We’ve spent the majority of our lives working to ensure women’s participation in decision-making on peace and security. That means getting women a seat at the table during peace talks and negotiations, but also ensuring their voices are heard in the aftermath of conflict when the difficult task of rebuilding begins.
Like many others working on advancing gender equality, we're heading to New York this week for the United Nations’ annual Commission on the Status of Women, where we will be elevating the role of women in building — and sustaining — inclusive peace.
In the places we call home – the occupied Palestinian territory, the Philippines, and across the Pacific island region – we’ve witnessed how intersecting crises such as war, conflict, and climate change are increasingly putting the rights and well-being of women and girls at risk. Yet, military spending only continues to skyrocket while casualties increase.
About the authors
Amani Aruri
Amani Aruri is a human rights activist committed to supporting youth, women and girls in the Palestinian territories and the Middle East and North Africa region. Amani brings more than 10 years’ experience advancing gender justice, human rights, and peace and security agendas working with civil society organizations, collectives and networks, public and private foundations, and U.N. agencies.
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls is a second-generation Fiji Island feminist working on the intersection of gender, media, communications, and peace, including supporting women-led media and communications to amplify peace-building efforts. She advocates for a peace-development-humanitarian nexus approach and is engaged in regional intergovernmental and multilateral processes on gender, peace, and security.
Maria Victoria “Mavic” Cabrera Balleza
Maria Victoria “Mavic” Cabrera Balleza is the founder and chief executive officer of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. Her leadership and collaboration have resulted in the establishment of the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund and the Generation Equality Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action.
