Page 15 - BPWUK - E-news - Edition 106 - October 2022

4 Getting women to the top table in the Peace Process

The United Nations states: ‘It is critical that women are represented in all top table
decision-making on de-escalation, conflict prevention and peace-building processes.

Lesley promotes the need for women to be included in peace talks and pointed out
the importance of UN resolution 1325, which was the first landmark Security Council
resolution on women, peace and security. The resolution 1325 (2000) addresses the
impact of war on women and the importance of women’s full and equal participation
in conflict resolution, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in
post-conflict reconstruction. The resolution also calls for special measures to protect
women and girls from conflict-related sexual violence and outlines gender-related
responsibilities of the United Nations in different political areas.
An updated UNSCR1325 UK National Action Plan (a five year strategy) is due to
launch in January 2023 to prepare women to act at the top level. Now Prime Minis-
ter Liz Truss, when Foreign Secretary, asked FCDO to explore all options including
an international convention. This is something that BPW could take up and Lesley
would be willing to give some pointers on action.

In the lively discussion that followed,
BPW members cited certain situations in
their own countries.
50% of all deadly conflicts that break out
within Nepal do so again, despite peace
agreements.

Afghan women are getting hundreds of signatures for their campaign and a booklet
has been completed with support from Afghan Women’s Radio. The Taliban are
dealing with a conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Women are still not al-
lowed to write or speak out. More education is required to inform women of their
rights and their achievement.

Sher Singh spoke of the BPW USA programme that has been accepted by IFPBW for
Afghan women refugees and this has now been replicated with Ukrainian refugees in
an official programme. Lesley offered that lovely phrase, “home grown tomatoes
taste the sweetest” i.e. if we have a successful programme in place, copy it to fit
current needs.

Lesley called upon BPW to exert its influence and Sylvia advocated all countries to
engage with their contacts and gather information through the many different ave-
nues. Social media, representation to MPS, interviews on radio and tv programmes
and ZOOM presentations by big organisations were mentioned for this action.

UK President Jo Kinsey drew the session to a close by thanking Lesley for such an
inspirational session promising to invite everyone to a future meeting to continue
the work to achieve the four aims.

Sylvia Perry
Past BPW International President
and
Rosemary Horsley
North West and Midlands Area President, BPWUK