Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman, speaking at a panel discussion among Nobel laureates organized by the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., stressed the need for genuine peace and reform within the United Nations.
Karman pointed out that true peace requires more than just the absence of war. It demands the active participation of women in all aspects of society, including peacebuilding processes. She highlighted the lack of women's representation in policy-making roles as a key factor contributing to the marginalization of women and the silencing of their voices despite their struggles against oppression.
Addressing the question of how to ensure women's inclusion in peace negotiations, Karman emphasized the need for a fair and inclusive negotiating table. She stressed that women must be genuine participants in the process, not mere decorations.
In response to a question about how to give "teeth" to UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which aims to promote women's participation in peacebuilding, Karman pointed to the fundamental weakness of the UN itself.
She argued that the organization lacks the necessary power to protect people and enforce its own resolutions, including 1325, which focuses on participation, prevention, and protection of women.
Karman cited the horrible Israeli war on Gaza, as well as the situations in Syria and involving the Rohingya, as evidence of this failure. She criticized the five permanent members of the Security Council, who hold veto power, for prioritizing their own interests over the well-being of people around the world..
“We need a real reform in the United Nations to give this body a binding strategy, to oblige these countries to stop any kind of atrocities against their people, and to implement the resolutions and treaties they sign,” Karman stated.
Her remarks underscore the urgent need for a more effective and accountable international system that prioritizes peace, justice, and the rights of all individuals, particularly women.
