Windhoek, 16 October 2025 — H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, delivered a powerful statement marking the Silver Anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The event in Namibia’s capital brought together distinguished guests, including former female African heads of state and regional leaders, to reflect on 25 years of progress and challenges in advancing the agenda for women’s meaningful participation in peace and security.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah warmly welcomed delegates and expressed gratitude to the African Union Commission and SADC Secretariat for their partnership in organizing this historic commemoration. She emphasized the importance of continental and regional cooperation guided by the AU’s Agenda 2063 to foster unity, peace, and development across Africa.
Highlighting the pioneering leadership of women who broke barriers, including former presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Catherine Samba-Panza, Sahle-Work Zewde, and former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Namibian president acknowledged their profound influence on her own presidency and the inspiration they provide to women worldwide.
The resolution, born from the Beijing Platform for Action, addresses the role of women in conflict, recognizing them as agents of change and peacebuilders rather than passive victims. Namibia’s own history of women’s active and intentional participation in liberation, peace negotiations, and leadership was underscored as a testament to the resolution’s principles.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah outlined the four pillars of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery stressing that women’s involvement leads to more durable peace agreements and stronger communities. She also noted ongoing challenges such as inadequate implementation of commitments, uneven political will, structural barriers in institutions, and emerging security threats including climate change and cyber insecurity that disproportionately affect women and youth.
To build on this momentum, Namibia has established an International Women Peace Center to collaborate globally in advancing the agenda. The president called for the empowerment of young women to carry this work forward through intergenerational collaboration, emphasizing that sustainable peace requires inclusive cooperation among women, men, and youth.
Addressing ongoing conflicts, President Nandi-Ndaitwah solemnly remembered the suffering of women in Palestine, Western Sahara, the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cabo Delgado in Mozambique. She urged the international community to uphold human dignity and the promises of peace.
Closing her remarks, the Namibian leader affirmed that hosting the Silver Anniversary event was a recommitment to gender equality in peace and security efforts worldwide. She called on all to honor the past, strengthen the present, and invest in women and youth to build a peaceful future through shared leadership across society.
“I thank you,” she concluded, leaving a message of hope and resolve for the next chapter in the Women, Peace and Security journey.
