Asserting that peace agreements endure longer and societies grow stronger when women are in charge, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri has called for greater female leadership to build sustainable peace globally during an address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Representing Pakistan at an Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) session on September 24, Senator Zehri, who is the Chairperson of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, drew attention to Pakistan’s advancements in political gender parity. She noted that female representation in the nation’s parliament has doubled since 1995 but cautioned that significant structural reforms are still required to convert this presence into genuine empowerment.

She presented the Women Parliamentarians Caucus in Pakistan as a successful model, describing it as an effective platform for bolstering advocacy, promoting bipartisan cooperation, and ensuring women’s perspectives are integral to the policymaking process.

Expanding on the challenges facing women, the senator urged the international community to recognize mental health as a fundamental component of female empowerment. She called for global cooperation to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health and to overcome barriers such as limited access to care and insufficient awareness.

‘Inclusivity is the key to sustainable change,’ Senator Zehri stated, emphasizing the critical role of men as allies in championing gender equality. She stressed the importance of their involvement in ensuring women can participate in every sphere of decision-making.

In her concluding remarks, Senator Zehri reiterated Pakistan’s legislative and policy commitments to gender equality. She affirmed the country’s dedication to collaborating with international partners to advance women’s rights, enhance mental health support, and establish inclusive systems founded on justice, dignity, and equal opportunity for all.