Women's Voices in Peace Negotiations: A Matter of Exclusion by Design

Strategic Insights -

Women's rights and peace are interconnected, yet women are increasingly marginalized in peace negotiations. This has resulted in a staggering lack of representation, with fewer than one in ten negotiators being women, despite the fact that almost half of those killed in conflict are women. The UN Secretary-General has called for action, urging mediators to put women directly at the decision-making table and to adopt a more inclusive approach.

Key Takeaways:

  • Women made up just 13% of negotiators in peace processes between 1992 and 2019, dropping to 7% by 2024, despite Security Council resolution 1325, which emphasized the importance of women's participation in peace negotiations.
  • Even in UN-led processes, women still make up only 19% of participants, highlighting the systemic exclusion of women from peace negotiations.
  • The Secretary-General's Common Pledge, which advocates for women's direct participation in negotiating delegations, has been joined by over forty mediating actors, Member States, and regional organizations, who have committed to concrete actions such as advocating for women's participation, consulting regularly with women, and appointing women as lead mediators.
  • Practical steps towards inclusion include setting specific targets for women's participation, embedding gender expertise, and appointing women as lead mediators, as seen in the Libyan and Democratic Republic of the Congo peace processes.
  • The UN has committed to leading by example, with four out of five UN-led peace processes headed by women, and women making up 45% of mediation teams, with a goal of full parity.

Statistics:

  • Between 1992 and 2019, women made up just 13% of negotiators in peace processes.
  • By 2024, this number had dropped to 7%.
  • Women made up only 19% of participants in UN-led peace processes (2024).
  • 45% of UN-led mediation teams are currently made up of women (2024).
  • The Secretary-General's Common Pledge has been joined by over forty mediating actors, Member States, and regional organizations.

Sources:

  • UN Secretary-General, Statement by Amina J. Mohammed at the High-Level Event on Women's Voices in Peace Negotiations.
  • Security Council resolution 1325.
  • CEDAW's General Recommendation 40.
  • The Secretary-General's Common Pledge (no date specified).