Women's World Summit 2023

By Maria Josefina Arce

Women from more than 100 countries have gathered in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. They share a common goal, to achieve the empowerment of this population sector, which despite a long history of discrimination has made great contributions to the development of humanity.

The International Women's Summit 2023 is a new opportunity to exchange experiences and criteria on how much women are doing and can still do in favor of peace and the socioeconomic advancement of their nations.

In 2000, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1325, which called for greater participation of women in peacebuilding, leading to more just and inclusive societies.

 But there are still many obstacles facing this sector. Conflict shows how vulnerable women are. They represent the majority of populations displaced from their homes and are subjected to sexual violence.

Moreover, as UN Women says they are almost never present at peace negotiations, they are excluded from reconstruction efforts, which limits their access to opportunities for recovery, to obtain justice for violations of their rights and to participate in the reform of laws and institutions.

The COVID 19 pandemic also deepened the gender gap that still persists. They were the most affected by the loss of jobs and income, due to their greater presence in the hardest hit sectors, such as accommodation and food services, and the manufacturing sector.

Also, quarantines, school closures and other measures to prevent the spread of the virus led to an increase in domestic and intimate partner violence.

Hence, the event in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, as stated by its organizers, is taking place at a historic moment when humanity needs to overcome the repercussions of the COVID 19 pandemic and the social and economic crises plaguing nations.

The Abu Dhabi Summit is therefore a space to seek solutions to common challenges such as the gender gap, domestic violence and for greater participation of women in decision-making.

Gender equality is a human rights issue, and is essential to achieving sustainable and lasting peace. Women have strongly demonstrated that they are capable of bringing about change, so it is time for them to take their rightful place.