Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: Lessons Learned from Ukraine
A new joint report from New Lines Institute, Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association “Jurfem,” and GIWPS explores what Ukraine’s experience can teach policymakers and practitioners about implementing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda during conflict. In the foreword, GIWPS Senior Policy Officer Ana Lejava highlights the role of Ukrainian women leaders and civil society in transforming the WPS agenda from a policy framework into a practical tool for resilience and recovery.
Executive Summary
Ukraine represents a unique case in which a state is implementing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda under conditions of a large-scale, ongoing war. Since 2014, and particularly following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the unprecedented scope and intensity of Russian armed aggression have simultaneously accelerated institutional development and exposed structural gaps in gender-responsive governance. This has placed enormous pressure on national structures and services. Concurrently, the war has exposed the essential role of civil society and women’s organizations in the implementation of the WPS agenda in Ukraine, as well as the importance of localization and how women leaders shape this process.
Ukraine’s experience demonstrates that when the WPS agenda is effectively localized, integrated into national reforms, and supported by adaptable civil society actors, it can function as a framework that strengthens institutional capacity, enhances community resilience, and enables survivor-centered responses, even under extreme wartime constraints.
As Ukraine prepares to enter the new phase of implementation with the adoption of a new National Action Plan for 2026-2030 and potentially transitions from active hostilities toward a peace and recovery phase, the institutional gains achieved during previous years provide a resilient foundation. International partnerships and donor support have been critical in scaling and sustaining these efforts. However, further development will require ensuring the sustainability of WPS mechanisms in a context where international donor support may gradually decline. This will require a strategic shift toward stronger domestic institutional ownership, integration of WPS priorities into national budgeting and planning processes, and the consolidation of cross-sector coordination mechanisms.
Overall, Ukraine’s trajectory illustrates both the transformative potential and the structural limits of WPS implementation in active conflict settings. It highlights that progress is possible when driven by coordinated efforts among state institutions, civil society actors, and international partners. But it also underscores that long-term effectiveness depends on sustainability, inclusive participation, and a balanced approach that extends beyond immediate security concerns to comprehensively address broader dimensions of gender equality and recovery.
Explore More
Strong at the Broken Places: Women Political Prisoners in Belarus
Beyond Security: A Plan for Women’s Water Security Policy and Governance in…
