Namibia says commitments under the United Nations' Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda remain difficult to implement while resources fall short.

Its Permanent Representative to the UN says the insufficient funding has led to women remaining under-represented in peace negotiations and underfunded in recovery programmes. 

Penda Naanda contributed to the Security Council Debate on the WPS Agenda. 

The UN Women, Peace and Security Agenda is structured around four core pillars of participation, prevention, protection, relief and recovery.

These were originally established by UN Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted under Namibia's presidency of the council in 2000, to ensure that women play pivotal roles in sustainable peace efforts.

Yet, twenty-six years later, women still face barriers to peace negotiations and participation in post-conflict recovery, exacerbated by funding challenges.

Namibia is now advocating for dedicated funding within peacebuilding instruments and strengthened monitoring mechanisms. 

"The WPS agenda cannot advance without predictable, sustainable, and flexible funding. Namibia encourages the creation of dedicated financing windows within peacebuilding instruments, increased support for national action plans, and innovative partnerships with regional organisations and the private sector. Amid the UN liquidity crisis, member states must show political will by ensuring that commitments are matched with resources."

The rising incidence of conflict-related sexual violence experienced by women is another concern.

Namibia is dismayed over reports of widespread impunity. 

"Namibia calls for stronger investigative mechanisms, survivor-centred justice, and sanctions that explicitly target perpetrators. Women human rights defenders and women-led civil society organisations are essential to peacebuilding and must be protected."

Namibia's position draws on its historic role in advancing the agenda. 

The country hosted the 25th anniversary commemoration of Resolution 1325 in Windhoek in 2025, alongside the AU Commission and the SADC Secretariat. 

The gathering culminated in the Windhoek+25 Declaration, which challenges all actors to sustain and strengthen women's leadership as mediators, security professionals and policymakers.