This October 2025 marked the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, a framework endorsed by UNSCR 1325. This resolution by the UN Security Council marked groundbreaking advancement for the international commitment towards women’s rights. During the United Nations’ annual WPS debate, speakers discussed the empowerment of women, but also the critical danger and conflict that women around the world are facing. During a time of various humanitarian conflicts and conservative leaders, the call for women to be represented in all facets of peacemaking is necessary for change.

Child marriage is one of the world’s most pressing issues for young children today. According to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 640 million girls worldwide were married in childhood. India is home to the largest percentage of child brides in the world. India’s percentage of child brides implies a lack of resources for young girls to develop economically or socially in their country. Implementing stronger emphasis on education for young women can potentially shift cultural norms in communities.

Ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda has exacerbated gender based violence cases in the DRC. The most recent ceasefire from July to August 2024 initiated peace agreements between Rwanda, DRC, and M23, a Rwanda-backed group in the Congo. However, M23 has captured the city of Goma and is pushing deeper into the DRC despite international calls for ceasefire. With more than 800,000 people already living in displacement camps in Goma, conditions worsen for women in the Congo. Permanent ceasefire must be implemented in order to provide security for women in the region.