Minister of Defence Uza. Mariya Didi has said we need to work together on peace and security by building trust and friendships through defense partnerships forged with a shared vision for a rules-based international order which does not sideline women.
The Minister made the statement in her keynote address at the Commonwealth Women’s Forum’s Session on Women’s Engagement in Peace and Security in Kigali, Rwanda. This is the 1st time a Maldivian minister has addressed the Commonwealth Women’s Forum held on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit.
In her remarks, Minister Mariya said, in today’s world where threats and security challenges are highly complex, volatile, and hybrid, no country can defend itself alone. The Minister noted that if the global community is to address these challenges, it cannot relegate women to the margins of society.
“We cannot talk about peace and security without us women in the equation. Where there is no peace, it is our homes, our children, our schools, our communities, and our livelihoods that are disproportionately affected,” said Minister Mariya.
Highlighting President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s decision to appoint a record number of females to public office including his Cabinet, the Minister noted the President’s confidence in breaking the glass ceiling and appointing a woman to lead the defense sector to tackle the country’s complex security concerns. Minister Mariya said women holding the reins paves way for the injection and percolation of perspectives and approaches which are both holistic and gender-sensitive, resulting in the spill-over of positive outcomes into the peace and security landscape.
“Building trust and friendships through partnerships and maintaining peace and security require what I would call the 5 Ps – Patience, Persuasion, Prevention, Passion, and Perseverance. And I believe we women hold these qualities in abundance,” concluded Minister Mariya.
The Minister made the statement in her keynote address at the Commonwealth Women’s Forum’s Session on Women’s Engagement in Peace and Security in Kigali, Rwanda. This is the 1st time a Maldivian minister has addressed the Commonwealth Women’s Forum held on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit.
In her remarks, Minister Mariya said, in today’s world where threats and security challenges are highly complex, volatile, and hybrid, no country can defend itself alone. The Minister noted that if the global community is to address these challenges, it cannot relegate women to the margins of society.
“We cannot talk about peace and security without us women in the equation. Where there is no peace, it is our homes, our children, our schools, our communities, and our livelihoods that are disproportionately affected,” said Minister Mariya.
Highlighting President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s decision to appoint a record number of females to public office including his Cabinet, the Minister noted the President’s confidence in breaking the glass ceiling and appointing a woman to lead the defense sector to tackle the country’s complex security concerns. Minister Mariya said women holding the reins paves way for the injection and percolation of perspectives and approaches which are both holistic and gender-sensitive, resulting in the spill-over of positive outcomes into the peace and security landscape.
“Building trust and friendships through partnerships and maintaining peace and security require what I would call the 5 Ps – Patience, Persuasion, Prevention, Passion, and Perseverance. And I believe we women hold these qualities in abundance,” concluded Minister Mariya.
