Women’s Participation Makes Peace and Security More Durable and Inclusive: Irene Khan

New York, 28 October 2026: Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Ambassador Irene Zubaida Khan has called for meaningful women’s participation in peace processes and

decision-making emphasizing that grassroots initiatives are vital to preventing violence and building lasting

peace.

Speaking at the UN Security Council’s open debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) on

Wednesday, Ambassador Khan recalled Bangladesh’s role as a key co-sponsor of Security Council

Resolution 1325 and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the WPS agenda.

She highlighted Bangladesh’s National Action Plan on WPS, introduced six years ago. Following the

completion of its first phase, Bangladesh is now implementing the second phase, with consultations involving

stakeholders, particularly civil society and women’s groups, remaining a key feature of the process.

Ambassador Khan underscored the importance of training and sensitising girls and young women on

violence prevention and supporting their active participation in community-level mediation. She stressed that

grassroots efforts can prevent disputes from escalating into wider conflicts, noting that Bangladesh is

prioritizing these initiatives through government and NGO programmers.

She also called for greater investment in women’s organizations and human rights defenders,

protection for women in conflict-affected settings, and predictable, sustained financing for peace operations

and vulnerable communities.

Emphasizing a gender-centered approach to security, Ambassador Khan stressed that women must

have a meaningful voice in peace negotiations, political leadership and decision-making. She urged the

international community to translate WPS commitments into concrete action to advance inclusive and

sustainable peace.