Oct 31 2025

NCIA marks 25 years of UNSCR 1325 by championing inclusive NATO capabilities

On 30 October 2025, the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) marked the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) with a high-level event, ‘WPS @25: Designing NATO Capabilities for Inclusive Security’.

The event celebrated the years of progress since the adoption of UNSCR 1325, a landmark commitment recognizing the essential role of women in peace and security, and a call for the meaningful participation and protection of women and girls in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding efforts.

Organized by RISE@NCIA, the network that aims to inspire and empower women across and beyond NCIA, the event brought together 260 participants in The Hague, Netherlands, and online from across NATO and national entities to discuss how gender perspectives strengthen operational effectiveness and capability design.

NCIA Chief People Officer Sandra Oosterveer opened the event, emphasizing that inclusion must be built into every stage of NATO’s capability development and digital transformation. “As NATO develops digital capabilities such as artificial intelligence, cyber defence, data analytics, interoperability and information systems, we must design with mission users and affected populations in mind to strengthen protection, operational awareness and mission readiness” she highlighted.

NCIA marks 25 years of UNSCR 1325 by championing inclusive NATO capabilities

NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, Irene Fellin urged for continued ambition as the Alliance adapts and integrates new operational capabilities and technologies. “For too long, capability development has operated under the false assumption of a gender-neutral battlefield. When we ignore gender dynamics, we compromise our operational effectiveness, limit our strategic options, and ultimately fail the populations we are mandated to protect”, she stated. “Integrating gender perspectives into capability development is not a ‘nice to have’. The simple truth is that it is central to our mission and it is about enhancing our warfighting effectiveness.”

A panel discussion explored how technologies can translate 25 years of WPS commitments into tangible mission benefits. Speakers stressed the importance of applying gender perspectives across the entire capability lifecycle, ensuring that systems work effectively for all users in all environments where NATO operates. Captain Lennie Roux Le Jalle, Gender Advisor at Allied Command Transformation (ACT), shared operational examples highlighting how gender-responsive approaches improve operational outcomes, from decision-making to enhanced civilian protection.

Earlier in the day, RISE@NCIA convened a roundtable with representatives from ACT, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and civil society organizations. Participants explored opportunities to reduce bias in digital systems and embed responsible practices in AI governance across the Alliance.

Participants reaffirmed that delivering on the vision of UNSCR 1325 for the next 25 years will require sustained cooperation, innovation driven by diverse expertise, and technology that supports mission outcomes and human security.