects of peacebuilding. They will also prioritize the prevention of sexual violence in conflict and the implementation of gender-responsive humanitarian initiatives.
The Network will issue a joint communiqué of key recommendations and actions to mark the anniversary.
