Igbinedion Seeks Women’s Inclusion In Peace Talks, Diplomatic Engagements

The lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, has called for the active inclusion of women in diplomatic engagements, peace negotiations and conflict resolution, insisting that they must participate in decision-making rather than be involved after agreements have been reached.

Igbinedion made the call at the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania, where she stressed that women must be recognised as critical stakeholders in achieving sustainable peace, rather than merely as beneficiaries of peace initiatives.

“Women must not be invited into the room after decisions have been made. They must be at the table, shaping the decisions and negotiating the peace,” she said.

Speaking during a discussion on “Moving from Commitment to Action: Women’s Leadership in Diplomacy and Peacebuilding,” the lawmaker said meaningful progress in conflict prevention and resolution would remain limited without deliberate efforts to increase women’s participation in decision-making.

She noted that women often played vital roles in identifying tensions within communities, protecting families during conflicts and rebuilding trust in post-conflict situations, but their contributions were frequently overlooked in formal negotiations and diplomatic processes.

According to her, governments and international institutions must translate commitments to gender inclusion into concrete measures that enable women to participate fully in negotiations, mediation and post-conflict reconstruction.

Igbinedion maintained that women’s participation should go beyond symbolic representation to include access to leadership positions, adequate resources and the authority to influence decisions on peace and security.

“We must give women the opportunity, the resources and the authority to lead,” she said.

The lawmaker also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for expanding opportunities for women through ministerial, ambassadorial and other strategic appointments.

She acknowledged Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for creating opportunities for women to participate in governance and leadership in the state.

Igbinedion further praised Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the inclusion of women parliamentarians in the Sixth ECOWAS Parliament, saying the development had strengthened women’s participation in regional parliamentary diplomacy.

She also commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, for promoting women’s participation in the legislature and widening opportunities for them to take up leadership roles in diplomacy, peacebuilding and international affairs.

She called on political leaders, governments and relevant institutions to ensure that women were adequately represented at every stage of peace processes, stressing that sustainable peace required inclusive decision-making and the contributions of all stakeholders.