Empowering women key to safer societies, says GCC chief

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, emphasized that women's participation in peace and security goes beyond representation, describing it as fundamental to building more peaceful, stable, and resilient societies. He underlined the importance of strengthening women's presence and active involvement in decision-making, negotiations, mediation, and peacebuilding processes.

Albudaiwi made his remarks during the event “Shaping the Next 25 Years: Advancing Women’s Leadership in Peace and Security,” held on Friday, September 25, 2026. The event was organized and hosted by the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations in New York, in partnership with UN Women.

At the start of his speech, the Secretary-General expressed his appreciation to the UAE for hosting and organizing this important event, and praised UN Women’s efforts in advancing the women, peace, and security agenda, as well as promoting women’s leadership and effective participation in conflict prevention, peacemaking, and sustaining peace.

He noted that GCC countries have made significant progress in empowering women and enhancing their participation in development and decision-making. Women now account for over 40% of the workforce in the public sector and more than 39% in the private sector across the GCC. Additionally, women hold about 49% of leadership positions in the public sector and 31% in the private sector. He also highlighted the adoption of the GCC Joint Action Strategy for Women’s Affairs 2024–2030, which provides a common framework for institutional cooperation and supports women’s participation and leadership.

Albudaiwi explained that the GCC’s experience has demonstrated the importance of women’s participation and leadership, achieved by integrating women’s empowerment into national and regional strategies, investing in education and professional development, and opening leadership pathways. He pointed to the growing presence of Gulf women in diplomacy as ministers, ambassadors, diplomats, and senior officials, which strengthens their role in mediation, preventive diplomacy, and peace negotiations.

He commended the UAE’s experience in advancing the women, peace, and security agenda, noting it was the first GCC country to launch a national action plan to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325, in addition to its initiatives to build women’s capacities in peace, security, and peacekeeping.

The Secretary-General stressed the need to invest in the next generation of women mediators, diplomats, and peacemakers, especially young women, by equipping them with the necessary skills, networks, and opportunities to assume leadership roles. He expressed the GCC’s aspiration to expand cooperation with UN Women in leadership, capacity building, mediation, preventive diplomacy, crisis management, and humanitarian work.

He concluded by reaffirming the GCC’s commitment to working with member states, UN Women, and regional and international partners to enhance the contribution of Gulf women to the women, peace, and security agenda, and to support global efforts toward a more peaceful, secure, and sustainable future. He emphasized that the ambition for the next phase is to move from women’s participation in peace efforts to strengthening their leadership in shaping and sustaining peace.