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Children Growing up in an Environment That Rejects Violence Is the Strongest Foundation for Achieving Lasting Peace, Says Desislava Radeva at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum

Bulgarian President's wife participates in the 'Women, Peace and Security' discussion at the invitation of Emine Erdogan

No one knows better than the mother who gives life how precious and fragile it is. That is why it is crucial to promote the role and voice of women and mothers in efforts to prevent deadly conflicts. This is what Desislava Radeva said on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where she participated at the invitation of Emine Erdogan, the wife of the President of Turkiye. The Bulgarian President's wife made a speech in the panel on "Women, Peace and Security", dedicated to the active participation of women in peace processes and the international community's commitment to protect women and girls in armed conflicts. Head of State Rumen Radev also attended the discussion.

In her speech, Desislava Radeva focused on the need to ensure women's leadership as mothers in addressing peace and security issues, along with their equal participation in all other social and economic processes. Mothers, who are usually closest to their children as they grow up, have a crucial responsibility and opportunity to educate the younger generations in a way that rejects violence and thus contribute to a lasting positive change in the attitudes of society. Raising children in an environment that rejects violence and shows young people the way to a fulfilling life as responsible peaceful citizens is the strongest foundation for lasting peace, said Mrs Radeva. She stressed the need for the global community to do more to involve and motivate women as mothers to be more present in the processes of building, rebuilding and maintaining peace.

Wars and conflicts put women in a particularly vulnerable position, but at the same time they are also an example of courage in war situations. As wives and as mothers, women are actually a factor of great importance for the preservation of the whole society, said Mrs Radeva, noting the immense sacrifices and hardships that women make to cope with the enormous difficulties and challenges for the sake of the future of their children and communities. The remarkable resilience of women is the greatest proof of their potential to contribute to achieving a better, more peaceful and more secure future for our world, the Bulgarian President's wife added.

Desislava Radeva expressed concern about the growing violence and conflicts around the world and the human suffering we are currently witnessing. As the number of conflicts increases, there is also growing concern about the deteriorating security and safety for women all over the world, as armed clashes have a disproportionate adverse effect on them, said Mrs Radeva. She noted that promoting women's effective participation in peace efforts is a priority for the UN and highlighted the importance of resolution 1325, adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council in 2000, on women, peace and security.

Among the participants in the panel on "Women, Peace and Security" were the wife of the Turkish President - Emine Erdogan, Tamara Vucic - wife of the Serbian President, Yemeni human rights defender Tawakkol Karman, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Director of the Department for Asia and Europe Ivana Zivkovic.

According to a UN report, more than 600 million women and girls lived in conflict-ridden countries in 2022, a 50 percent increase compared to 2017.