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It’s not just women who suffer when excluded — ignore us at your peril | Politics | News

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As someone who has spent more than two decades in the gritty, exhausting, and often frustrating world of peace negotiations, I know firsthand that the road to lasting peace is neither straight nor smooth.

But there is one truth that I have learned through it all: peace processes that exclude women are doomed to fail. Today [15 th November 2024] , in the House of Lords I strongly supported the Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL] which is all about giving women the voice they deserve in global peace talks and diplomacy.

It forces our Government to take women’s roles seriously in conflict prevention and foreign policy, making sure their input shapes decisions that affect us all. For women in the UK, it’s a big win — showing that Britain backs equality, values women’s leadership, and knows that putting women at the heart of decision-making creates a safer, fairer world for everyone.

Let me be clear: involving women in peacebuilding is not a “nice-to-have” policy or an act of tokenism. It is a proven strategy that increases the chances of achieving sustainable peace. Evidence shows that peace agreements are 35% more likely to endure for 15 years when women participate meaningfully in negotiations.

For that reason alone, we must prioritize women’s inclusion — not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it works.

Yet, despite the international community’s commitments, progress has been slow. The United Nations resolutions cited in this Bill have shone a spotlight on the importance of women’s participation in security and peace processes. However, the numbers tell a different story.

Across the globe, women remain vastly underrepresented in peace negotiations. In some parts of the world, their rights are being systematically rolled back.

Afghanistan is the most harrowing example. The Taliban’s latest decree banning women from listening to other women’s voices is a horrifying reminder of how deeply entrenched this oppression has become. Just when you think it cannot get any worse for Afghan women, it does.

I call upon my colleagues in the Lords to give time to a full debate on the plight of Afghan women. Their struggles are emblematic of the broader fight to uphold and protect women’s rights, particularly in conflict zones.

The Women, Peace and Security Bill is an opportunity for the UK to lead by example. The Bill places a duty on the Government to have regard to the UK’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which lays out a comprehensive framework for addressing these issues.

The current plan, covering 2023 to 2027, sets ambitious targets, and rightly so. Its first strategic objective — to increase women’s meaningful participation, leadership, and representation in decision-making processes — is especially close to my heart.

From my experience in Northern Ireland, I can attest that the more representative the process, the more effective it becomes.

When I sat at the negotiating table during some of Northern Ireland’s most challenging periods, I saw how women brought unique perspectives to the conversation. Women are often deeply connected to their communities, understand the nuances of relationships on the ground, and are more likely to advocate for reconciliation and inclusivity.

Northern Ireland’s women have not only been peacemakers but peace sustainers. They’ve worked tirelessly behind the scenes, fostering better relationships and driving reconciliation efforts long after the ink on agreements has dried.

These contributions deserve to be recognized, and I am pleased that the fifth National Action Plan highlights the expertise of women peacebuilders in Northern Ireland.

Of course, we did not always get it right. As my bishop reminded me during our Remembrance Day service last Sunday, diplomacy rarely succeeds on the first, second, or even third attempt. It requires patience, resilience, and the ability to find a chink of light in the darkest of moments.

But the lessons we learned in Northern Ireland can — and must — be applied elsewhere. Women’s involvement in peace processes is not an optional extra; it is essential. Their voices bring perspectives that men, however well-intentioned, often overlook.

So, as we debate the Women, Peace and Security Bill, I urge my fellow legislators to recognize its importance. This is about more than ticking boxes or fulfilling quotas. It is about creating the conditions for lasting peace and security, both for those directly affected by conflict and for the world as a whole.

The UK has an opportunity to lead by example and show that women’s voices in peace processes are not a luxury — they are a necessity. This Bill is a step in the right direction. Now, we must ensure that its principles translate into meaningful action on the ground.

The time for vague commitments has passed. Women must be at the table — not as an afterthought, but as a driving force for change. Because when women lead, peace lasts.

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