The absence of women in peace 🕊️processes is startling 👀. Recent data collected by UN Women show that women made up only 9.6% of negotiators, 13.7% of mediators and 26.6% of signatories to peace and ceasefire agreements. None of the peace agreements reached in 2023 included a women’s group or representative as a signatory.
And this, despite plenty of experience and against all better judgement: it has been proven time and again that women are key for achieving more sustainable peace agreements.
All over the 🌎, security is deteriorating, with a devastating impact on the living conditions of women and girls. While we celebrate the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution #1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the rights of women and girls face major backlashes.
In order to tackle the severe under-representation of women in peace mediation and negotiations, the EU 🇪🇺 takes action:
This week, we 🇪🇺 joined the United Nations 🇺🇳 Secretary General’s initiative for Women’s Full, Equal and Meaningful Participation in Peace Processes. We are proud to be part of its signatories. And today, I met with Regional Women Mediators from all around the world. I was impressed and moved by their dedication, their courage and the stories they shared. Huge thanks to Janna Greve and Guillem Riutord Sampol for bringing us all together!
The 🇪🇺 EU is committed to continue:
💪🏽Appointing women as lead mediators and ensuring women are an integral part of EU mediation teams;
🤝Advocacy with conflict parties to advance women’s direct and meaningful participation in peace processes, including as members of their delegations;
💡Consultations by EU mediation teams with a broad range of women leaders and women-led civil society in all stages of peace processes;
and much more.
In my daily work on peace, security and partnerships, I meet amazing women mediators and peacemakers active on the grassroot level and up to the highest political spheres. It is people like them who give me hope for the future. Often, they don’t get enough credit because the nature of their work means that they operate outside the limelight. But their role and merit is huge. My thanks go out to them!
#WPS #StrongerTogether #EUSecurity
Stella Ronner-Grubacic Julia Koch - de Biolley
