Abu Dhabi to host UN conference to promote women’s role in peacebuilding

Abu Dhabi will host a UN conference to promote women’s participation in peacemaking and conflict prevention around the world.

Held under sponsorship sheikha fatimaMother of Nations, President of the General Union of Women, High-level International Conference on Women, Peace and Security will be held on 8, 9 and 10 September.

Meeting to review achievements and challenges in implementing the Convention United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

The first landmark Security Council resolution of 2020 on women, peace and security addresses the impact of war on women and their full and equal participation in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and post-conflict The importance of rebuilding.

It also aims to protect women from violence.

The meeting also sought consensus on procedures for implementing the UAE National Action Plan, which aims to empower and support women globally by promoting compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

The meeting will review the work done by the committee women’s general union Support the women, peace and security agenda at the international level.

It will also assess the impact Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women’s Peace and Security Initiativethereby more effectively promoting the role of women in decision-making and policy.

Sheikh Abdullah bin ZayedThe Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the UAE is committed to achieving gender equality and promoting the role of women in society, especially given its current non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Mohammed Ahmed Al Bawardi Al Falasi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, said that by organizing the meeting, the UAE hopes to underline the importance of the role of women in global peace and security.

“All stakeholders are committed to developing women’s military capabilities and their understanding of the foundations of peacekeeping,” he said.

“The Ministry of Defence supported the training of more than 350 women from Arab, Asian and African countries at Khawla Bint Al-Azwar Military School with great success and we will continue to implement these training programmes.”

Khawla Bint Al-Azwar Military School Opened in 2014, it is the first women’s military academy in the Gulf region.

After completing the training, women can be sent to military and civilian areas to provide support, protect women’s rights and help reduce sexual violence.

The UAE also signed a memorandum of understanding with UN Women in September 2018 to develop the capabilities of Arab women in military and peacekeeping operations.

Noura Al Suwaidi, secretary-general of the General Women’s Union, said the conference would help create an empowering environment for women and raise awareness of the issue.

women in peacekeeping

In 1993, women accounted for 1 per cent of deployed uniformed personnel, according to the United Nations.

Of the approximately 95,000 peacekeepers in 2020, women accounted for 4.8% of military contingents and formed police units contributed by Member States to United Nations missions, and 34% of government-provided justice and corrections personnel in United Nations peacekeeping operations .

The UN’s 2028 target for women serving in military contingents is to increase that to 15 percent, and to 25 percent of military observers and staff officers. For formed police units, the target is 20%.

Dr Moussa Al Shehi, Director of UN Women’s Liaison Office at the Gulf Cooperation Council, said: “Women have long played an important role in peacebuilding in many conflict zones, but in stark contrast to their participation in formal peace negotiations, women Still basically plays no official role.

“On average, only 13 percent of negotiators between 1992 and 2019 were women, despite research showing that women’s participation increases the chances of achieving sustainable peace and leads to agreements that include more clauses that benefit women and men equally.

“The conference aims to bring together policymakers and stakeholders from different countries through its various sessions to analyze the role of women in peace and security in line with the goals of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.”

The conference will be organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, the General Union of Women, UN Women, the League of Arab States and the Abu Dhabi Ports Group.

A number of international policymakers, senior officials, diplomats and advocates for the role of women in peacebuilding are expected to participate.

Inside the UAE’s first women’s military academy – in pictures

Updated: September 1, 2022 at 9:49 am