The international conference “From Gender Justice to Sustainable Peace: A 25-Year Vision – Women, Peace and Security” was held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12–13 June 2025, at a pivotal moment for the global peace and security agenda. Marking 25 years since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and 30 years since the Dayton Peace Agreement, the conference provided a timely platform to assess both the progress and persistent gaps in the WPS agenda.
The aim of the conference was to contribute directly to key global peace and security processes in 2025, ensuring that regional perspectives and evidence-based recommendations inform the UN Security Council Open Debate on WPS in October 2025. Discussions focused on addressing the evolving challenges in conflict prevention, women’s leadership, humanitarian response, and post-conflict recovery, with a particular emphasis on translating global commitments into sustained local action.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has emerged as a leading voice in the WPS agenda, drawing on its own experiences in post-conflict recovery, transitional justice, and women’s participation in peacebuilding. Through landmark international and domestic court cases, BiH has set critical precedents for addressing conflict-related sexual violence, and its successive National Action Plans have demonstrated how legal reform and strong government-civil society collaboration can drive change. The country’s leadership continues to offer valuable lessons for shaping more inclusive and effective peace processes globally.
The conference was part of the Women Lead the Way towards Peace and Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina program, supported by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund in partnership with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was implemented by UN Women, UNFPA, and IOM under the leadership of the United Nations Resident Coordinator. The event also benefited from the Women’s Increased Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies regional initiative, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and implemented by UN Women.
Inger Skjelsbæk participated in the conference and chaired a session focusing on Relief and Recovery: Women’s Roles in Humanitarian Response and Post-Conflict Reconstruction, where discussions highlighted women’s critical contributions to sustainable recovery and long-term peacebuilding in post-conflict settings.
