The role of women's organizations across the world in preventing violence, re...

The role of women's organizations across the world in preventing violence, resolving conflict and building the foundations for peace is well known. Our challenge is to become more systematic in supporting and scaling up these initiatives and making the necessary links to formal peace processes. Today's debate is an opportunity to support this critical work—and to address the obstacles to women's participation in conflict mediation, peace talks, national dialogues and donor conferences. It is also critical that we accelerate progress in reaching the goals of the Secretary-General's Seven-Point Action Plan for gender-responsive peacebuilding.