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Women, Peace and Security Conference 2025

October 28, 2025 @ 8:30 am - October 29, 2025 @ 5:00 pm

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From policy to practice: 25 years of wps Women, Peace and Security Conference 2025

From October 28 to 29, 2025, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will be hosting the Women, Peace and Security Conference 2025 to mark the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council 1325.

Purpose of the conference

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Conference 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

This conference provides a platform to:

  • Reflect on 25 years of progress in advancing the WPS agenda;
  • Highlight leadership from Canada’s Defence Team, international partners, practitioners and civil society
  • Share lessons learned from operations and policy
  • Identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen WPS commitments; and,
  • Amplify diverse voices to shape the future of WPS in Canada and internationally.

The conference will also provide researchers with the opportunity to share findings with international defence teams and WPS practitioners.

Aligned with Foundations for Peace: Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security – 2023 to 2029 and in light of emerging global security challenges, this conference provides a timely opportunity to review international commitments and operational realities.

The conference will bring together:

  • Members of Canada’s Defence Team;
  • Civil society and grassroots practitioners;
  • Academics and researchers working on topic related to Women, Peace and Security;
  • International partners and allies.

This wide range of conference participants will contribute diverse perspectives from operations, policy, and community practice to advance Canada’s Women, Peace and Security commitments.

Program highlights

Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Theme: Women, Peace and Security in Operations: Intersectional Approaches
Time Item
8:30 – 9:00 Land acknowledgement
Emcee remarks and housekeeping
Welcome by the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon
9:00 – 9:20 Opening remarks by Rear Admiral Jacques P. Olivier, Director General, Culture, Chief Professional Conduct and Culture
Keynote speech by former Women, Peace and Security Ambassador Jacqueline O’Neill
9:30 – 10:45 Observation post: Reflections from Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers First Class on 25 years of WPS in operations
10:45 – 11:00 Health break
11:00 – 11:50 International approaches to WPS
12:00 – 12:45 Women, Peace and Security in NATO
12:45 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 14:50 Operationalizing Women, Peace and Security: Gender Advisor panel
15:00 – 15:50 Operational enablers of Women, Peace and Security
15:50 – 16:05 Health break
16:05 – 16:45 Keynote speech by Clare Hutchinson, RedHed Consultancy: WPS, fit for purpose?
16:45 – 17:00 Closing remarks by Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Theme: Emerging issues in Women, Peace and Security
Time Item
8:30 – 9:00 Land acknowledgement
Emcee remarks and housekeeping
Welcome by Ann Chamberlain, National Civilian Co-Chair of the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group
9:00 – 9:20 Opening remarks by Rear Admiral Jacques P. Olivier, Director General, Culture, Chief Professional Conduct and Culture
Keynote speech by Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
9:30 – 10:45 Preventing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
10:45 – 11:00 Health break
11:00 – 11:50 Health, community and Women, Peace and Security
12:00 – 12:45 New approaches to disaster response
12:45 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 14:50 WPS and international humanitarian law
15:00 – 15:50 Emerging challenges in Women, Peace and Security
15:50 – 16:05 Health break
16:05 – 16:45 Keynote speech by Selma Hadžihalilović, CURE Foundation: What comes next – resilience and recovery
16:45 – 17:00 Closing remarks by Lieutenant-General J.P.R. Prévost, Chief Professional Conduct and Culture

Accessibility and languages

  • The Canadian War Museum can accommodate different accessibility needs of attendees.
  • Online participation will be supported through Microsoft Teams.
  • Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English and French for both in-person and online participants.
  • Sign language interpretation (ASL/LSQ) will be available for both in-person and online participants. Live captioning will also be available online.
  • Conference materials will be offered in both official languages.

Contact us

For questions related to the conference, please contact CPCCWPSAdvising-CCPCConseilFPS@forces.gc.ca.

 

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