Whereas the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security on October 31, 2000; Whereas UNSCR 1325— (1) underscores the important role of women in conflict prevention and resolution, peace negotiations, peace building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and postconflict reconstruction; (2) emphasizes the importance of protecting women and girls from, and ensuring justice for, all forms of conflict-related violence, including sexual violence; (3) stresses the importance of the equal participation and full involvement of women in efforts to both promote and maintain peace and security; and (4) urges member states to increase women’s representation at all decision-making levels in national, regional, and international institutions and mechanisms to prevent, mitigate, and resolve conflict; Whereas, since October 31, 2000, 88 countries and territories have developed national action plans to implement UNSCR 1325; Whereas countries with greater gender inequality suffer from a greater likelihood to engage in violence and more political instability, corruption, and internal conflict; Whereas higher levels of gender equality are associated with a higher likelihood of peace talks in intrastate conflicts; Whereas countries are more peaceful and prosperous when women are accorded full and equal rights and opportunities; Whereas according to the United Nations, between 2000 and 2020, women’s representation in national parliaments has increased from 13.1 percent to 24.9 percent; Whereas the University of Edinburgh found the percentage of peace agreements with gender equality provisions worldwide has increased from 14 percent to 22 percent between 1995 and 2019; Whereas, in 1993, women represented just one percent of uniformed United Nations peacekeepers and in 2020, women constitute 4.8 percent of military peacekeeping contingents and 10.9 percent of police units within United Nations peacekeeping missions