Side event at the 71th Session of the United Nations General Assembly United Nations Headquarters, New York

22 September 2016, 8:00 – 9:30 am, Conference Room 2

In the context of today’s global and complex peace and security challenges running from terrorism to climate change, poverty eradication to desperate migrations, and from fighting health pandemics to tackling major international crises, preventive diplomacy and mediation is seen not only as a moral imperative, but also as a strategic investment to create more peaceful and stable environments. In this context, ensuring that women are able to meaningfully participate in and influence peace processes is proving instrumental for the effectiveness of peace and security initiatives. Key findings from the Global Study on the implementation of resolution 1325 highlighted the links existing between women’s meaningful inclusion in peace processes and the likelihood of more durable and stable peace.

Starting from the analysis of ongoing and recently-concluded negotiations, participants to the event will share views on the strategies that have been used to advance women’s meaningful participation to secure gender positive outcomes in peace agreements, and will discuss ways to transform the best practices of women’s participation in mediation and peace processes into standard practices in the field of mediation and diplomacy and in UN-led peace processes.