Politicians will not promote gender equality if it is not demanded from below

Over the 25 years since the UN Security Council adopted its landmark resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), three main shifts have been achieved; greater awareness, stronger accountability and the recognition of gender as an analytical lens in peacebuilding. But to keep advancing this agenda, its reach must extend beyond “the usual suspects”, says Angela Muvumba Sellström, Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, in this science-to-policy conversation.

“The usual suspects are people like myself – experts. We spend a lot of time talking – to each other,” she explains. “The WPS agenda needs to touch the lives of millions of people”.

Based on her research, Angela Muvumba Sellström identifies several groups as key to promoting gender equality in war and peace; teachers, local authorities, health care workers, religious and traditional leaders.

“These are people with influence, people who pass on values to their communities. They need to be part of the conversation”, she says.

For her the success of UN resolution 1325 depends on finding ways to reach these “everyday influencers”. Societal change, she argues, cannot be imposed from above:

“Politicians will not promote gender equality if it is not demanded from below”.

In the NAI policy note Mobilising new voices for gender equality in war and peace, Angela Muvumba Sellström and her research assistant Daike Möhrle outline a three-step model to popularise the WPS agenda, tailor messages to specific audiences, and expand the network of advocates.