We can only achieve peace & security when women are equally included and their voices heard ?️ #WPS
‘A question of power’
“Supporting survivors of sexual violence as well as women peacebuilders and activists is key,” he said. “The evidence is growing by the year that securing women’s rights, including their right to equal participation at all levels, is essential to building and maintaining peace”.
She reminded the Council of their agreements through Security Council Resolution 1325 to protect women and girls in conflict and to ensure that women are front-and-centre in finding peace.
“Make sure that women are there. In their own right. With their own lived experiences. Their own knowledge, and with their vision for their future,” she underscored.
The UN bolsters women peacebuilders and civil society organizations through its peacebuilding and political missions around the world, including by supporting survivors of sexual violence and investing in partnerships with local women leaders and peacebuilders, and by increasing the number of women personnel at all levels.
Last week, the Council heard human rights chief Michelle Bachelet highlight 124 reports of conflict-related sexual violence across Ukraine, mostly involving women and girls.
Patriarchy continues to fail
And most recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced millions of women and children to flee for their lives, “putting them at risk of trafficking and exploitation of all kinds,” he said.
“In all these conflicts we have men in power and women excluded, their rights and freedoms deliberately targeted,” the Secretary-General pointed out.
Extremists and military leaders who take power by force, are disregarding gender equality and persecuting women.
“The reason is simply that we have not honoured our commitments,” said Ms. Bahous.
Collaborating with neighbours
The Secretary-General urged regional organizations to strengthen their engagement with this group for the sake of Sudan’s future.
Women must be equally involved “part and parcel of finding peaceful solutions, of recovery and of prevention mechanisms,” she upheld.
As such, Mr. Guterres expressed his appreciation for UN collaboration with the European Union, the African Union (AU), the League of Arab States and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – all of which participated in Wednesday’s debate.
Committed to women
“Misogyny and authoritarianism are mutually reinforcing, and are antithetical to stable, prosperous societies,” he said, reminding that “women’s equality is a question of power”.
In West and Central Africa, the UN is working with regional organizations on women, peace and security to ensure that women are involved in early warning and mediation, including in Côte d’Ivoire (pictured).
And yet, even as women face threats to their bodies and safety, they further risk their lives as leaders in their communities, as the head of the household, as peacebuilders and mediators.
Standing gap
Millions of girls are out of school, with no prospect of financial independence, while rising numbers of women and girls suffer violence at home.
Moreover, full gender parity is required – including through quotas – across election monitoring, security sector reform, disarmament, demobilization and justice systems.
Decades-long setback
“I encourage you to commit to increasing support to women’s civil society, conflict prevention and peacebuilding work,” he concluded.
The head of UN Women, Sima Bahous, highlighted the impact of conflict on women and girls, from disrupting education to early forced marriage, sexual and gender-based violence, food insecurity, and lack of livelihoods as well as access to shelter, sanitation, and dignity.
Yet, with all this institutional progress, almost every time there are political negotiations, peace talks, we wonder: “where are the women?”
Honouring commitments
Although gender equality offers a path to sustainable peace and conflict prevention, the UN chief observed that “we are moving in the opposite direction”.
“The peace and security to which we aspire, will only be possible when women play a central role,” she added.
Notwithstanding the evidence, “the Women, Peace and Security agenda continues to be challenged and even reversed around the world,” acknowledged the UN chief, urging the ambassadors and all Member States to reflect on the fact that, despite consistent agreement on the value of women at the peace table, “there is still a huge gap in their participation, and in the implementation of promises made for their protection, human rights and dignity”.
Political deadlocks and entrenched conflicts continue to highlight examples of enduring power imbalances, such as in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Mali and Sudan.
When conflict erupts, neighbouring countries and regional organizations can make a significant difference.
Standing together
“Regional organizations have also played a key role in the development of networks of women mediators,” she said, adding that nearly every region and sub-region has at least one.
Women all over the world are leading movements for peace, yet remain largely excluded from political processes and negotiations.
She added that many Member States have also made national commitments, as have regional organizations.
“Today’s conflicts are amplifying gender inequality, poverty, climate disruptions, and other forms of inequality,” he said, adding that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the violence, and impacts of these cascading crises.
