In Sudan’s ongoing conflict, over 49 women-led organizations formed the “Peace for Sudan Platform” in 2023 — a group dedicated towards demanding inclusion in formal negotiations. Despite such backing, women’s representation continues to remain sidelined amid the escalation of violence across Sudan, mirroring a crisis that can be found in nearly every nation. A crisis that, if left unchecked, promises to lead to further global instability.
Despite overwhelming evidence that women’s participation strengthens peace efforts, their voices remain underrepresented in critical decision-making processes. According to UN Women, in 2022, only 33% of peace agreements included references to women and girls, while women constituted just 16% of negotiators or delegates in UN-led peace processes — a significant decline from previous years. This gap highlights the urgent need to prioritize women’s equal involvement in shaping global security frameworks.
The Strategic Importance of Women’s Participation
Women’s inclusion in peace and security decision-making is not only a human rights issue but, more importantly, a practical necessity for peace and security. Research shows that societies with higher levels of equity between men and women are more peaceful, regardless of wealth, democracy, or cultural identity.
As scholar Valerie Hudson notes, “The best predictor of a state’s peacefulness is how well its women are treated.” Democracies with high rates of violence against women, for example, face instability comparable to authoritarian regimes.
The U.S. Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Act of 2017 formalizes this understanding, emphasizing women’s full participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. By integrating diverse perspectives, policies become more inclusive and effective. For instance, peace agreements involving women are 35% more likely to endure for over 15 years. This policy shift reflects a growing recognition that excluding half the population from peacebuilding processes undermines global security.
Advancing Stability Through Women
Women’s full participation in decision making directly correlates with societal resilience. Countries restricting women’s rights or political engagement often experience heightened conflict. Conversely, women’s leadership in post-conflict settings fosters equitable policies and inclusive institutions. Women policymakers are more likely to prioritize healthcare, education, and social welfare — key drivers of long-term stability.
Economic empowerment further reinforces peace. Educated women entering the workforce stimulate economic growth, reduction in poverty, and investment in community development. Studies show that women reinvest up to 90% of their earnings into families, improving child welfare and breaking cycles of inequality. These contributions create a ripple effect, fostering safer, more prosperous societies.
Building a More Secure Future: Key Steps Forward
To harness women’s potential, governments and institutions must adopt proactive measures to amplify women’s voices. This includes integrating firsthand accounts into research, media, and diplomatic dialogues to humanize complex issues, as well as to make challenges relatable and solutions actionable.
It’s also imperative to engage men as allies. Collaborative efforts help accelerate progress. Men advocating for equality help dismantle systemic barriers and normalize women’s leadership in traditionally male-dominated spaces.
Lastly, there needs to be greater prioritization of gender-sensitive data. Collecting sex-disaggregated data reveals disparities and informs targeted policies. Understanding the distinct experiences of women, men, and children ensures interventions address the root causes of instability.
A Global Imperative for Peace
Women’s exclusion from peace processes perpetuates cycles of violence and missed opportunities. Their inclusion, however, leads to smarter security strategies and durable outcomes. As the Women, Peace and Security framework demonstrates, empowering women strengthens institutions, economies, and societal trust.
The path forward requires collective action. By elevating women’s roles, addressing systemic inequities, and leveraging data-driven insights, the international community can build a safer, more equitable world. The choice is clear: meaningful participation of women isn’t just fair — it’s foundational to global security.
