The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, Rosemary DeCarlo, stated that gender equality commitments were being disregarded in many parts of the world. She noted that women were disproportionately affected by the global decline in human rights. DeCarlo emphasized the importance of providing young people with opportunities to influence their own future.
During a Security Council meeting on Tuesday, DiCarlo discussed the role of women and youth in maintaining peace and security. She explained that armed conflict worsens barriers to achieving women’s equality and that “failure or institutional collapse, impunity, and insecurity lead to increased risks for women.” DiCarlo also noted that more than half of recorded incidents of political violence against women worldwide occurred in conflict-affected countries.
“Eliminating structural gender inequality is not only a matter of equity and rights, but it is also a powerful means of improving the chances of success of peace and political processes,” DiCarlo said. She highlighted the role of Yemeni women in strengthening the United Nations’ ongoing work to relaunch high-level formal negotiations through their community mediation efforts aimed at releasing prisoners or achieving a local ceasefire.
According to the UN website the States member could make a difference by committing to specific and targeted measures to strengthen women’s leadership, including their role as mediators. She noted that “in United Nations-led peace processes, we ensure that women are strongly represented.”
The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding emphasized the importance of young people, stating that they are not just future adults, but fully-fledged individuals with their own hopes, aspirations, ideas, and energy to contribute right now. She referred to the United Nations Secretary-General’s report on youth and peace, which highlighted the minimal involvement of young people in peace processes, calling it a “missed opportunity.” According to UNDP, electoral violence prevented 82 percent of young people in 65 States from participating, a statistic described as “painful.”
She emphasized the importance of national action plans for youth, peace, and security to actively institutionalize meaningful participation of young people. She also highlighted regional efforts that support these national actions. The United Nations recently backed the Arab regional strategy for youth, peace, and security initiated by the League of Arab States. It was mentioned that, with the assistance of artificial intelligence, young peacebuilders from 14 Arab countries were able to create an action plan for their region.
She also emphasized the importance of recognizing the roles of young women and youth in environmental peacebuilding. De Carlo stressed that gender equality and the realization of young people’s aspirations were crucial for sustainable peace and security worldwide. She also highlighted the significance of women and peace and security, as well as youth and peace and security agendas, in providing a roadmap for achieving these goals. De Carlo concluded by urging everyone to do more to turn the transformative vision of these programs into a reality.
