Important to peace

In 2000, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325, which addresses women’s safety and security in times of war and conflicts, and considers women an active factor in peace and war, at the same time committing UN member states to taking measures to implement it.

Most recently, the Jordanian coalition on UN Resolution 1325 highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to reactivate this resolution that focuses on women, peace and security in these times of violent conflict in the region.

It is indisputable that women play an indispensable role in promoting peace and security.

Sadly, it is also a fact that women are among the primary casualties of wars and suffer the most, both through the loss of male relatives and through personal experiences that often mean rape, death, mutilation or kidnapping as an instrument of war used by warring parties.

In view of the conflicts raging in the region, the activation of international efforts to save women from war atrocities is urgently needed.

At the same time, since women constitute half of the world’s population, they must not be excluded from the efforts to promote peace and security.

If women were to sit at tables negotiating peace, there is little doubt that compromises would be reached and peace would be attained in record time. Alas, that is never the case.

Fifteen years have passed since the adoption of UN Resolution 1325, yet the suffering of women continues, as does their exclusion from efforts to promote peace and security.

This disheartening situation led a group of Jordanian women to come together and form the above-mentioned coalition.

Now, in view of the “conflicts surrounding us”, the Jordanian National Commission for Women felt pushed “to draft a National Action Plan to ensure women’s contribution to peace and security”, according to the commission’s secretary general.

It is important to explore all venues which ensure that women no longer remain at the periphery of international efforts to protect them from the scourge of war, and that they are involved in all attempts to bring peace and stability to the world.

No less important is bringing women to the fore in a more visible and active manner in any activity with such goal in mind.

Women serving in the Jordanian armed forces have been contributing to this noble cause by taking part in UN peacekeeping missions in several countries since 2007.

Jordanian women’s attempt to reactivate the UN resolution pertaining to women deserves wide support from local, regional and international actors.

The Jordanian missions at the UN, in New York, and in Geneva might lead the way in this endeavour.

The serious threat posed by terrorists and their extremist ideologies needs to be tackled head on.

Women, as educators, have an important role to play in countering this menace. They should not be ignored.