International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict: Importance of Women's Participation in Peacebuilding

The 6th of November marks the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. It highlights the often-overlooked environmental damage caused by war. While war casualties are usually measured by the loss of human lives, the environment suffers deeply through the destruction of resources like water pollution, torched crops, poisoned soils, and devastated ecosystems, all used as tactics in warfare.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that over the past 60 years, around 40% of internal conflicts have been driven by the exploitation of natural resources, like timber and oil or essentials like fertile land and water. These resource-driven conflicts are also more likely to reoccur, highlighting the need for sustainable peacebuilding measures that consider environmental stability.

UN Partnership on Women and Natural Resources in Peacebuilding- UNEP, UN Women, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) work on the role of women in managing natural resources in conflict zones, promoting gender equality and sustainable peace.

Women's participation in peacebuilding, particularly in the management of natural resources, is essential for creating resilient, lasting peace in conflict-affected areas. Women are often disproportionately affected by the environmental destruction that comes with war. Including women in peacebuilding processes ensures that their unique perspectives and needs are reflected in strategies for sustainable natural resource management. By empowering women and promoting gender equality, the UN and its partners reinforce the stability of ecosystems and enhance the resilience of communities, making it less likely for conflicts to start again and helping to build a foundation for sustainable, inclusive peace.