UN chief says including women in peace negotiations pays off
UNITED NATIONS - Making sure women are a key part of negotiations to end conflicts pays off in longer-lasting peace deals, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday.
The UN chief cited one finding among many: "Peace accords are 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years if women are at the table."
Ban told the UN Security Council that "more women than ever before are making decisions for peace and security in the halls of governments and international organizations," citing the Colombia peace talks.
However, the secretary-general expressed anger at the meeting on Women, Peace and Security that women continue to be excluded and ignored in many peace processes, humanitarian programs and peacebuilding plans.
"Look at the pictures of peace negotiations on Syria or Yemen," Ban said. "There may be one woman at the table or in the delegation. This is fully representative of the general picture."
