October 2025 marks 25 years since the signing of the landmark United Nations Resolution 1325. This milestone should have been a moment of reflection, recommitment and collective mobilisation to advance the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda; however, the current context presents us with increasing exclusion, backlash and shrinking civic space.

In this context, this year’s WPS Week in New York is increasingly inaccessible for many women’s rights organisations (WROs) and civil society organisations (WROs). In response, the WPS community is mobilising collectively to host regional convenings that provide a space for those individuals and organisations that have made the WPS agenda what it is today to continue advancing their work. Events will take place in different locations throughout September, October and November, including Amman, Nairobi, Brussels and Geneva.

We are not withdrawing: we are reclaiming the WPS agenda by re-rooting it in civil society where it continues to be lived, defended and demanded. Our approach is outlined in a concept note which is published in English, Arabic, French and Spanish.

Regional convenings will be hosted by various organisations in different countries. More information and a list of upcoming events can be found here: WPS +25 Events – WO=MEN. If your organisation is hosting an event and would like it to be included on this page, please email: v.dekort@wo-men.nl.

Our shared thinking is communicated in a Collective Statement which is published in English, Arabic, French and Spanish. We welcome sign-on from organisations encourage you do to so here.

At this crucial time the WPS community, Member States, governments and institutions must show solidarity and coordinated action to ensure progress is not lost. We encourage organisations to gather regionally and sign the collective statement. We urge Member States to support, attend and resource these community-led efforts and highlight the needs and expertise from civil society in multilateral spaces.

We must work together to implement and defend the WPS agenda to ensure it is strengthened in the next 25 years. 

#ReclaimWPS25+