Eswatini Women’s Forum and the UN Unite for Peace and Development

Women lead seven (7) percent of the world's countries and are often excluded on decisions about peace and security.

On Monday, 14th March 2022, the Women's Forum and the United Nations Family united for peace and development, at the UN House, to converse and explore challenges and opportunities for capacity-building for women in peace and development in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

“In conflict environments, women suffer. However, there are many examples which show that when women partake in addressing conflict, the chances of achieving peace and resolutions are high,” stated the Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Amina Mohammed.

“When peace is threatened, we must speak up. We must come together and ensure that we have a common agenda,” Ms Mohammed continued.

Conversations explored peace and development in Eswatini, as well as challenges, solutions and the role of women in achieving peace and sustainable development across the nation.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres, emphasized at the UN Security Council, that; women’s meaningful participation in mediation “broadens the prospects for peace, stability, social cohesion and economic advancement”, and advocated for innovative, “rapid and decisive’ solutions to include them [women] in peace processes.

“Women must be included as a priority from the outset”, continued the Secretary-General, urging all States to use their “political influence, funding and support to incentivize and create conditions for women’s equal representation and participation in peace talks”. 

The conversation serves as a part of UN Eswatini’s Women’s Month celebrations, in which the global theme, ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow,’ seeks to ‘Break the Bias’ and call out instances in which women and girls are treated with a sense of bias.