If You Want Peace, Prepare for War with the Patriarchy: A 25-Year Reckoning with UNSCR 1325

Dr. Hannah Neumann, Member of the European Parliament, reflects in her policy brief for Women in International Security on the 25th anniversary of UN Resolution 1325, emphasizing that despite clear evidence that women’s meaningful participation strengthens peace and stability, they remain largely excluded from decision-making, particularly in crises. She argues that this exclusion is deliberate, rooted in patriarchal systems that protect privileges, and calls for the peace and security community to confront these structural barriers if progress is to be achieved.