NEWS ROUND-UP FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN
UN Women Leaders Network calls for bold action on peace at UNGA80
At a high-level event during the 80th UN General Assembly, the UN Women Leaders Network, alongside global partners, called for urgent action to elevate women’s leadership in peace and security. Marking key anniversaries of UN resolution 1325 and the Beijing Platform for Action, the panel highlighted the critical role women play in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and post-conflict recovery. Leaders emphasized the need for concrete policies to ensure women’s full participation in peace processes and announced plans to launch a Call to Action for Women’s Leadership for Peace. Their message was clear: lasting global peace relies on inclusive, gender-equal leadership.
September 30th
Women’s meeting in Zurich on future of Syria, women’s rights
A women’s delegation from North and East Syria met in Zurich with feminist activists and members of the Women’s Strike Center as part of their European tour. Discussions focused on women’s rights, the March 10 Agreement, dialogue between the Autonomous Administration and the transitional government, and the role of women in shaping a democratic and pluralistic Syria. The delegation emphasized the need for political support, protection of women’s rights, and solutions to the Syrian crisis. Since September 6, the group has visited France, Germany, and Switzerland, engaging with political and feminist figures on issues ranging from ISIS’s resurgence to building a decentralized Syria.
https://hawarnews.com/en/
Taliban’s Internet Ban Further Silences Afghan Women, Girls
On September 30, 2025, the Taliban imposed a nationwide internet shutdown in Afghanistan, cutting off both mobile and fibre optic access after earlier regional bans. Justified as a measure to “prevent immorality,” the move primarily targets women and girls, who have relied on the internet for education, income, and resistance since the Taliban restricted their rights after 2021. The shutdown silences activism, disrupts online businesses, and eliminates access to virtual classes, further entrenching what many describe as “gender apartheid.” Activists warn that lifting the ban is urgent, as the internet remains a vital lifeline for Afghan women to connect, learn, and survive under Taliban rule.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/
Climate change puts women’s health and rights at risk
In July 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark advisory opinion declaring that states have binding obligations to act against climate change, with failure to do so threatening human rights, particularly those of women and girls. Requested by the UN General Assembly and spearheaded by Vanuatu, the opinion emphasizes that women, Indigenous peoples, and vulnerable communities are disproportionately impacted by climate crises, facing higher risks of poverty, food insecurity, and health burdens. While non-binding, the unanimous opinion carries strong legal and moral weight, offering women and climate-vulnerable nations a powerful tool to demand accountability and gender-responsive climate action in future negotiations, including COP30.
October 1st
The Women, Peace and Security agenda
Twenty-five years ago, the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1325 marked a turning point, recognizing women’s essential role in peace and security. The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda affirmed women’s rights to participate equally in peace processes and acknowledged the unique impact of conflict on their lives. Despite growing global conflict and declining support for women-led initiatives, UN Women continues to champion women’s leadership. As the world marks the 25th anniversary of the WPS agenda, there is a crucial opportunity to recommit, invest, and take bold action to fully realize its promises — because when women lead, peace follows.
https://www.unwomen.org/en/
UN Women @ Frankfurt Book Fair – For All Women and Girls: Words, Freedom, Books of Their Own
To mark the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing Declaration on gender equality, UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, together with the International Publishers Association, will join the Frankfurt Book Fair (15–17 October 2025) under the theme “For All Women and Girls: Words, Freedom, A Book of Her Own.” The program includes three events: a panel on women’s advancement in publishing, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UN Women and the IPA, and “Awake Not Sleeping: Rewriting the Narrative,” a literary event showcasing women writers who challenge stereotypes and reclaim erased voices. The initiative highlights literature’s transformative power in advancing equality, freedom, and inclusion.
Central Asian Dialogue Platform “Women in Justice: Professional Development through Association”
The OSCE Programme Office in Astana, together with Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court and Supreme Court, organized the Central Asian Dialogue Platform “Women in Justice: Professional Development through Association” on 11 September 2025 in Astana. Marking the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Constitution, the event gathered 72 participants from across Central Asia and beyond, including judges, government officials, and international experts. Discussions focused on women’s representation in the justice sector, mentorship, regional co-operation, and the establishment of an Association of Women in Justice in Central Asia. The meeting concluded with a joint statement reaffirming commitments to gender equality, equal access to justice, and strengthening peace and security through a gender-sensitive approach.
https://www.osce.org/
The smartphone in Saudi Arabia: between women’s empowerment and surveillance
The smartphone has played a paradoxical role in Saudi Arabia, both empowering and controlling women. Cases like Rahaf Mohammed’s escape attempt and Manal al-Sharif’s activism show its potential as a tool for resistance and visibility. Widespread smartphone adoption, boosted by reforms and high digital connectivity, enabled Saudi women to access mobility, entrepreneurship, and social networks, while also challenging gender segregation and asserting presence in public and digital spaces. Yet, the same technology has been co-opted by authorities for surveillance and control, as seen with the Absher app. In this context, the smartphone is neither purely liberating nor purely oppressive, but a contested space where gender norms and power relations are constantly renegotiated.
October 2nd
Women’s groups in Turkey demand probe into rise in suspicious deaths
Women’s rights groups in Turkey are demanding investigations into a sharp rise in suspicious deaths of women, with four cases reported in just two days. Activists argue that many such deaths are hastily labeled as accidents without proper inquiry, fostering impunity for perpetrators. The We Will Stop Femicide Platform reported 203 suspicious deaths in the first eight months of 2025 and 817 since Turkey’s 2021 withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. Critics blame government policies and lenient court rulings for worsening violence against women, while Erdoğan’s allies push for further rollbacks of existing protections.
https://stockholmcf.org/
Nancy Rady
International Council of Women
Secretary
+33 7 45 13 23 01
