In an interview with Anadolu Agency, UN Women regional director Belen Sanz Luque said women should shape peace decisions for Gaza and Sudan and remain involved after agreements are signed to support lasting peace.
At the ninth Istanbul Mediation Conference, Sanz Luque, UN Women’s regional director for Europe and Central Asia, urged support for women’s groups working in local communities. She said their knowledge should shape peace efforts.
She pointed to Colombia’s 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). A 2026 UN Women report describes more than 100 gender-related commitments in the agreement. A Gender Sub-Commission formed in 2014 reviewed the agreement from a gender perspective, according to UN Women.
Sanz Luque said Colombia still faces challenges in carrying out the agreement’s provisions. She said signing a deal marks “the beginning of sustainable peace,” arguing that women’s participation should continue during implementation.
