Skopje, 31 October 2025 (MIA) - Gender equality and women's empowerment are a prerequisite for dealing with prevention, management, and conflict resolution, EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas told Friday's event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. He noted that the EU continues to be a partner of the country, and of the other Western Balkan countries, in strengthening gender responsive governance and peace building, pointing out that when women lead, peace lasts. 

The EU Ambassador said the values of the resolution have become core principles of the European Union's common foreign and security policy, adding that 25 years ago, the UN Resolution 1325 gave voice to a simple truth - women's leadership is central to achieving a just and lasting peace. 

Rokas pointed out that this anniversary is an ocassion to take stock of the achievemnts, but also of the way things have to go.

"Globally, if we look at things, the picture is mixed, but I would say the progress is mediocre, because, on the one hand, we have over one hundred countries that have adopted national action plans on women, peace and security. We also have the minimum 15 percent funding target for gender equality in peace building, and this is a recognized benchmark today. However, on the other hand, many commitments made back in 2000 remain unfulfilled. Violence against women in conflicts rises, and gender equality and peace processes remain underfunded," said Rokas. 

He noted that in recent years, only one in ten peace negotiations included women at the table, in the past two years alone, four times more women and girls have been killed in conflicts compared to the previous three years. At the same time, global military spending increased by 9.4 percent, while funding for gender equality remains only a fraction of that. 

Therefore, he added, the resolution's vision should go beyond inclusion, it should seek real transformation of institutions, of power structures and how peace itself is built, by ensuring women's full participation in peace processes, by holding perpetrators of gender-based violence accountable, by protecting women peace-builders and human rights defenders, by integrating the principles of this agenda into laws and budgets, and by promoting women's economic empowerment.  

Rokas pointed out that North Macedonia has made important steps towards aligning with the resolution, noting that the country has adopted its first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in 2013, and the second National Action Plan 2020-2025 has deepened this work aligning with NATO membership and reaffirming the country's commitment to international stability.   

UN Women Office Head Vesna Ivanovikj Castarede pointed out that when the resolution was first adopted, it was recognized that women are disproportionately affected as victims of conflicts. The resolution, she noted, calls on all social stakeholders to increase the participation of women in peace building and negotiation processes.

"However, the commitment remains unfulfilled. We witness conflicts that are happening as we speak and women suffering and dying. Too few peacekeeping missions include women as decision-makers, too few national action plans are funded globally. This anniversary is not just a jubilee to be observed, but it is a call to action - to protect women's human rights, to fight against all forms of violence against women, to ensure the full and active participation of women in all peace and security processes, to implement the commitments of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, not in words but in deeds, and to adapt the agenda to global challenges and fight gender stereotypes every day," said Ivanovikj Castarede.  

A postage stamp was unveiled on the occasion of the anniversary, depicting a woman standing tall and releasing a white dove that soars freely into the sky. The colourful blue-and-yellow hues represent the tenderness, as well as the enduring strength of women who lead, protect, and build communities even in times of uncertainty.

Photo: MIA