site.btaWomen’s Role in Diplomacy Is Key to Lasting Peace, Says Parliament Chair in Geneva

During the opening session of the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, Bulgarian Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova said that in a world facing complex challenges, the full participation of women in all spheres of public life is essential for building a just, sustainable, and lasting peace, Parliament's press office said on Monday.

She emphasized that 25 years after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, women remain largely excluded from peace processes. The implementation of the resolution continues to be fragmented and inconsistent across different regions and conflicts, limiting its full potential. Kiselova said Bulgaria is implementing a national action plan which serves as a roadmap for empowering women in leadership, increasing their involvement in peacebuilding, and protecting the rights of women and girls from all forms of violence.

The Bulgarian Parliament leader argued that it is crucial to encourage women and girls to pursue careers in fields traditionally dominated by men, such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics and entrepreneurship, as well as in security and diplomacy. She stressed that this is a national priority for Bulgaria as an active member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term.

Kiselova noted that Bulgaria is proud to have had several women serve as Parliament Chair and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Currently, at least 50% of the country's diplomatic corps are women, with 40% of them in leadership positions.

“Bulgaria firmly believes that the right path forward is to continue building strong and lasting partnerships and to unite our efforts around a common goal: a future in which the role of women is fully recognized and where peace is both sustainable and inclusive,” Kiselova concluded.