Women's Role in Peace and Security: A Priority for Tunisia and the World
In New York, as in Tunis, the question of women's role in establishing peace and security is a pressing concern. From UN diplomacy to counter-terrorism training workshops, Tunisia is promoting female empowerment as a crucial lever for prevention, education, and resilience.
Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Participates in UN Meeting
On Wednesday, September 24, in New York, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, participated in the high-level ministerial meeting of the network of national focal points responsible for the "Women, Peace, and Security" program, organized as part of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325 (2000), Nafti recalled that promoting a more active role for women in peace processes is a "necessary prerequisite" for building a future based on justice, dignity, and security for all.
From Resolution 1325 to National Action Plans
The head of Tunisian diplomacy highlighted Tunisia's historical contribution to the adoption of Resolution 1325 during its term on the Security Council in 2000, describing the text as a "major breakthrough" that put the promotion of women's rights on the international peace and security agenda.
He mentioned Tunisia's achievements, including the development of a first national action plan dedicated to implementing Resolution 1325 and the preparation of a five-year plan for 2025-2030, whose publication is imminent. He also highlighted concrete advances, such as the appointment of a woman to head the government (a first in the Arab world, according to the statement) and the strengthening of female presence in the army, security forces, administration, and diplomatic and UN missions.
Security and Counter-Terrorism: Women on the Front Line
In the same vein, a regional meeting on the role of women in counter-terrorism was held on Tuesday, September 23, in Tunis, highlighting the skills and commitment of Tunisian policewomen. Abdelkrim Krich, director of the Interpol Tunis office and director of the judicial police, recalled that women officers now occupy important operational positions and are a model in the MENA region.
Organized by the Interpol Tunis office in coordination with the International Organization of Interpol, this four-day workshop brought together policewomen from the Middle East, North Africa, and West Africa. The objective is to strengthen the role of women in preventing radicalization, combating violent extremism, and protecting against any attempt to recruit children and women by terrorist organizations.
Krich emphasized the need for an integrated approach, with counter-terrorism becoming a societal cause that goes beyond security structures alone. Madi McTag, assistant to the Interpol Secretary-General, highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and the sharing of best practices. Finally, it was announced that Tunis will host a training session for women officers on border management from October 6 to 10, to strengthen female operational capacities at borders.
Women as Educators of Peace
Beyond political instruments and security training, women's empowerment has a profoundly societal impact. Women are often at the forefront of education and value transmission, and it is in this role that lies one of their greatest strengths. As mothers, teachers, or civil society activists, they participate daily in shaping citizens capable of critical thinking, respecting diversity, and prioritizing dialogue.
By incorporating notions of human rights, civic spirit, and tolerance into family and school education from an early age, they reduce the appeal of extremist discourse and build the resilience of future generations. In the security field, their presence in sensitive contexts, whether it be preventing the radicalization of minors, supporting victims, or working with families, brings a unique approach marked by listening, trust, and a willingness to reintegrate.
A Comprehensive Vision for Sustainable Peace
Discourses and technical workshops, as necessary as they are, cannot change the situation on their own if they remain confined to conference rooms. Sustainable peace is built in real life, where education, security, justice, economy, and governance come together.
And in this endeavor, women must be placed at the center, no longer just as beneficiaries of programs, but as true actors and architects of peace. Tunisia, which has long been a pioneer in women's rights in the region, is all the more concerned as it has been hit at its heart by terrorist attacks that have mourned Tunisians, by the thousands of young people sent to conflict zones, and by the shaking of the foundations of a modern and reconciled Tunisia.
Today, our country has the opportunity to transform its advances into a concrete model: training more policewomen ready to act on the ground, like those who will meet in Tunis in early October; giving more means to women leaders to animate prevention programs in the heart of neighborhoods and communities; mobilizing, finally, the necessary funding so that these initiatives do not remain ephemeral promises.
It is thus, step by step, in daily action and closest to citizens, that the ideal of peace can take root and become a shared reality.
