UN says gender equality is key to lasting global peace

UN Affirms Gender Equality as a Cornerstone of Lasting Global Peace

In a powerful reaffirmation of its long-standing commitment to inclusive peacebuilding, the United Nations has declared that gender equality is not merely a social ideal but a fundamental prerequisite for achieving enduring global peace.

This message was delivered as the UN marked the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, a landmark initiative launched through Security Council Resolution 1325 in the year 2000.

Laura Flores, Director of the Americas Division at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), emphasized the transformative impact of Resolution 1325. In her words, the resolution was a “game-changer” that shifted global perceptions of women’s roles in conflict and peace processes.

Rather than viewing women solely as victims of war, the resolution recognized them as essential agents of peace. Flores highlighted that the resolution called for women to have a seat at the table during peace negotiations and to be actively involved in shaping decisions that influence recovery and security.

Despite this progress, the UN Secretary-General’s latest report on Women, Peace and Security paints a sobering picture. Nearly 700 million women lived within 50 kilometers of deadly conflict zones in the past year.

Even more alarming is the 87 percent increase in sexual violence over the last two years, coupled with the fact that nine out of ten peace processes still exclude women negotiators. These statistics underscore the persistent challenges that hinder the full realization of the WPS Agenda.

Nevertheless, there are signs of progress, particularly in the Americas. Flores noted that the region boasts the highest average of women in parliamentary roles globally.

Caribbean nations lead with an average of 41 percent female representation, followed by South America at 31.9 percent and Central America at 30.8 percent.

Countries such as Mexico, Chile, and Colombia have adopted foreign policies that prioritize gender equality in diplomacy, peacebuilding, and development. While these policies are still in their infancy, they represent a promising shift toward more inclusive governance.

The UN has also played a pivotal role in supporting national efforts to implement the WPS Agenda. In Chile, it assisted a presidential commission tasked with addressing the root causes of conflict affecting Indigenous communities, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by Mapuche women. In Colombia, the DPPA helped develop the country’s first national action plan aligned with Resolution 1325. Meanwhile, in Haiti, the UN collaborates with UN Women to support survivors of gender-based violence.

However, Flores warned that gender-based violence remains alarmingly high in the region, with at least 11 women murdered daily in Latin America. She also pointed to the rising tide of political violence and digital harassment targeting women leaders, as well as the continued underrepresentation of women in political spheres in several countries. She stressed that while momentum exists, it must be safeguarded through sustained investment, protection, and political will.

A particularly poignant example of women’s resilience and leadership came from Guatemala, where Indigenous women played a crucial role in defending democracy during the country’s 2023 elections.

Otilia Lux de Cotí, a Maya K’iche’ leader and former government minister, recounted how Indigenous communities mobilized to protect the peaceful transfer of power. They raised varas, traditional staffs symbolizing ancestral authority, in a powerful act of democratic participation rooted in cultural tradition. Lux described this as a “collective awakening of consciousness,” known in K’iche’ as Yacataj.

As the UN commemorates a quarter-century of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, it celebrates the courage and contributions of women like Lux, whose actions embody the spirit of Resolution 1325.

Flores concluded by affirming that the path to peace is paved not only with negotiations and treaties but with the voices, leadership, and resilience of women who refuse to be silenced. In the UN’s view, achieving lasting peace is inseparable from the pursuit of gender equality.