Opening Doors for Women to Make Peace

Women hardly ever fight the world's wars, but often suffer the most, and are targets of systematic sexual violence. Yet, fewer than 10 percent of the people who negotiate peace deals are women.

Starting on 7 June, the Global Open Day on women, peace and security will break new ground. Throughout June, in more than 20 post-conflict countries, senior UN officials will open their doors to women peace activists and leaders. Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General and other high-level officials will engage with women advocates to hear their concerns, and discuss how to increase women's participation in sustainable conflict resolution, peacemaking and peace-building.

The Global Open Day is one of several activities in 2010 that will commemorate the 10th anniversary of landmark UN Security Council resolution 1325, which calls for women's full participation in peacebuilding. While some progress in that direction has been made, gaps remain. Women worldwide still do not play an equal role in peace processes or see their concerns fully reflected there.

In a statement, the UN Secretary-General has called the Global Open Day an opportunity to “reinvigorate our efforts to realize the vision set out in resolution 1325.” Recommendations from the meetings will be forwarded to the UN Security Council for it to consider in accelerating the resolution's implementation.

The Global Open Day is organized by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).