This year’s International Women’s Day might not feel like a day of celebration, but one of solidarity with all women, men, girls and boys ravished by wars and conflicts. As have been seen time and time again, wars and conflicts affect women, men, girls and boys differently and tend to aggravate the negative consequences of existing inequality and marginalization. Ongoing and recent wars and conflicts in Ukraine, Myanmar, Ethiopia/Eritrea/Sudan, Georgia, Armenia/Azerbaijan, Syria, and Afghanistan are devastating for the fight for gender equality and women’s emancipation.
Our message today is one of empowerment: Women and girls, and men and boys, are more than just victims of wars and conflicts. They are combatants, breadwinners, peacekeepers, civilians, nurses, doctors and crucial participants in any and all parts of society, peacetime or not, as long as they are given the opportunity to equally participate and influence different political, social, and economic processes.
We at NCG Sweden urge the world to remember the commitment made in the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 regarding Women, Peace and Security more than 20 years ago! NCG Sweden reaffirms the “important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security”.
Peace and development can be achieved with gender equality. We at NCG Sweden will continue to do our part in building a more equal, peaceful and resilient world for all.
Read more about Women, Peace and Security here, and/or support the important work of Kvinna till Kvinna for sustainable peace and the prevention of violence.