Ukraine’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) National Action Plan 2025-2030 under development
Ukraine’s third National Action Plan (NAP) on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security) is being developed for the 2026–2030 period. During 2025, the government conducted extensive consultations with civil society, women’s organizations, local authorities, veterans’ groups, and international partners. As of early 2026, the plan had been developed and was awaiting final approval following public consultation.
Ukraine is notable for being one of the few countries to implement and update a WPS NAP while actively engaged in armed conflict. The previous NAP covered 2020–2025 and was amended after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 to address wartime realities.
Main objectives of the 2026–2030 NAP
Based on consultation documents and evaluations of the previous plan, the new NAP is expected to focus on:
- Women’s participation in decision-making
- Increasing women’s representation in national and local security decision-making.
- Expanding leadership opportunities within defence, security, recovery, and reconstruction processes.
- Protection and response to gender-based violence
- Prevention of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
- Improved survivor support, rehabilitation, justice, and accountability mechanisms.
- Gender-responsive recovery and reconstruction
- Ensuring recovery and reconstruction policies reflect women’s needs and experiences.
- Incorporating gender perspectives into transitional justice processes.
- Support for women veterans and service personnel
- Reintegration of female veterans.
- Access to healthcare, psychosocial support, and employment opportunities.
- Institutional strengthening
- Building gender-responsive capacities across defence, security, justice, and public administration institutions.
- Localisation of WPS
- Strengthening implementation through regional and local action plans across Ukraine.
Civil society involvement
Civil society plays an unusually strong role in Ukraine’s WPS architecture.
The development of the 2026–2030 NAP has involved:
- Women’s rights organizations.
- Veteran and military-family associations.
- Regional “1325 Coalitions.”
- Academic experts.
- International partners including UN Women.
Ukraine has established numerous regional 1325 coalitions bringing together NGOs, local governments, educational institutions, and security-sector actors. Their work includes:
- Women’s participation in decision-making.
- Support for survivors of violence.
- Female veteran reintegration.
- Community safety audits.
- Youth engagement.
- Cooperation with security and defence institutions.
An independent evaluation of the 2021–2025 NAP was carried out by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund with UK support, and its findings informed the design of the new NAP.
Women in the military and defence sector
Women’s participation in Ukraine’s security and defence sector has increased dramatically since the full-scale invasion.
According to Ukraine’s WPS Focal Points Network reporting:
- More than 130,000 women are involved across the security and defence sector.
- Women serve in combat, intelligence, logistics, medical, command, communications, and support roles.
- Female veterans have become a major focus of WPS implementation and reintegration efforts.
Analysts increasingly describe Ukraine as a leading example of advancing WPS principles during active conflict, with women assuming previously male-dominated military and security positions.
Women in policing and internal security
The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs has integrated the WPS agenda into its planning and maintains specific implementation measures linked to the national NAP. These include:
- Gender equality initiatives.
- Women’s leadership development.
- Anti-violence measures.
- Training on WPS implementation.
- Institutional gender mainstreaming.
Although comprehensive post-2025 national statistics are still being updated, women continue to serve across:
- National Police.
- Border Guard Service.
- National Guard.
- Emergency Services.
- Ministry of Internal Affairs structures.
- ,
Women in peacekeeping
Ukraine’s participation in UN peacekeeping has been affected by the war.
The latest publicly available pre-invasion data indicates that in 2021 Ukraine contributed:
- 307 peacekeepers
- 298 men
- 9 women
UN Peacekeeping as of 31 March 2025
Current international peacekeeping deployments remain significantly constrained because of the ongoing conflict and domestic defence requirements.
Key themes emerging in the new 2026–2030 NAP
Several themes appear particularly prominent:
- Women’s leadership in wartime governance and recovery.
- Recognition and support of female veterans.
- Conflict-related sexual violence prevention and response.
- Inclusion of internally displaced women.
- Localisation of WPS through regional coalitions.
- Gender-responsive reconstruction of communities affected by war.
- Stronger integration of women into defence and security institutions.
Summary
Ukraine’s forthcoming 2026–2030 WPS National Action Plan builds on a decade of implementation during conflict and war. It is expected to place particular emphasis on women’s leadership in security and reconstruction, support for female veterans, prevention of conflict-related sexual violence, and deep cooperation with civil society. Women’s participation in the security and defence sector has expanded significantly, with over 130,000 women now serving in defence and security-related roles, making Ukraine one of the most prominent contemporary examples of WPS implementation during active conflict.
References
Contributions of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country, Mission, and Personnel Type (March 2025): 05-Missions Detailed By Country
https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/05_missions_detailed_by_country_84_march_2025.pdf
UN data 2026
the draft and the final approved plan are both publicly available.
Key documents
Draft NAP (public consultation version, 2025)
Draft Cabinet Resolution on the 2026–2030 NAP (Ukrainian language)
This includes:
- The proposed National Action Plan through 2030.
- The implementation framework for 2026–2030.
- Draft objectives, indicators, and responsible ministries.
Consultation report
Public Consultation Report on the Draft NAP (Ukrainian language)
https://www.msp.gov.ua/legislation/regulatory-framework/regulatory-framework-259?utm_source=chatgpt.
This summarises feedback received during public consultations and stakeholder engagement. Civil society comments were formally considered before adoption.
Final approved NAP (adopted 25 February 2026)
Official Government Decision No. 214-r and Final NAP 2026–2030 (Ukrainian language)
https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/214-2026-р
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the NAP on 25 February 2026.
English translation of the adopted NAP
English PDF of Ukraine's NAP 1325 to 2030
What is particularly interesting in the draft/final NAP?
Compared with the 2020–2025 NAP, the new plan places much greater emphasis on:
- Recovery and reconstruction after the war.
- Support and reintegration of women veterans.
- Conflict-related sexual violence prevention and response.
- Gender-responsive security and defence institutions.
- Local implementation through regional and local 1325 action plans.
- Stronger monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
AI sources, particularly ChatGPT used for research