24 June 2025 | Geneva, Switzerland
As part of the Annual Full-Day Discussion on the Human Rights of Women during the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Ms. Batool, a youth advocate from the She Leads UN Youth Cohort delivered a compelling statement during Panel 2, commemorating the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
The panel focused on overcoming the barriers that prevent women and girls from participating in peacebuilding and diplomacy. The She Leads intervention made it clear: girls are not bystanders to conflict — they are directly affected, and must be directly included in building peace.
“Leadership is not born in boardrooms. It begins in classrooms, in communities, in the quiet resilience of girls who survive and resist conflict. If we seek sustainable peace, we must recognize that women’s participation in peace processes begins in girlhood.”
The statement urged Member States to:
Open diplomatic pathways for young women and ensure that girls can envision themselves in leadership roles;
Create inclusive opportunities that reflect the lived realities of girls and young women;
Invest in education, mentorship, and protection that reach girls in conflict-affected areas.
“There is no peace without participation. Let us commit—not just in principle, but in policy—to equip, empower, and elevate girls and young women in all stages of peacebuilding.”
This intervention underscores She Leads’ commitment to ensuring that girls are seen not just as victims of conflict, but as essential agents of peace and diplomacy.
Read the Full Statement (in English)
Watch The Statement: