UN Report Cites PA-X Data on Gender References in Peace Agreements

The UN Secretary-General’s annual report on the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda marks the 25th anniversary of WPS by highlighting progress, gaps and challenges since the UN Security Council adopted the first resolution on WPS in October 2000.

For the fifth year, the UNSG’s report draws on PeaceRep analysis to illustrate broader trends in the implementation of the WPS agenda through the lens of peace agreements, specifically the inclusion of agreement provisions with reference to women, girls, gender, or sexual violence.

The report cites data from the PA-X Peace Agreements Database on the percentage of peace agreements with provisions referencing women, girls, and gender issues from 1990 to 2024 – noting that although the number of provisions increased from 2023, the agreements were limited to three processes in four countries: Colombia, South Sudan, and the Sudan.

 “Of 36 peace agreements reached in 2024 around the world, 11 (31 per cent) included at least one provision with reference to women, girls, gender or sexual violence (see figure II). Although this was an increase from 2023, the agreements with gender provisions were limited to only four processes in three countries: Colombia, South Sudan and the Sudan. The recent peace processes between the Government of Colombia and armed groups represented most of the gender references in 2023 and 2024, which was in large part attributable to the presence of women and their contributions to the agenda-setting of the peace process from the outset. While some agreements referred to women’s participation, only the agreement reached in South Sudan contained a gender quota. Only 2 of the 11 agreements, in Colombia and the Sudan, included references to gender-based violence, and one in Colombia referred to the role of women in the implementation of the agreement.” (p10)

Read the publicly available version of PeaceRep’s analysis referenced in the report in this blog from Laura Wise and Fiona Campbell: Women, Peace and Security at 25: Assessing Implementation through Gender Perspectives in Peace Agreements

The Secretary-General’s report, delivered by António Guterres, informed the Security Council’s annual open debate on WPS, held on 6 October 2025. The annual debate, part of the ongoing efforts since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, aims to drive forward the WPS agenda, reinforcing the urgent need for greater inclusion of women in peace processes.

Read the research behind the report:
Women, Peace and Security at 25: Assessing Implementation through Gender Perspectives in Peace Agreements

Read the full UN Security Council report:
Report of the Secretary-General: Women, peace and security