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https://theconversation.com/involving-women-in-peace-deals-reduces-chance-of-a-conflict-restarting-by-up-to-37-268325>
"Twenty-five years ago, on October 31, 2000, the United Nations unanimously
adopted its landmark security council resolution 1325 (WPS 1325). The
resolution on women, peace and security reaffirmed “the important role of women
in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations,
peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict
reconstruction”. It also stressed the “importance of their equal participation
and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace
and security”.
The significance of women to building sustainable peace is undeniable. Our
research, supported by the United States Institute of Peace, has found that on
average the incorporation of measures to include women in post-conflict society
in a peace agreement reduces the probability of conflict recurrence by 11%.
Even more significantly, if this process occurs alongside UN leadership, the
probability of conflict recurrence is reduced by 37%.
So the anniversary of WPS 1325 should be a reason to celebrate. Instead, the UN
secretary general, António Guterres, opened his report to the security
council’s annual debate on women, peace and security on October 6 with a
warning. Guterres said the UN too often “falls short when it comes to real
change in the lives of women and girls caught in conflict”. He specifically
noted the lack of inclusion of women in peace negotiations, the failure to
protect women and girls from sexual violence, and the underfunding of women
peacebuilders.
Over the past 25 years, the security council has adopted almost 1,000
resolutions related to WPS 1325. In 2015, resolution 2242 aimed for the more
systematic integration of the women, peace and security agenda into “all
country-specific situations on the security council’s agenda”. To facilitate
this, the UN security council set up an informal group of experts.
There is no doubt that the women, peace and security agenda has had a positive
impact. Guterres noted that “gender provisions in peace agreements have become
more common, and women’s organisations have helped transform post-conflict
recovery and reconciliation in communities worldwide”. He declared that
“women-led civil society and women peace builders … are the drivers behind
holistic and sustainable peace.”
Yet according to a UN Women survey in early 2025, global cuts to foreign aid
budgets make it harder for women to make these vital contributions to peace and
security."
Via Muse.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
