On 19 February, the Embassy of Ireland in Sweden and SIPRI hosted an event on women’s leadership in peace and diplomacy to mark St Brigid’s Day, a celebration highlighting women in diplomacy, peace, mediation and leadership.
The panel included Sonja Hyland, Deputy Secretary General of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Charlotta Sparre, Deputy Director of SIPRI. The discussion was moderated by HE Barbara Jones, Ambassador of Ireland to Sweden and co-chair of the Network of Women Ambassadors in Sweden.
Speakers reflected on the changing geopolitical landscape and its effect on diplomacy and peacebuilding. They highlighted the importance of a holistic security approach and of protecting multilateralism and the international rules-based order. The discussion explored how human security, diplomacy and dialogue can be maintained at a time when hard security, record military spending and political polarization seem to sit centre stage.
Sharing experiences from diverse geographical contexts, including Colombia, Northern Ireland, Palestine and Yemen, they stressed the crucial role of women in peace processes and pointed to evidence that inclusive peace processes are more likely to produce sustainable outcomes.
Spotlighting SIPRI’s mission to foster international peace and security, Charlotta Sparre underscored the crucial importance of evidence-based research to inform policy making and to counter misinformation. For SIPRI, evidence-based research is the fundamental tool for building a world in which sources of insecurity are understood, conflicts are prevented and peace is sustained. It transforms policy from a guessing game into a structured, rational process.
With a room full of both diplomats and civil society actors, the discussion and the fruitful Q&A that followed contributed to ongoing exchanges about strengthening women’s participation and leadership in peace and diplomacy efforts at national, regional and international levels.