Women, Peace, and Security
Women are essential partners in building societies, and together with men, they constitute the human force that drives nations and communities toward prosperity and growth. This necessitates the creation of an enabling environment to enhance their participation in all areas of development, particularly in situations of societal stability and the availability of security and safety. However, women in some parts of the world face significant challenges due to the impacts of wars and armed conflicts. Pramila Patten, the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, pointed out that more than 612 million women and girls live in conflict zones. Therefore, it is imperative to establish procedures and policies aimed at alleviating the suffering of women and girls who are deliberately targeted in their bodies, health, and all aspects of their surrounding living conditions. In this context, the Security Council has adopted dozens of resolutions on women, peace, and security. This calls for a shift in the prevailing perception that views women as helpless victims under the weight and circumstances of war, bearing the most severe negative impacts—whether psychological, social, or economic.
Although this is indeed a reality that cannot be denied—and one that continues to intensify in humanitarian contexts marked by instability and the absence of security—changing this perception has become an urgent necessity. The participation of women in achieving security and stability, starting from the family and the community, is of utmost importance, as no one understands a woman better than another woman. This is especially true given that experiences and research have proven that involving women in peacebuilding and the prevention of wars and conflicts leads to more positive and sustainable outcomes.
In this regard, it is important to highlight United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted in the year 2000, which is considered the first international resolution to focus on the role of women in peace and security processes. It highlights the importance of women's participation in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, in peacekeeping operations, and in post-conflict reconstruction.
Women also play an important role in the post-conflict phase in rebuilding communities and in utilizing natural resources and transforming them into opportunities to build an economy that meets the needs of the society to which they belong. Rather than being merely content with receiving aid, women strive to create a better life for themselves and their families by achieving economic empowerment, receiving psychological support, gaining access to education and healthcare, and being provided with opportunities that enable them to become economically active.
Conversely, involving women in decision-making processes after the end of conflict is also of great importance—particularly when supportive policies and programs are in place that empower women working in the field of humanitarian aid and those leading organizations that support women, to enhance women’s participation in peacebuilding and stabilization. The presence of women ensures a more inclusive approach and a greater ability to address the needs of women who have been negatively affected by wars and armed conflicts.
The issues of protection and participation have also become interconnected. Without security, women cannot organize themselves or invest in their capabilities. Likewise, without their participation, peace efforts often fail.
Fatima bint Mubarak
