Women, Peace and Security – Between Peacebuilding and Gender Equality

Women are affected by armed conflict in particular ways, and at the same time they play a central role in creating and sustaining peace. In 2000, the UN Security Council brought this perspective into focus with the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1325. Women were no longer to be seen merely as victims of conflict, but as active agents whose participation is essential to conflict prevention, peace processes and lasting peace. The resolution gave rise to the UN Women, Peace and Security agenda, which to this day provides the framework for international efforts to strengthen the role of women in peace and security processes.

More than 25 years after the resolution was adopted, however, the question remains how this commitment is being put into practice. Anyone who talks about lasting peace must also ask who takes part in decisions on peace and security. Women remain significantly underrepresented in political decision-making and peace negotiations worldwide. In 2026, women hold 27.4 percent of seats in national parliaments. In peace and constitution-making processes led, co-led or supported by the United Nations, women made up on average only 18 percent of negotiators and delegates in 2024. The question of women’s participation is closely linked to the social and economic conditions for peace: who is able to take part in peace processes also depends on who has access to political, economic and social resources.

The BMZ understands feminist development policy as an approach that aims to dismantle existing forms of discrimination and inequality and to promote fairer social structures. Women play a particularly important role here as holders of knowledge and as decision-makers. The goal is to enable all people, regardless of gender or background, to realise their potential and to participate actively in society.

Against this backdrop, we are delighted to welcome Birgit Pickel, Director-General for Sustainable Development and Climate at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), on Monday, 9 November 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe.

Together with Birgit Pickel and you, we would like to discuss the following questions, among others: What is development cooperation about? How can development cooperation stabilise conflict regions in the long term and strengthen social participation? What are the responsibilities of the BMZ, and how does its work differ from that of the Federal Foreign Office? How can development cooperation support women’s participation in peace processes? What role do gender equality and women’s participation play in sustainable development and peace? What does feminist development policy look like in practice? What challenges arise when implementing feminist development policy in different social contexts?

We look forward to your participation and kindly ask you to register by 8 November 2026.

Venue:
Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa
Sophienstraße 28/29
10178 Berlin

Only accessible via stairs.