HE[R]EAL – Her Reality: Reclaiming DDR Through Women’s Eyes

A woman in Cameroun dressed with flower patterned clothes standing in front of a building with straw roof.

UNDP Cameroon Arielle Bastien

To mark the 25 years of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), the Swedish government agency for peace, security, and development, are organizing a multimedia exhibition titled HE[R]EAL – Her Reality: Reclaiming DDR Through Women’s Eyes.

The two-day event will take place at Scandinavia House, New York, from 28 to 29 October 2025, as part of the 2025 Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Symposium.

DDR processes, as defined by the Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Standards (IDDRS), help societies move from war to peace. However, women remain underrepresented in these processes, where gendered biases often lead to their marginalization, unmet needs, and continued stigmatization. As the UN Secretary-General warns, the promise of UN Security Council resolution 1325 is still far from fulfilled.

At this critical juncture, HE[R]EAL seeks to challenge the status quo: to show what too often remains unseen, to break down prejudice, and to highlight the diverse and inspiring realities of women combatants.

“HE[R]EAL is both a reflection and a call to action”, said Glaucia Boyer, Global Advisor on Stabilization and Reintegration. “It reminds us that peace is not achievable until women’s voices and experiences are heard.”

The exhibition will be open to the public on Wednesday, 29 October, from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Scandinavia House.

Visitors are warmly invited to speak with the artist, Arielle Bastien, and the UNDP and FBA team at the event and explore the stories of women whose resilience continues to redefine what peace looks like.

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