By George Omagbemi Sylvester
There will be no legitimate, enduring or equitable new world order until women are fully part of it. This is not a slogan, a buzzword or a momentary slogan for social media likes; it is an empirical, historical and moral truth. For too long, discourses on global governance, peacebuilding, economic reform, climate action and technological innovation have marginalized women and relegating half of humanity to the sidelines of decision-making. The evidence is overwhelming: nations, institutions and global systems that elevate women to positions of leadership and influence outperform those that do not. To reimagine and rebuild a world order in the 21st century (one that is just, resilient and prosperous for all) women’s voices must not only be included but central.
Why Women Matter in Global Leadership. At its core, the call for women’s inclusion in world affairs rests on justice and merit. Women make up approximately 50% of the global population yet remain underrepresented in political offices, corporate boardrooms, peace negotiations and diplomatic arenas. According to the United Nations, women comprise only 26.1% of all national parliamentarians worldwide with only 22 countries having women as heads of state or government as of 2025. These figures reveal not just a gender gap but a leadership deficit that compromises the quality of global governance.
Renowned gender scholar Dr. Mona Lena Krook of Rutgers University asserts: “Inclusion is not a token gesture. It is fundamental to legitimacy, to accountability, and to a system that reflects the peoples it serves.”
This assessment underscores a simple truth: if half the world lacks equal access to power, systems claiming to serve “all humanity” are inherently flawed.
Women and Peace: A Case Study in Effectiveness. Nowhere is the case for women’s inclusion more compelling than in peace and security. The conventional approach to resolving conflict (historically dominated by male soldiers, politicians and diplomats) has often failed to produce durable peace. In contrast, research by the Council on Foreign Relations and UN Women has shown that peace processes with meaningful female participation are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years. When women are on peace negotiation teams, agreements are more likely to address community needs like justice mechanisms, education and social reintegration.
Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee, who led women’s peace movements in Liberia that helped end civil war in 2003, famously said: “If women stop, war stops.”
Her words are not hyperbolic; they reflect the reality that women’s perspectives prioritize community well-being, reconciliation and rebuilding, dimensions too often ignored in male-centered diplomatic strategies.
Economic Growth Depends on Women’s Inclusion. A new world order worthy of the name cannot succeed without addressing economic disparities that sideline women. The McKinsey Global Institute reported that advancing gender equality could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025, a figure larger than the entire economy of Germany and Japan combined. This is not charity; it is smart economics.
Investments in women’s education, workforce participation and entrepreneurship yield extraordinary returns. Countries that bridge the gender employment gap experience higher productivity, innovation and economic stability. When women earn and control financial resources, they reinvest a significant portion in their families and communities, creating a multiplier effect that benefits society at large.
World Bank Senior Economist Mariana Mazzucato explains: “Equitable economies are not just morally right, they are more dynamic, more resilient and more innovative.”
The logic is undeniable. Marginalizing women in global economic systems is not merely unjust but it is self-defeating.
Women at the Forefront of Climate Action. The climate crisis demands urgent, coordinated global action. Yet many international climate negotiations and policy decisions have been dominated by male leaders with limited engagement of women’s voices. A growing body of research, including work from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), reveals that women are disproportionately affected by climate change (especially in vulnerable regions) yet they also offer innovative and sustainable solutions.
Communities led by women demonstrate higher levels of environmental protection and sustainable resource management. In rural Africa and Asia, women’s traditional ecological knowledge has preserved water systems, food supplies and land fertility, long before climate change became a global term.
As environmental justice advocate Mary Robinson has stated: “Climate justice is gender justice.”
Recognizing women as leaders in climate policy is not optional; it is essential for the survival of communities and ecosystems worldwide.
Breaking Barriers: Women in Global Governance. A true new world order must transform global governance structures and from the United Nations Security Council to international financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. These institutions shape global policy but historically skew male in leadership and perspective.
The UN’s own Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight gender equality as a standalone goal (SDG 5) and as a cross-cutting priority across all goals. This reflects a growing recognition that gender equality is not a “women’s issue,” but a development imperative linked to poverty reduction, education, health outcomes and political stability.
Despite international commitments, progress remains uneven. Structural barriers (from discriminatory laws to cultural norms) continue to restrict women’s opportunities. Closing this gap requires proactive policies like gender quotas, equal pay legislation, reproductive rights protections and expanded access to education and healthcare.
International relations scholar Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter has argued: “Diversity in leadership is not a luxury, it is a strategic necessity.”
Her assertion captures the stakes: when global leadership reflects diversity, societies benefit from expanded creativity, empathy and strategic vision.
Addressing Criticisms and Misconceptions. Some detractors argue that emphasizing women’s inclusion undermines meritocracy or distracts from “universal” goals. This is a false dichotomy. Inclusion and excellence are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, a system that widens the talent pool inherently raises standards of competence and innovation.
Others claim that gender parity is a Western agenda imposed on other cultures. Yet the desire for dignity, fairness and opportunity transcends borders. Women in every region (from Asia to Africa, the Middle East to Latin America) have led movements for freedom, justice and progress. Their voices are not imported; they are organically rooted in their communities.
The Path Forward: Toward a Truly Inclusive World Order. To build a new world order that is equitable, sustainable and resilient, we must champion transformational changes:
Legal Reforms: Eliminate discriminatory laws that limit women’s political participation, property rights and economic freedom.
Education Access: Ensure girls receive quality education from primary to tertiary levels and because education is the foundation of empowerment.
Political Representation: Implement gender quotas and mentorship programs to accelerate women’s entry into parliaments, cabinets and diplomatic corps.
Economic Inclusion: Support women entrepreneurs, guarantee equal pay for equal work, and invest in childcare and family-friendly policies.
Leadership Training: Expand forums that prepare women for leadership and in technology, science, diplomacy and international organizations.
Cultural Transformation: Challenge stereotypes and norms that limit women’s roles, fostering societal attitudes that value women’s contributions equally.
Closing Perspective: A New World Order That Honors Women’s Power. The call to place women at the center of global decision-making is not merely rhetorical and it is rooted in evidence, history and justice. A world order that excludes women is inherently crippled: it lacks the full spectrum of human talent, experiences and wisdom needed to confront the defining challenges of our time.
As former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon famously declared: “There is no peace without development, no development without peace and neither can be achieved without women’s full and equal participation.”
Let these words guide us. The future we seek (peaceful, just, prosperous) demands that women are not just participants but equal architects of the world we build together.
There will never be a new world order until women are part of it. And until that vision becomes reality, the promise of our shared humanity remains unfulfilled.
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