This chapter, which forms a part of the full report on “Preventing Conflict, Transforming Justice, Securing the Peace: A Global Study on the Implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325”, focuses on the influence of violent extremism on the lives of women and girls. It illustrates to what extent women are affected by violent extremism, and not just how they can counter it but also in which contexts they support it themselves.

Women – who are brought into contact with extreme violence in a broader sense, whether as family members or acquaintances of alleged terrorists or simply because of their origins – are far from being a homogeneous group of victims or perpetrators. Such an assumption distorts their image and situation in real life. The issue is understanding under what circumstances women move in extremist circles, why it is important to them to do so, or what constraints they are under.

The report ultimately emphasizes the need for UN Women to critically review the strategies for preventing violent extremism. The risk with resolutions agreed at an international level is that they stereotype and exploit women as vigilant mothers at the expense of women’s rights and gender equality.