Security Council Members Unite to Protect the Women, Peace and Security Agenda on its 20th Anniversary
Russia, which holds the presidency of the UN Security Council in October 2020, presided over the annual open debate on women, peace and security (WPS) on 29 October 2020 as well as negotiations over a draft resolution (laid out in S/2020/1054) that failed to be adopted. The draft resolution put forth by Russia, on the pretext of commemorating the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), the groundbreaking resolution that recognized the disproportionate impact of war on women and girls and their critical role in building peace, received 10 abstentions from a cross-regional group of Security Council members in a strong show of support for protection of the normative framework and progress achieved over 20 years, and refusal to accept any attempts towater down the agenda. Russia, China, South Africa, Vietnam and Indonesia voted in favor of the resolution. There were no votes against.