Nigeria Seeks Greater Role for Women in Peace Negotiations, Condemns Sexual Violence
Oru Leonard
Nigeria has called for greater representation of women in peace negotiations and stronger measures to address conflict-related sexual violence, warning that their exclusion from peace processes continues to undermine efforts to achieve lasting stability.
The country made the call at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security held on October 27, 2026, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Speaking on Nigeria’s behalf, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, expressed concern over the limited participation of women in UN-led peace initiatives, despite their significant contributions to conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
Ahmed, while welcoming the UN Secretary-General’s report on Women, Peace and Security, disclosed that women accounted for only five per cent of lead negotiators and 14 per cent of mediators across 57 negotiation processes in 2025. He added that only 10 peace agreements during the period specifically referenced women.
He also raised concerns over reports indicating that cases of conflict-related sexual violence had more than doubled since 2024.
The Nigerian delegation noted that the situation was particularly troubling in Africa, where conflicts across the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, Sudan and the Great Lakes region continue to expose women and girls to violence, displacement, abduction and other forms of abuse.
According to Ahmed, excluding women from peace negotiations weakens peace agreements, undermines reconciliation efforts and increases the risk of renewed conflicts.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s experience in the North-East, he highlighted the devastating impact of terrorism on women and girls, particularly through abductions, displacement and sexual violence.
He, however, stressed that women remained critical to peacebuilding, serving as community mediators, first responders and members of security institutions.
On Nigeria’s response, the Permanent Secretary highlighted the implementation of the National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act as part of efforts to protect women’s rights and strengthen their participation in peace and security initiatives.
He also cited Nigeria’s engagement with the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan and the African Union’s Continental Results Framework on Women, Peace and Security.
To translate international commitments into measurable results, Nigeria proposed three key measures at the debate.
First, it called for the institutionalisation of women’s participation in peace negotiations, urging the United Nations, African Union and Regional Economic Communities to include qualified women in mediation teams and other peace initiatives.
It specifically identified the African Women Leaders Network as an important platform for strengthening women’s contributions to conflict prevention and resolution.
Second, Nigeria advocated predictable funding for national and local action plans, alongside increased support for women-led organisations operating in conflict-affected communities.
It also called for the retention and strengthening of gender expertise in peace operations, particularly African Union-led missions financed under UN Security Council Resolution 2719.
Third, the country urged governments to prioritise survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in protection, justice and accountability efforts.
Ahmed stressed that survivors, including women and girls formerly held captive by terrorist groups, should have access to medical services, psychosocial assistance and economic opportunities to rebuild their lives.
He further called for stronger action against technology-facilitated violence, warning that the growing threat could discourage women’s participation in public and political activities.
The Nigerian delegation reaffirmed that sustainable peace and security in Africa would remain difficult to achieve without the meaningful involvement of women in decision-making and conflict-resolution processes.
Ahmed pledged Nigeria’s continued cooperation with the UN Security Council, African Union and other international partners to ensure that the commitments of Resolution 1325 translate into practical benefits for women and girls across the continent.
(MOD Press, November 1, 2026)
