Lessons from the “1325 Strengthens the Country” Communication Campaigns
On 16 January, the Ukrainian Women’s Fund held a training session in Kyiv titled “Lessons from the ‘1325 Strengthens the Country’ Communication Campaigns.” The event brought together participants from all regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv to analyse regional communication campaigns and develop best practices for further scaling.
Welcoming the participants, Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, emphasised the importance of communication campaigns and the need for continued systematic work to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
During the training, representatives of the Ukrainian Women’s Fund team presented a consolidated analysis of regional communication campaigns.
The “1325 Strengthens the Country” communication campaign, implemented from August to November 2025 across 24 regions of Ukraine and in Kyiv, combined online and offline formats. More than 130 events were held as part of the campaign, engaging over 4,700 participants, including representatives of communities, local authorities, the security and defence sector, women leaders, and civil society organisations. Interviews and media coverage related to the campaign reached almost 4 million viewers.
The campaign increased visibility and understanding of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and regional action plans, strengthened cooperation between communities and authorities, supported women’s leadership, and amplified the voices of women and men leaders working on Women, Peace and Security issues in their communities.
Nataliia Karbowska, Director of Strategic Development at the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, spoke about the national dimension of the campaign. In particular, she highlighted a major art event during which government representatives, international partners, and members of the public visualised the sister UN Security Council resolutions in paintings for the first time in history. This initiative contributed to promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda and women’s participation in peacebuilding and security processes. The Ukrainian Women’s Fund is currently preparing 25 sets of reproductions of these artworks to present the exhibition in all regions of Ukraine. In addition, a book on best practices related to Resolution 1325 — Navigator 1325 — is being prepared for publication and will be released in the spring.
During the training, participants worked in groups using a world café format, analysing:
- what did not work in the communication campaigns and why;
- which formats and products proved to be the least effective;
- what hindered engagement with broader audiences;
- which successes should be scaled up, taking regional specificities into account.
In particular, participants noted that outdoor advertising, including billboards and city lights, was ineffective. The security situation affected the organisation of events, while a shortage of experts in the regions, along with limited time and funding, hindered the full implementation of the campaign.
Based on the discussions, the most promising campaign formats and approaches for engaging different target audiences were identified. These will serve as the basis for continuing the “1325 Strengthens the Country” campaign. Among the most successful formats, participants highlighted round tables, press conferences, media publications featuring positive stories, broadcasts, exhibitions, and public events.
The event was made possible thanks to the support of the Government of the United Kingdom, provided through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as part of the Women. Peace. Security: Working Together project implemented by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund.
