ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called for sustained investment in women’s leadership, participation and empowerment, saying their meaningful involvement in political and peace processes is essential for building durable peace.
Speaking at the United Nations High-Level Forum on the Program of Action on a Culture of Peace, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, stressed the need to ensure women’s full and meaningful participation in political processes.
He also called for unhindered access to education and justice for women, highlighting their central role in promoting a culture of peace.
“Women constitute a major constituency for peace, but they are also a major victim of its absence,” Ambassador Jadoon said.
Women’s leadership key to lasting peace
The Pakistani envoy underscored that women’s leadership can make a significant contribution to sustainable and lasting peace.
“Peace, indeed, is more durable when women are spearheading the negotiations; it is shaky and short-lived when they are at the fringes of the political process,” he said.
He emphasized that excluding women from political and peace processes weakens efforts to establish lasting stability.
Tribute to Pakistani women
Ambassador Jadoon also paid tribute to Pakistani women for their contributions across various fields, including politics, diplomacy, education, the armed forces and peacekeeping.
Pakistan reaffirmed its belief in the centrality of women to the pursuit of genuine and lasting peace and stressed the need for meaningful and sustained investment in women’s leadership, participation and empowerment.