Amman, 09 November 2022 - The Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY) concluded a one-day consultative meeting on Gender Inclusion in Track II on the margins of an EU event on Leveraging Track II Peacebuilding in Yemen.

The meeting brought together a diverse group of organizations working in Yemen to discuss strengthening the inclusion of women in conjunction with the European Union initiative that aimed to support the contribution of Track-II peacebuilding actors in Yemen through enhancing coordination and collaboration.

“It is crucial for peacebuilding work to start early and not wait until the violent conflict ends. As such, I believe it is important that we assess where we stand in building -infrastructures for peace- at the local and national levels. And I hope we can examine how this work can reinforce efforts in the formal Track I process the UN is leading,” said Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen.

Participants discussed various approaches and highlighted challenges associated with impended access and poor coordination. The debate also focused on how to address gender stereotypes and strengthen the inclusion of women in the Yemeni peace process.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Grundberg emphasized that achieving sustainable peace requires inclusivity, and extending women’s participation is a strategic priority. “We must constantly remind ourselves of this while continuing to seek tactical solutions to overcome the blockages that hinder women’s inclusion," he added.