ARDD Launches Campaign Marking the 25th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325 and the 16 Days of Activism: Reaffirming Women’s Leadership in Peace, Justice, and Dialogue
Amman — 6th October 2025 — The Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) marks the anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security during the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with a renewed call to action: to uphold the rights, leadership, and voices of Arab women in building peace and advancing justice across the region.
Adopted twenty-five years ago, Resolution 1325 remains one of the most visionary commitments of the international community — recognizing that peace cannot be achieved or sustained without women’s participation. Yet today, as wars and displacement continue to devastate communities, the region faces another challenge: the normalization of militarization as trade.
ARDD warns against turning conflict into a marketplace — where the exchange of weapons replaces the exchange of ideas, and where militarization undermines the very foundations of peace. The organization calls on all stakeholders to end militarization as a trade practice, and to open genuine channels of dialogue, reconciliation, and cooperation that prioritize human dignity over political or economic gain.
To commemorate this milestone and in alignment with the 16 Days of Activism, ARDD is launching the regional campaign “Reclaiming the Future: Women, Peace, and Justice in the Arab World.”
This campaign highlights the struggles and achievements of women in conflict and post-conflict contexts, reaffirming ARDD’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that women lead the conversations on peace, justice, and recovery.
“UNSCR 1325 is not just a resolution; it is a moral compass reminding us that no nation can build peace through militarization or exclusion,” said Samar Muhareb, ARDD’s Chief Executive Director. “We call on the world to stand with Arab women — from Gaza to Sudan, Syria, and Yemen — who continue to hold the line for peace, justice, and humanity. Their courage lights the path toward a region built on dialogue, solidarity, and shared security.”
She added, “We must also invest in women’s economic, political, and social empowerment as an integral part of regional stability — because women’s leadership is not only a moral imperative, but a strategic necessity for a just and sustainable peace.”
Campaign Goals
Through this campaign, ARDD calls on governments, international partners, and civil society to:
- Strengthen women’s meaningful participation and leadership in peace negotiations, transitional justice, and reconstruction processes;
- End the militarization of economies and prioritize dialogue, diplomacy, and social investment;
- Ensure accountability for violations against women and girls in conflict zones; and
- Invest in women’s economic, political, and civic empowerment as a foundation for sustainable peace.
ARDD’s campaign is both a celebration and a call to action — a reminder that peace is not born from power but from participation, and that the future of the region depends on dismantling systems of violence and restoring spaces for women’s voices to shape a just and lasting peace.
Campaign Highlights and Events
As part of the campaign, ARDD, through its programs and Renaissance Strategic Center, and in collaboration with its partners and networks, will organize and feature a diverse set of activities across research, dialogue, and advocacy, including:
- Seminar: “Redefining Peace and Liberation: Palestinian Women and Global Feminism” — 6 October 2025, presented by Dr. Mariam Abu Samra, Senior Researcher and Coordinator, Renaissance Strategic Center – ARDD.
- Dialogue Session: “Ordinary Choices, Extraordinary Impact: Women in Finance and Leadership” — 7 October 2025, held at ARDD Premises – Jabal Amman, featuring H.E. Kholoud Saqqaf, Former Minister of Investment, and Dr. Adli Kandah, Strategic Expert in Economics.
- Publishing a series of policy briefs and reports focusing on women’s and youth’s political and civic participation, leadership, and peacebuilding roles across the region as part or New Generation GenG, She Leads Project and others
- Legal Awareness Sessions, blogs, analysis articles, and various media products highlighting women’s agency in leadership, peacebuilding, and social transformation across different contexts in the Arab region.
- 25 Years of WPS: Local Women Leading Crisis Response and Social Cohesion Event and the launch of the Tawasol Project in November
- Various participation and representations in national and international events during the period of the campaign from 6th October till 10th December 2025.
These initiatives aim to inspire solidarity, amplify women’s and youth voices, and foster a culture of inclusive dialogue and shared responsibility for peace and justice.
Further events and activities will follow throughout the campaign period, continuing to shed light on women’s leadership in advancing peace, justice, and equality across the Arab region.
