Justice, equality, human rights key to lasting peace: Irene Khan

Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Irene Zubaida Khan said on Wednesday that justice, equality, human rights and inclusive participation are essential to building a lasting culture of peace in society. 
She made the remarks while speaking at the High-Level Forum on the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace at the UN Headquarters, outlining three priorities to strengthen women’s leadership.
She called for renewed global efforts to ensure women’s full and meaningful participation at all stages of peace processes, greater investment in adolescent girls and young women’s leadership, including digital access and literacy, and sustained support for women-led organisations working in conflict prevention, humanitarian response, community resilience and social cohesion.
She also said women still have a limited presence in peace processes despite the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and are often excluded from decisions affecting their lives and futures. 
She further reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to promoting women’s leadership in building a culture of peace and highlighted the contributions of Bangladeshi women peacekeepers and women leaders in civil society.