The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Working Group for the Arab States convened its third meeting in Doha from January 27 to 29, 2025. This meeting continued the vital mission of the Working Group to establish a regional mechanism that informs and shapes WPS policies across the Arab region in anticipation of the 25th anniversary of the WPS agenda this year. This is achieved through the ‘White Policy Paper,’ which aims to provide a coherent regional narrative on WPS along with actionable recommendations for enhancing the implementation of the WPS agenda in the region.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Tarik Yousef, Director of the ME Council, emphasized the working group’s crucial role in adapting the WPS agenda to the evolving changes in the Arab world, particularly in light of the growing likelihood of conflicts and the increasingly complex nature of these challenges. He highlighted that the last 15 months have been particularly trying, testing assumptions and raising questions about matters we have previously taken for granted.
Mrs. Yara Mourad, Assistant Director at IFI, stated, “with the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 approaching, this moment calls for a critical reassessment of our strategies and a renewed commitment to ensuring women’s meaningful participation in peace processes. The discussions in Doha underscore our shared resolve to dismantle persistent barriers and explore innovative pathways toward a more inclusive and sustainable peace framework in the Arab region.”
This milestone anniversary presents an opportunity to evaluate and adapt the agenda’s effectiveness, especially in conflict-affected regions. While UNSCR 1325 (2000) has marked significant progress in advocating for women’s participation in peace processes and ensuring their protection in conflict and post-conflict scenarios, substantial challenges remain. Persistent barriers, such as deep-rooted gender inequalities, limited access to decision making spaces, and insufficient support for women’s leadership, continue to hinder the meaningful involvement of women in peacebuilding and governance across the region. Recent dynamics in the region—including the ongoing transition in Syria, recent ceasefire agreements in Lebanon and Gaza, and the ongoing conflict in Sudan—framed much of the exchange, including in relation to ongoing barriers (as well as opportunities) regarding women’s inclusion and influence in peacemaking efforts.
Building on the previous meetings held in Amman and Geneva, the third meeting gathered WPS practitioners, policy experts, academics, and peacebuilders from across the Arab States, including participants from Gulf countries for the first time. Central discussions focused on advancing the white policy paper, refining priority areas for the WPS agenda over the next decade and formulating concrete recommendations to address ongoing challenges.
A core emphasis was placed on enhancing women’s participation in peace processes and exploring alternative pathways for peace, leveraging peace dividends to address the region’s increasing instability. The gathering also highlighted the implications of WPS in the context of occupation, discussing both its direct and indirect impacts on WPS priorities in the region.
The meeting fostered operational discussions, including joint outreach and advocacy strategies for the white policy paper. Notably, it featured engagements with Qatar-based stakeholders, including government officials, peace and security actors, think tanks, and international NGOs, fostering broader collaboration and amplifying the group’s initiatives.
Participants underscored the importance of creating inclusive dialogue spaces that enable diverse perspectives and address the unique challenges faced by women across the Arab region.
In closing, the ME Council, in partnership with IFI, held a public panel discussion aimed at amplifying women’s voices and reclaiming narratives of peace and effective inclusion. The event was attended by various government officials, members of the diplomatic community, as well as academia.
About the WPS Working Group in the Arab States:
The WPS Regional Hub at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at the American University of Beirut leads the WPS Working Group together with the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States, and in partnership with a cohort of regional partners including, GIZ, the Swedish Dialogue Institute for the Middle East and North Africa, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung MENA, the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, Inclusive Peace, and the Arab Reform Initiative.
The WPS Working Group is dedicated to advancing gender equality, peace, and security in the Arab region, guided by UNSCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions. Women in the region, disproportionately affected by conflict and political instability, continue to demonstrate resilience and leadership in fostering community stability and security.
By promoting collaboration among diverse stakeholders and advocating for transformative policy change, the Working Group aims to create a more inclusive environment where women’s voices are amplified, their rights are safeguarded, and their contributions to peace and security are recognized and valued.
Note to the Editors:
This initiative is supported by UN Women as part of the programme “Enhancing Women’s Leadership for Sustainable Peace in Fragile Contexts in the MENA Region,” funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. This initiative is also supported by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) through BMZ’s special fund to address core reasons for displacement and migration. Organizing partners play a crucial role in financially supporting the Working Group’s meetings, ensuring the success and continuity of these collaborative efforts.
About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
For more information:
Ms. Nora Isayan, Regional Communication Specialist, +962-79-5392926;
About the Middle East Council on Global Affairs
The Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) is an independent, non-profit policy research institution based in Doha, Qatar. It conducts policy-relevant research, convenes meetings and dialogues, and engages policy actors on geopolitical and socioeconomic issues specific to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Serving as a bridge between the MENA region and the rest of the world, the ME Council provides a regional perspective on global policy issues. It also establishes partnerships with other leading research institutions and development organizations across the MENA region and the world.
For more information:
Ms. Suzanne Houssari, communication Director
About the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at the American University of Beirut
Inaugurated in 2006, the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) is an independent, research-based, policy-oriented institute, developing policy-relevant research in and about the Arab world. The Institute aims at bridging the gap between academia and policymaking by conducting high quality research on the complex issues and challenges faced by Lebanese and Arab societies within shifting international and global contexts, by generating evidence-based policy recommendations and solutions for Lebanon and the Arab world and creating an intellectual space for an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas among researchers, scholars, civil society actors, media, and policymakers.
For more information:
Ms. Marina Chamma, Communication Manager, mc145@aub.edu.lb
