New york: Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Irene Zubaida Khan, has called for renewed global action to ensure women's full and meaningful leadership in peace-building, emphasizing that justice, equality, and human rights are indispensable for lasting peace. "A lasting culture of peace can only be built when societies uphold justice, equality, human rights, and inclusive participation," she stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Khan was addressing the High-Level Forum on the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace at the UN Headquarters in New York. Her speech highlighted three priorities for strengthening women's leadership in building and sustaining peace. Khan called for renewed efforts to ensure women's full, equal, and meaningful participation at all stages of peace processes.
The ambassador also emphasized the need for greater investment in the leadership of adolescent girls and young women, particularly through expanding their digital access and literacy. As a third priority, she sought sustained and targeted support for women-led organizations engaged in conflict prevention, humanitarian response, community resilience, social cohesion, and peace-building.
Despite the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, Khan noted that women remain underrepresented in peace processes and are often excluded from decisions directly affecting their lives and futures. She reaffirmed Bangladesh's strong commitment to advancing women's leadership as an integral part of building a culture of peace. Additionally, Khan highlighted the contributions of Bangladeshi women peacekeepers and women leaders in civil society to promoting peace and security.