International Women's Day amid gender backlash: defending Women, Peace and Security at NATO and globally

International Women’s Day 2026 arrives amid both hard-won victories and sobering realities for WPS. The international security environment is marked by growing militarism, the rise of authoritarianism, democratic backsliding and systematic cuts to development aid. Along the way, attacks on gender equality and women’s rights are increasing insecurity for women and girls in conflict settings and have made the work of women’s and human rights defenders more dangerous. The WPS agenda stands at a critical juncture – the question is not whether it should adapt, but how it can move forward.

The release of “Holding the Line on WPS” could not be more timely. This guide is the outcome of closed-door discussions held under the Chatham House Rule on the margins of the June 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague. Hosted by WO=MEN - Dutch Gender Platform and supported by the Economic and Social Research Council Impact Accelerator Account via funds at Newcastle University and King’s College London, the discussions brought together policymakers, military leaders, academics and civil society experts to develop practical tools to protect WPS.

The discussions not only took stock of the past and present of the agenda but also imagined its future at NATO and globally. Participants noted mounting pressures on WPS, including on NATO’s eastern flank, where the threat of a Russian invasion remains acute. Alongside it, gendered disinformation spreads quickly, democratic values are eroded and public trust in governments is under strain, affecting societal resilience. As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year and conflict in the Middle East continues to unfold, the WPS agenda is more relevant than ever. It is critical to understanding gendered lived experiences of war; widening participation, especially by including women in decision-making; and developing gender-inclusive relief and recovery programmes.

WPS amid global turmoil

In 2025, the international community marked 25 years since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which recognised the role of women and gender in international security. Yet, this celebration was bittersweet. Despite global awareness and the adoption of more than 100 national action plans worldwide, advancing the WPS agenda remains a persistent challenge. According to the Georgetown Institute for Women Peace and Security Index 2025/2026, Myanmar, Palestine, Ukraine and Sudan registered the highest level of violent conflict in 2025 with 92% of Ukrainian women living within 50 kilometres of armed conflict; in Myanmar and Palestine, the rate reached 100%.

NATO adopted WPS in 2007, updating the policy several times, most recently in 2024, yet its 2021-2025 Action Plan has yet to be renewed. Across the Alliance, narratives against gender equality and women’s rights are undermining WPS. Several member states, including the US, are rolling back commitments to the agenda. Seeking to join NATO, Sweden distanced itself from its Feminist Foreign Policy, considering it incompatible with alliance membership while also courting the approval of Hungary and Türkiye. The dismantling of USAID and increased defence spending at the expense of development aid in the UK have also had a devastating impact on women’s rights and the civil society organisations defending them. Shrinking civic space directly erodes participation – a key element for advancing the WPS agenda.

Protecting WPS: A way forward

Although “Holding the Line on WPS” acknowledges the persistent tension between the ambitious goals of WPS and its practical implementation – particularly at a time when civic space is shrinking – this guide also spotlights the strategic coordination, collaborative practices and committed allyship that have kept the agenda alive, from everyday encounters in community centres to high-level meetings. Women refuse to remain silent: they tell stories, rebuild communities and shape decision-making, showing that the transformative potential of WPS is often realised through local initiatives.

Facing restrictions on access to higher education, Afghan women have turned to farming and handicrafts to secure an income, thus elevating their household decision-making role and enhancing community resilience to further socio-economic, humanitarian and climate challenges. In Ukraine, women are at the forefront of relief and recovery efforts – delivering humanitarian aid and launching businesses to support their families and the local economy.

As this policy guide shows, there is neither room for uncertainty nor complacency on WPS. The guide offers practical steps to identify pushback on WPS and develop robust communication strategies to protect the agenda in contested environments. For instance, developing monitoring mechanisms for recognising and challenging gendered disinformation with the aim to reinforce accurate, constructive narratives about WPS. It also suggests concrete ways to expand cross-sectoral collaboration and develop resilience against political, financial and ideological pressures working against WPS. This includes engaging with, supporting and learning from women’s and feminist movements and civil society organisations experienced in advocating under repressive environments. Through its practical focus, the guide reaffirms the centrality of WPS for security, democracy and peacebuilding.

Having always faced obstacles, WPS has demonstrated its inherent potential to innovate and bounce back during challenging times. However, this resilience cannot be taken for granted. The future of the WPS agenda will depend not on its past resilience, but on a collective commitment to actively defend, strengthen, and advance it. The policy guide “Holding the line on WPS” offers one way to do so.