If more women were involved in peace negotiations, the chances of arriving at lasting solutions would be greater, former president Mary Robinson told delegates at a major conference on women and conflict in Dublin this morning.
The "Women, Peace and Conflict" conference, which is taking place at the Radisson Hotel, is aimed at exploring how implanting UN Security Council resolution 1325 can address the impact of armed conflict on women and ensure that they are central to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building.
This resolution, passed eight years ago, points to the importance of involving women in all aspects of conflict prevention; calls for the protection of women, and recognises the adverse impact that conflict can have on women.
Today's conference has been organised by the Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence, which includes organisations such as Action Aid Ireland, Amnesty International, Concern, Trocaire, Irish Aid and the Defence Forces.
It was opened this morning by Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, and guest speakers include former police ombudsman in Northern Ireland Dame Nuala O’Loan, and former minister for State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Liz O’Donnell.
In addition, women who have lived and worked in areas of conflict will address the conference.
These speakers include Suraya Pakzad from Afghanistan, who won the "Woman of Courage" award this year for her work in educating young girls under the Taliban regime, and Gisela da Cruz de Carvalho, founder and director of an organisation called Young Women Working Together in East Timor.
Delivering the keynote address this morning, former president Mary Robinson, who is a special advisor to the consortium, said that the voices of women are critical in peace negotiation.
“Where women are excluded or are absent from the table, the agreed solutions often fail to recognise the impact of violence on women and children,” she said. “If women were given more opportunities to engage in conflict prevention and peace negotiations, it is likely that solutions would be more holistic and effective,” said Ms Robinson.
Earlier today, the Minister for Foreign Affairs added his support to a major UN campaign aimed at ending violence against women.
Mr Martin added his signature to the international "Say no to violence against women", which is sponsored by the UN Development fund for Women.
The UN campaign seeks to reach one million signatures in a global call for action by November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. On that date, the signatures will be presented to UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon.
