Are women’s roles in peace and security the key to Europe’s tomorrow?

This article was co-authored by Anja Nicol Brogle, Attorney-at-Law and lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, School of Business; Vladimirs Kuzmins, student at the University of Latvia; Tatjana Muravska, Professor of Regional and European integration studies at the University of Latvia; Aleksandrs Stacenko, student at the University of Latvia; Christiane Trüe, Professor of public law at the Bremen City University of Applied Sciences; and Janine Zängle, student at the Bremen City University of Applied Sciences.

The next generation speaks: perspectives from Latvia, Switzerland and Germany on WPS in Europe

Twenty-five years after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda is well-established in European policy debates. Yet its future relevance depends on its interpretation within different national security cultures and time periods. We consider three national perspectives, based on the experiences of three delegations of students and academics from Latvia, Switzerland and Germany. First, the Baltic States approach security through the experience of post-Soviet transition, resilience and deep integration into NATO and the European Union. Meanwhile, Germany situates its security policy within a system of collective security, most visibly NATO, while framing its role through European responsibility. Finally, Switzerland anchors its security policy in neutrality, civilian mediation and active civic engagement.

Latvia and the Baltic states: women leading peace and security

Drawing on insights from the Latvian delegation, Latvia’s path is part of a 37-year journey reflecting a Baltic shift away from the Soviet legacy toward a democratic future. Together with the Baltic Trio, Latvia’s EU and NATO memberships have opened opportunities for women to contribute to mediation, conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction. This evolution aligns with governance standards promoting clearer pathways for women to reach senior leadership roles. The Baltic experience demonstrates the power of long-term investment in women’s leadership to strengthen peace and security outcomes. Women comprise about 17% of personnel in Latvia’s armed forces, above the NATO average of 13%, a sign of meaningful progress.

Latvia’s broader international engagement is currently focused on the UN Security Council, where the country aims to push a sustainable peace agenda. Concrete actions are prioritised in Ukraine, the Middle East and other conflict settings, reflecting a shared commitment to human security. Latvia’s priority is to improve the UN Security Council’s working methods, enhancing effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and accountability.

The perspective of Latvia’s younger generation was emphasised by students from the University of Latvia – Vladimirs Kuzmins and Aleksandrs Stacenko – who attended a Friends of Europe event on WPS last November. They argued that “inclusion is not optional,” noting that women’s role in mediation and peacebuilding must be expanded to make security feel more human and immediate. Younger women now have expanding opportunities to enter defence and security fields through tracks such as cyber, intelligence, policy analysis and international engagement, supported by targeted recruitment and structured career paths. The common view among youth in Latvia is that women must be heard in discussions and decision-making, and that there are opportunities and a responsibility to build a gender-balanced security sector and inclusive peace processes that protect civilians and the most vulnerable. Youth voices remind us that inclusion is not optional. It is a necessity when shaping peace and security processes.

Germany’s WPS moment: leadership, legislation and lasting influence

Based on reflections from the German delegation, Germany’s security debate has shifted markedly in recent years. Questions of defence spending and military readiness dominate the political agenda. Yet the credibility of security policy cannot rest on budgets alone. It depends on whether leadership structures reflect democratic principles and whether commitments endure beyond electoral cycles.

Until 2001, women were legally excluded from combat roles by the German Constitution (based on the argument that women performed other roles for society). It took a judgment from the European Court of Justice to require Germany grant equal access to all branches of military service. Today, women make up around 13% of military personnel, roughly the NATO average. While their presence is increasing, particularly in administrative and civilian leadership roles within the armed forces, representation at the highest strategic level remains limited. This is highlighted by the fact that the only three women who currently hold the rank of general in the German Armed Forces serve in the medical corps.

Germany has not enacted specific legislation dedicated solely to implementing the WPS agenda. Instead, it relies on the existing constitutional and non-discrimination framework, complemented by successive National Action Plans. These plans provide strategic guidance, yet remain politically, rather than legally, anchored. Any amendment to the German Constitution, which might expand and specify the traditional fundamental right to equality, would require a two-thirds majority in the Federal Parliament and in the Federal Council, making structural entrenchment possible but politically demanding.

From this generational perspective, it is suggested that WPS is more than a matter of participation. This raises the question of how institutional pathways are designed. Without clear coordination across ministries, sustained funding and predictable promotion structures, representation risks remaining symbolic. Embedding WPS in Germany’s security architecture, supported by specific legal guarantees, therefore requires not only political will, but structural continuity that allows women’s leadership to evolve from presence into lasting influence.

Neutrality, civilians and credibility: Switzerland’s WPS framework

The Swiss delegation points to Switzerland’s neutrality and long tradition of civilian peacebuilding as defining features of its security architecture. The WPS agenda has been incorporated into National Action Plans, creating a structured national framework. The Swiss Expert Pool for Civilian Peacebuilding applies gender parity targets and systematically deploys women as mediators, ceasefire monitors and political advisers in missions of the UN, the OSCE and the EU.

Switzerland’s bilateral cooperation with the EU in crisis management and civilian missions reinforces this approach. Women participate in multilateral mediation teams and rule of law initiatives. In these areas, credibility depends less on military force and more on trust, continuity and long-term engagement.

Direct democracy also shapes generational dynamics. Civic mobilisation influences security debates on arms exports and humanitarian engagement. Younger generations increasingly participate in these debates, yet sustaining long-term civic engagement remains a challenge. The Swiss case demonstrates how intergenerational continuity depends not only on formal representation, but on maintaining active public ownership of security policy.

From resilience to leadership: embedding women in Europe’s security framework

The Baltics demonstrate the link between resilience and inclusion. Switzerland highlights mediation and civic engagement across generations, while Germany shows that National Action Plans, together with the general non-discrimination framework, have increased the average of women’s participation in armed forces. However, there is still scope for enhancing leadership roles for women, which might require more institutionally designed measures.

The question is not whether WPS belongs in Europe’s agenda, but whether Europe is prepared to embed women’s leadership structurally and intergenerationally within its security architecture. At the European Union level, this requires moving beyond endorsement toward implementation: the EU should systematically integrate WPS benchmarks into its Common Security and Defence Policy missions and require regular public reporting on women’s participation and leadership across civilian and military deployments.

If leadership is renewed and institutionalised, WPS can shape Europe’s tomorrow. Otherwise, it risks remaining endorsed but insufficiently embedded in the structures that determine Europe’s long-term stability.

The views expressed in this #CriticalThinking article reflect those of the author(s) and not of Friends of Europe.