Riyaz Patel
There is an urgent need for women to play bigger role in international policymaking and peace efforts and not to remain at the margins in face of daunting levels of atrocities against women, International Relations minister Naledi Pandor has said.
“The fact that we discuss women as distinct is a peculiarity that has to end. We’re not marginal, we’re not an instance, we are part of society,” Pandor said, speaking at the International Peace Institute on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting in New York.
“It is a massive fight that we have in our society from one ridden by violence to one where the rights of everyone are respected.”
We want to encourage the UNSG and multilateral bodies to have a database of women with these skills, and ensure that whenever there are processes for peace, these women are included, South Africa’s most senior diplomat told delegates.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, agreed with Pandor, emphasizing “implementation of what we have already committed to.”
“We have many resolutions, many agreements, but we need to walk the talk.”
Earlier, Pandor held a bilateral with Jorge Arreaza, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, at UN headquarters.
