Recurrent and emerging armed conflicts, expanded terrorist and extremist networks, increased targeting of civilians, and record levels of mass displacement have defined global security in the twenty-first century. Data shows that standard peacemaking methods have proved ineffective at addressing these trends: nearly half of the conflict resolution agreements forged during the 1990s failed within five years.¹ Recidivism for civil war is alarmingly high, with 90 percent of civil wars in the 2000s occurring in countries that had already experienced civil war during the previous thirty years.² New thinking on peace and security is needed.³

A growing body of research suggests...

Despite the historical exclusion of women from negotiating tables and security apparatuses, the evidence of women’s contributions to conflict prevention and resolution is growing. Several empirical analyses confirm that women offer unique, substantive, and measurable contributions to securing and keeping peace. Evidence shows that security efforts are more successful and sustainable when women contribute to prevention and early warning, peacemaking, peacekeeping, and postconflict resolution and rebuilding. A qualitative evaluation of women’s influence in recent peace processes—notably in Guatemala (1996), Northern Ireland (1998), Liberia (2003), and the Philippines (2014)—further illustrates the critical role that women can play in resolving...

In recent years, as the evidence of women’s contributions to peacemaking and peacekeeping has grown, women’s role in conflict resolution and security has received greater international attention. In 2000, the United Nations adopted Security Council Resolution 1325 under the leadership of Namibia and with strong support from Bangladesh and other Security Council members. This was the first of eight resolutions to date through which the United Nations formally recognized the importance of women’s participation in conflict resolution and postconflict reconciliation processes and committed to promoting their involvement. As of 2016, over sixty countries—from developing nations like Afghanistan and Kenya...

The next U.S. administration should

within the first one hundred days issue a presidential statement in support of the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution, and identify ten time-bound, measurable goals;

set as a precondition of its participation in a peace process that negotiating bodies and mediating teams include a significant representation of women in formal roles—with a target of at least 30 percent—and work with civil society in the design, implementation, and monitoring of the agreement;

ensure that women represent at least 30 percent of U.S. delegations to peace and security processes, and encourage the...

In the twenty-first century, unleashing the potential of 50 percent of the world’s population is not just the right thing to do—it is a strategic imperative. Substantial evidence confirms that women’s participation in peace and security processes increases the likelihood and sustainability of peace. Nevertheless, women’s representation in conflict prevention and resolution efforts has grown only minimally in the sixteen years since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which formally acknowledged the benefits of women’s participation. The United States is uniquely positioned to lead by example and catalyze international efforts to improve this record. To respond effectively...