About International Women’s Day.

Women make up half of the population. After a war, they should be actively involved in any changes and solutions that shape and affect their society, including conflict prevention and resolution.

Experience with many conflict resolutions has demonstrated that it is of crucial importance to allow for women's full and equal participation in peace and security matters. The inclusion of women increases the likelihood of achieving sustainable peace.

Unfortunately, women are often not seen as stakeholders in peace processes, even though they are affected by conflict as well as men.

The world needs to move beyond seeing women as passive civilians or mere victims and recognize the crucial role of women in rebuilding societies and promoting peace.

Women must play a role as decision makers in all phases of conflict resolution, from prevention to crisis management to peace talks to post-conflict reconciliation. The fifteenth anniversary of the adoption UN Security Council Resolution 1325 is a reminder of the need for even more concerted efforts to give women a voice in peace-building efforts. Through the adoption of an national Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, each local government could substantially contribute to UN aspirations of implementing this important Resolution locally.

Equal rights for women and men and the protection of all human rights are essential to sustainable peace and security.