UN: why no equality for women in peace talks?

The head of the UN agency promoting gender equality told the 20th anniversary commemoration of a resolution demanding equal participation for women in peace negotiations that its implementation has failed, declaring that women still remain systematically excluded from talks to end conflicts where men make decisions affecting their lives.UN Women's Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka told the Security Council  that in peace negotiations from 1992 to 2019 only 13 per cent of negotiators, 6 per cent of mediators, and 6 per cent of signatories to peace agreements were women.

She said negotiations elevated and empowered the actors that have fueled the violence, instead of empowering women and others who are peace-builders and women were either confined to informal processes or relegated to the role of spectators.Germany's Foreign Office Minister of State Michelle Muntefering called the UN resolution adopted on October 31, 2000 a little revolution because a united Security Council made clear for the first time that women's equal participation is required to maintain world peace and security.  Women are still excluded from peace processes, their rights and interests continue to be ignored when building post-conflict societies.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated to the council that gender equality is first and foremost a question of power, and wherever we look, power structures are dominated by men, starting at the top where women lead only 7 per cent of countries.He said women remain largely excluded from delegations to peace talks and negotiations and said we face serious obstacles" if they are not fairly represented.