Chronically underfunded women peace builders need more support than ever

Women peace builders mediate disputes, disperse tensions and save lives in the most difficult places to reach, yet their frontline work is consistently underfunded. When progress on gender equality is threatened worldwide, and inequalities and instability increase, sustained funding for women’s work for peace is essential.

Here is where we stand:

The share of bilateral aid dedicated to gender equality and women’s rights programs in conflict-ridden and fragile countries has declined in recent years to just 4.5 percent.

Of the total bilateral aid targeted at fragile countries from 2017-2018, a meager 0.2 per cent went directly to women’s rights organizations – a percentage that has not changed in a decade.

Meanwhile, investment and arms trade continue unabated, with global military spending reaching a record $ 1.9 billion in 2019 – the largest annual increase in a decade. This is 20,000 times higher than the amount of donor support to women’s rights organizations (calculations by the UN woman).

On the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on WPS, financial resources are disappointingly short of political commitments.

“Amid the competitive demands for help raised by COVID-19, already cash-strapped peace organizations for women will paradoxically have to prepare for a fight – for funding,” warns Paivi Kannisto, head of the UN’s peace, security and security division. humanitarian action for women. “Sustained efforts to ensure peace and women’s rights are being neglected amid a focus on COVID-19 responses. But governments can afford to disregard funding for women, peace and security if the consequences are greater risks and instability. ? “

Read the full story and explore the data at data.unwomen.org

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