ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday told the United Nations Security Council that seven in ten women killed in conflicts worldwide last year were in Gaza, as it urged greater representation of women in UN-mediated peace processes across the world.
Counsellor Saima Saleem, speaking during an open debate on Women, Peace and Security, said the UN framework to promote female participation in conflict prevention, peace building and post-war recovery was established under Resolution 1325 25 years ago.
However, she noted it now stood at a crossroads, with women continuing to be the first casualties and the last to be heard in conflict situations.
“The plight of Palestinian women is one of the gravest tragedies of our times,” she said. “Seven in ten women killed in conflicts worldwide in 2024 were in Gaza. Homes, schools, and maternity wards were bombed. Pregnant women gave birth under fire without anesthetics or water. Tens of thousands were displaced; hundreds of thousands now face famine.”
“These are not collateral tragedies but deliberate crimes that demand accountability,” she added.
