Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, emphasized the importance of investing in the transformative power of intergenerational leadership on the women, peace, and security agenda. She urged ambassadors to “open doors for the next generation” to ensure sustainable and inclusive peace.
“Investments in the women, peace, and security agenda are crucial for preventing conflict and achieving lasting peace,” she stated.
‘Bucking the status quo’
Ms. DiCarlo highlighted inspiring young leaders such as Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, and Ilwad Elman, who are envisioning a world of justice and peace. She emphasized the need to challenge existing norms and systems for true transformation.
She referenced the UN Secretary-General’s policy brief on A New Agenda for Peace, which advocates for dismantling patriarchal systems that perpetuate inequality and exclusion.
Reimagine power structures
Ms. DiCarlo stressed the urgency of reimagining global power structures to prioritize women and girls, especially young women, in addressing conflict root causes. She warned that without breaking free from patriarchal norms, true peace and security will be unattainable.
She also highlighted the significance of integrating women’s leadership and participation in conflict prevention and peace efforts, as outlined in the recently adopted Pact for the Future.
Ms. DiCarlo outlined key areas for advancing intergenerational leadership, including facilitating dialogues, fostering inclusive peace processes, and investing in young women’s leadership.
Foster dialogue and inclusion
She mentioned a successful example from Chad, where the UN Peacebuilding Fund supported local dialogue platforms that enhanced social cohesion and reduced tensions in conflict regions.
UN Photo/Gregorio Cunha
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) hosts a workshop on key peace and security issues for Yei women and youth.
Promote peace from the bottom-up
Ms. DiCarlo emphasized the importance of promoting peace efforts from the grassroots level, including supporting young women’s leadership in peacebuilding initiatives.
She cited examples from Colombia and Somalia where UN initiatives backed peacebuilding efforts led by women and young people from diverse backgrounds. She stressed the need for continued and substantial resources to support young women peacebuilders.
Building from the ground up
Another example highlighted was a Peacebuilding Fund initiative in Somalia, where young men and women worked together to overcome historical grievances and mitigate conflicts driven by resource scarcity.
As the anniversaries of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action approach, Ms. DiCarlo emphasized the importance of fostering leadership from the ground up and placing young women at the forefront of peace efforts.
Appeal from Sudan
Tahani Abbas, a human rights defender and peace advocate from Sudan, shared insights on the role of women in conflict response. She underscored the importance of supporting women peacebuilders before, during, and after crises to yield positive peace outcomes.
Ms. Abbas called for ongoing support from the Council to women who are actively working for peace and security, highlighting the direct impact of UN decisions on the lives of Sudanese people and peacebuilders worldwide.
