UNITED SIKHS Commends United Nations (UN) Action 21 Review, and Recommends Commitment to Greater Participation of Women and Children in All Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Processes
UNITED SIKHS has formally submitted recommendations to the United Nations Peace Operations Review Team, urging that all future peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions under the Pact for the Future place the protection and empowerment of women and children at their very core.
Prepared by Wanda Sánchez Day, Esq. (Chief Legal Officer, UNITED SIKHS) and Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Ph.D., Esq., the submission highlights that women and young people must not be seen as passive beneficiaries of peace, but as central architects of sustainable and just societies.
“Peace operations cannot succeed if women and children remain at the margins. They must be recognized as agents of change and included in every phase of peacebuilding,” said Wanda Sánchez Day.
Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Ph.D., Esq. is an international human rights attorney with over 20 years of experience in global advocacy, currently serving as Chair of the United Nations Committee of the New York City Bar Association. She leads the Subcommittee on Ukraine, focusing on the displacement of women and children, unlawful deportations, and humanitarian access amid the Russian occupation. Her work spans UN documentation, minority rights, and international law, contributing directly to recommendations under the PACT framework. She stressed in the submission to the UN that women currently comprise only 10% of UN uniformed peacekeeping personnel, with even fewer in leadership roles. Professor Murashkovsky Romma stated that “without correcting this imbalance, peace processes risk being incomplete and unsustainable. The future of peace lies in inclusive, community-driven solutions. By centering women, children, and civil society, the United Nations can finally bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality,” said Professor Murashkovsky Romma.
Key Recommendations to the United Nations:
- Codify Inclusion in Mandates: Require gender and youth representation at all levels of mission planning and leadership.
- Invest in Women and Youth: Provide sustained funding for gender-responsive and youth-led initiatives.
- Engage Local Voices: Empower women’s groups and youth organizations in host countries as co-designers of peace operations.
- Ensure Accountability: Publish clear metrics on gender and youth participation, with robust monitoring and evaluation.
- Protect Peacekeepers: Enforce zero-tolerance policies on sexual exploitation and provide gender-sensitive training and equipment .
UNITED SIKHS also reaffirmed its commitment to support UN operations directly by providing:
- Trained humanitarian volunteers to deliver food, medical aid, and trauma support.
- Community-based mediation models rooted in Sikh teachings.
- Youth outreach initiatives, including support for a UN Youth Peace Corps to mobilize young peacebuilders globally .
UNITED SIKHS, rooted in Sikh principles of equality and justice, has worked globally since 1999 on education, civil rights advocacy, and disaster relief and humanitarian aid. This submission is part of its ongoing mission to advocate for the most vulnerable and to advance peace through inclusion, dignity, and justice.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Email: contact@unitedsikhs.org
Gurleen Kaur, Community PR & Media Advocate, gurleen.kaur@unitedsikhs.org