Women Leaders Transform Symbolism into Action at the 2025 United Nations Day of Peace
By Olivia Reyes, The Midtown Times
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK (MT) — While much of the attention at this week’s United Nations General Assembly focused on the speeches of world leaders and the 80th anniversary of the UN’s founding, it was the voices of First Ladies that captured the spotlight during the 2025 United Nations Day of Peace.
At a high-level session titled “First Ladies Becoming Actions for Peace – Ambition for Women as Key Players in Promoting Sustainable Development,” the spouses of heads of state moved from the sidelines to center stage, calling for urgent, concrete measures to advance global peace and gender equality. The event, hosted by the Africana Women Working Group at the UN and coordinated by Professor Ada Okika, highlighted the transformative role of women in leadership and the urgent need for collective action amid mounting global turbulence.
A Stage for First Ladies
Traditionally seated beside their partners, First Ladies instead led the discussion this year. Among them, H.E. Ann Marie Davis, First Lady of the Bahamas, urged the international community to “act now and together for a better world,” emphasizing that peace must be built not in abstract speeches but through daily commitments to justice and unity.
Other distinguished voices included Her Royal Highness Senator Princess Ncengencenge of the Eswatini Royal Family, who called for a global stand against division, and youth advocate Sonia Tucke, whose message to her generation was clear: peace is a shared responsibility, not a distant aspiration.
Anchored in History and Strategy
The program weaved together a review of landmark commitments, from the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to UN Security Council Resolution 1325, linking them to today’s urgent challenges under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The format included opening remarks from Ambassador Dr. Devon Bannister, keynote reflections by Princess Jahnavi Kumari Mewar, and presentations from civil society and business leaders such as Sergio Fernandez de Cordova of the PVBLIC Foundation and Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze of FOWPAL.
Panel discussions brought together government officials, parliamentarians, and activists who explored practical steps for women leaders to spearhead peacebuilding, community service, and sustainable development initiatives.
Haitian Leaders Behind the Scenes
Significantly, the program’s success was shaped by two Haitian activists, Dr. Sabine Martelly, former Secretary of State for Youth and Civic Action, and Eunide Innocent, former Minister of Women’s Affairs, whose organizational leadership and advocacy ensured the First Ladies’ voices resonated at the highest level of the UN. Their involvement underscored Haiti’s continued contribution to the global dialogue on peace and gender equality.
Ringing the Bell for Peace
The symbolic “Ring the Bell for Peace” ceremony punctuated the gathering, reinforcing this year’s theme: “Act Now for a Peaceful World.” The bell tolled not only as a reminder of past commitments but also as a call to present responsibility, for governments, communities, and individuals alike, to turn words into tangible action.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 UN Day of Peace underscored a profound shift: women, and particularly First Ladies, are no longer passive participants in global diplomacy but active agents of change. By positioning themselves as leaders in advancing peace, equality, and sustainable development, they transformed the symbolic presence of “first spouse” into a powerful platform for action.
As the UN commemorates its 80th year, the voices that rang most clearly across its halls were those urging the world to move from pledges to practice. The message of the First Ladies was unmistakable: peace is not only possible, it is imperative, and it begins with each of us.
By Olivia Reyes, The Midtown Times
