The Countess hosts a reception on International Women's Day to celebrate women peacebuilders

Today The Countess of Wessex hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the vital role women play in Peace Building across the world. 

During the reception, The Countess announced her commitment to champion the UK’s work on #WomenPeaceSecurity and the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (#PSVI).

These UK initiatives help put more women and girls at the centre of conflict resolution, encouraging women’s participation in building peace and supporting survivors of sexual violence in conflict.

I am publicly committing myself to doing what I can to champion and support WPS and PSVI and make this a central pillar of my work in the coming months and years.

The reception bought together women from all over the world working to bring peace, representatives from the Foreign Office, charities and UN agencies in the hopes of encouraging more women to be involved in Peace building efforts.

We must ensure that the silence that hides pain and suffering is turned into voices of hope and a reason to continue to act.

In the speech made at the reception, Her Royal Highnesses announced her  commitment to support the UK’s work in helping put more women and girls at the centre of conflict resolution, encouraging women’s participation in building peace and supporting survivors of sexual violence in conflict. 

Research shows that peace agreements are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years if women are involved in negotiations. But analysis shows that between 1990 and 2017, women made up only 2% of mediators, 8% of peace negotiators and 5% of witnesses and signatories in all major peace processes.

Earlier this morning, as Chair of the Women’s Network Forum, The Countess of Wessex attended The Market Open Ceremony for #IWD2019 at the London Stock Exchange.

The Countess also viewed the #FearlessGirl statue – which was first seen in New York’s Financial District.

A copy will be here in London’s Paternoster Square for six months. The bronze statue by Kristen Visbal, is a symbol of female resilience – and was commissioned to encourage gender diversity in the workplace.

The Countess is the founder and chair of the Women's Network Forum (WNF), which provides an opportunity for senior leaders from UK companies to discuss the challenges and issues businesses face in attracting, developing, retaining and advancing women in the workplace.