Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, was speaking during a debate on investing in the transformative power of intergenerational leadership on the women, peace and security agenda, where she urged ambassadors to “open doors for the next generation
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) hosts a workshop on key peace and security issues for Yei women and youth.
Promote peace from the bottom-up
She recalled that during the Council’s annual open debate on women, peace and security, the Secretary-General launched an initiative that invites mediators from a cross section of society to join the UN in taking concrete actions to ensure women’s participation in peace processes.
Moreover, she noted that the UN actively backs multi-track efforts that promote peace from the bottom up, emphasizing young women’s leadership.
She witnessed this recently in Colombia, where the UN Mission verifying the 2016 peace deal supports women and men from all backgrounds and ages, addressing stigmatization of ex-combatants in reintegration areas.
“Third, our investments must be aligned with our priorities. Significant and sustained resources are essential to support young women peacebuilders and ensure their work flourishes,” she said.
Building from the ground up
For example, through a Peacebuilding Fund initiative in Somalia, young men and women worked together in managing and restoring water canals across clan lines, overcoming historical grievances and mitigating inter-clan conflicts driven by resource scarcity.
Ms. DiCarlo said that as the 25th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security approaches, along with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, “we must open doors for the next generation.”
“Together, we must cultivate leadership from the ground up, placing young women and women’s rights at the heart of our efforts,” she concluded.
Appeal from Sudan
The Council also heard from Tahani Abbas, a human rights defender, legal representative, and peace advocate from Sudan, where rival military forces have been locked in a brutal war since April 2023.
She said women have been on the frontlines of conflict response, creating “networks of resistance” such as Emergency Response Rooms that provide medical services, daycare, communal kitchens and more.
She was adamant that supporting women peacebuilders before, during, and after crises pays peace dividends.
“When the war broke out in Sudan, we found that the women who had participated in de-escalation and dialogue processes at the local levels prior to the war had used their skills and capacities to mediate, negotiate, and manage tensions and conflicts in their communities during the war,” she said.
Ms. Abbas called for the Council’s ongoing support to women “who are fighting for peace and security every day”, saying “even though it may be logistically and politically difficult, the decisions made within the United Nations will have a direct impact on the lives of the Sudanese population and women peacebuilders around the world.”