Women’s Representation in Peace Processes

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee Excerpts

Tuesday 30th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I will look very carefully at that. It sounds like the sort of initiative that the UK would be interested in supporting. There are so many examples of where sexual violence is used to subjugate communities, to humiliate and to destroy societies. This is something where we have seen the world going backwards, not forwards at the moment. Anybody who cares passionately about this, as I do, needs to use every avenue in order to bring this to an end.

[Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-Afl)]

The Minister has made reference to sustainable peace agreements. I am very pleased to come from an area where we have a sustainable peace agreement, but one which has to be worked on continuously. Have the Minister or the Government given any thought to using the example of Northern Ireland and the strong women leaders in Northern Ireland who can come forward and show other areas why it is important to have women involved in peace processes?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We do, and we are asked about the example and our experience in Northern Ireland. The noble Baroness has far more knowledge of this than I do, of course, but it is seen as instructive. We always make the point that the inclusion of women, women’s leadership and community representation was essential to creating an agreement that has stood the test of time. As she said, it needs to be cherished and protected and we need to make sure that it lasts, even still now. But the point that she makes is right. Yes, we do include conversations about Northern Ireland whenever that is relevant.