Statement delivered by Ambassador Trishala Persaud, Deputy Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at the Security Council Briefing on ‘Women, Peace & Security"
Theme of Briefing: "Women, Peace and Security: highlighting the transformative power of intergenerational dialogue between women peace builders to advance shared goals of international peace and security, with an emphasis on advancing women leaders at the grassroots level”
Madam President,
I commend the United Kingdom for a successful Presidency and extend best wishes to the United States for the month of December.
I also thank USG DiCarlo and Ms. Tahani Abass for sharing their perspectives.
The topic offers an opportunity to explore convergences on a key pillar of the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas - participation and leadership in peace processes and peacebuilding, particularly in relation to women.
Women of all ages are contributing to improvements in their communities in conflict affected areas. They are at the forefront of delivering education and health services and are the providers of critical humanitarian support, often at great personal risks. However, too few women are part of peace talks and negotiations.
As the Secretary General expressed it in his 2024 WPS Report - “Power and decision-making on peace and security matters remain overwhelmingly dominated by men.” The report cites preliminary global data collected by UN-Women for 2023 from over 50 processes analyzed, showing that on average women made up only 9.6 per cent of negotiators, 13.7 per cent of mediators and 26.6 per cent of signatories to peace agreements and ceasefire agreements.
The data is a stark representation of the lack of overall progress on women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace processes. This deficit occurs at a time when the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts have doubled compared to the previous year and the number of United Nations verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence is 50 per cent higher.
Madam President,
It has repeatedly been acknowledged that when women are part of peace processes, the outcomes are better. The key importance of youth participation has also been emphasized. The Council must continue to engage, as we are doing today, on how to realize the potential of such participation.
In the context of intergenerational dialogues between women peacebuilders, I wish to make 3 points.
First, it must be recognized that women are not a homogenous group when it comes to participation in peace processes. Conflict affects women and girls of all ages with varying impacts. Different generations of women can bring their unique perspectives to the table and widen the reach and impact of their efforts.
Secondly, experienced women peacebuilders can pave the way for the next generation. Engagement with younger women and girls can enable them to build on the work previously done, ensuring gains are not reversed. Women’s participation and leadership should not be limited to civil society but must be mainstreamed into government structures, into regional and international engagements and into the UN system.
Thirdly, intergenerational dialogues should not be seen as a one-way street with knowledge and experiences being passed only from older to younger generations. Younger women also have experiences and opinions to bring to the table. Young people must not be relegated to the future. They are also the present. For intergenerational exchanges to be effective, they must encompass genuine partnerships and co-leadership where all perspectives are respected and are combined to advance the shared goals of international peace and security.
Madam President,
Through resolution 1325 and subsequent WPS resolutions, the Security Council identified a wide range of measures to advance women’s participation and leadership in peacebuilding.
Implementation continues to be the greatest challenge.
The Security Council must continue to be a safe space for women peacebuilders of all ages to share their perspectives on situations in their countries. Today, we heard from Ms. Abass on Sudan. The Council must continue promote women’s participation in peacebuilding in mandate renewals and in peace agreements, emphasizing the inclusion of young women.
This should be complemented by adequate resourcing for capacity building, empowerment and participation, particularly at local and grassroot levels, with structured monitoring mechanisms to measure implementation. As said by USG Di Carlo, our investment must be aligned with our priorities.
The Council should also request that reports on country situations include substantial data and analysis on the participation of women in peacebuilding.
In closing, Madam President, I reiterate Guyana’s commitment to supporting women’s participation and leadership in peace processes.
I thank you
