Glory Ohagwu, Abuja
The United Nations has restated that the promise of transforming global peacebuilding through women’s full participation and leadership remains not only urgent but attainable.
Speaking at the Ambassadorial-Level Commemorative Meeting of the UN Peacebuilding Commission on Women, Peace and Security, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, declared that “inclusive peace has never mattered more than today.”
The high-level meeting, marking the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, convened ministers, diplomats, civil society leaders, and youth representatives to assess global progress and reaffirm commitments to advancing women’s leadership in peacebuilding.
Bahous while commending global and regional partners, applauded Germany, Namibia, the African Union, and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) for championing women’s inclusion in mediation and conflict resolution. She added, “They are an example for us all.”
The UN Women chief highlighted the impact of partnerships that are changing the architecture of peacebuilding saying that, “Together we have instituted the 15 per cent minimum funding target for gender equality in peacebuilding funds, and made the Peacebuilding Fund a model of effective gender mainstreaming — from analysis to finance and more.”
She noted that “the Peacebuilding Commission’s engagements with women and youth have significantly expanded between 2020 and 2024, more than half of its meetings included the voices and perspectives of women and youth from civil society.”
While celebrating the progress achieved, Bahous warned that the hard-won gains remain fragile amid shrinking civic spaces and dwindling financial support for women peacebuilders.
“We owe them protection, recognition, and resources for their vital work. Yet, these brave, inspiring women face shrinking civic space, increased risk, and a collapse in funding,” she cautioned.
The UN Women Executive Director emphasised that gender equality must remain at the core of the global peace and security architecture, urging member states and partners to invest more in women-led prevention and recovery initiatives.
“Peace is more sustainable when women lead and when gender analysis informs national rebuilding,” she stressed.
Reaffirming the central vision of Resolution 1325, Bahous said, “Resolution 1325’s ambition goes well beyond inclusion. It is about transformation. That transformation remains unattained — but it is attainable.”
Concluding with a call to action, Bahous added “Let us continue to commit our unwavering support and resources. Let us line up behind the remarkable women who lead on the frontlines of crisis and conflict,” she appealed.
The meeting reaffirmed that the full implementation of Resolution 1325, and empowerment of women peacebuilders remained central, to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and realising the enduring vision of the United Nations Charter.