Peace Begins with Her: Sheikha Fatima’s Vision for Women in Security and Reconciliation
- Sands and City Magazine
- May 28
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 28
The United Arab Emirates is a country that leads the way in many fields—a nation that masterfully blends cultural diversity, peace, stability, and prosperity. This unique combination has made the UAE a shining light in a world often shadowed by conflict, serving as a beacon of hope and motivation for other countries and nations seeking peace.
In a quiet training compound on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, the future of peace wears a uniform. Side by side, young women from Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Bahrain march—not into war, but into history. Behind this transformative movement stands Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, affectionately known as the “Mother of the Nation,” whose vision is reshaping the role of women in global peacebuilding.
Launched in 2019 and formally institutionalized through the Sheikha Fatima Women, Peace and Security Initiative, the UAE became the first Arab country to adopt a National Action Plan (NAP) in support of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the role of women in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-war reconstruction. In a region too often defined by conflict and patriarchal structures, this initiative carves a bold new path.
The UAE was the first GCC country to adopt UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and launched its National Action Plan in March 2021.
“Women are not only victims of war. They are leaders of peace. And peace cannot be achieved or sustained without them,” Sheikha Fatima declared during the inauguration of the Center of Excellence in 2021.
Training Peacebuilders, Not Soldiers
The initiative, conducted in partnership with UN Women and the UAE Ministry of Defense, has already trained over 300 women from conflict-affected regions. The curriculum blends military awareness with humanitarian law, negotiation skills, leadership development, and cross-cultural communication. Trainees leave with not just knowledge—but with a purpose: to return to their communities as ambassadors of peace.
A young participant from Sudan, said:
“Before this, I never thought peace was something I could shape. I thought it was something leaders did behind closed doors. Now I see that peace starts with me—with how I speak, how I lead, and how I help others heal.”
These women go on to serve in diverse roles—peacekeeping forces, NGOs, national ministries, and even informal community leadership. They become voices of calm in chaotic environments, disruptors of cycles of revenge, and mentors to the next generation of peacebuilders.
Some of the trainees were willing to share the personal reasons that led them to join this groundbreaking initiative:
Second Lieutenant Doha Harbi Sharhan (Iraq)
“I joined this training course because this was the first time Iraqi female officers got to train abroad … I love being in the military. Many of my family members were also in the army. I believe I can make a difference.”
Lt Remadji Stephanie (Chad)
“I am determined to go back home to help end the terrorism and violence we face at the hands of Boko Haram, not through violence but through peace.”
Major Luljeta Mehmeti Quigley (Kosovo)
“The importance of women participating in UN peacekeeping missions is more crucial than ever before … Women peacekeepers can bring a different touch and they are capable of serving the same as men anywhere in any peacekeeping mission.”
A New Narrative for Arab Women
This initiative does more than train women—it rewrites the narrative of who Arab and Muslim women are and what roles they can play on the global stage. From the Emirates to Ethiopia, from Libya to Liberia, the program promotes a version of diplomacy that is empathetic, collaborative, and effective.
It also reflects a broader cultural shift within the UAE. Under Sheikha Fatima’s leadership, women in the Emirates have entered security services, parliament, diplomatic corps, and conflict mediation efforts with growing prominence and legitimacy. The General Women’s Union, Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and countless education initiatives she founded are scaffolding a generation of leaders ready to face global challenges.
Impact by the Numbers
Since its inception in 2019, the Sheikha Fatima Women, Peace and Security Initiative has grown significantly:
Nearly 500 women from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia have been trained to work in peacekeeping, military, and security roles.
By 2024, over 600 women have participated across multiple cohorts.
Over 500 trainees graduated across the first four cohorts, representing 10 countries—including the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Tanzania, The Gambia, Liberia, Pakistan, Kosovo, and Kyrgyz Republic.
The UAE has publicly expressed an ambition for 2028: to achieve 15% female representation in peacekeeping forces and 30% female police participation, reinforcing its long-term commitment to gender parity and UNSCR 1325 goals.
In 2024, the initiative launched its fourth cohort, expanding beyond traditional peacekeeping skills. This new phase introduced AI literacy and digital leadership training in partnership with Khalifa University, empowering women to not only lead on the ground but also in the digital future of diplomacy and conflict resolution.
A Model with Global Impact
Peace is not imposed—it is built. And Sheikha Fatima’s model is one that could—and should—be replicated worldwide. In an era where the lines between war zones and civilian spaces are increasingly blurred, empowering women as agents of peace is no longer optional; it is essential.
The UAE’s ambition to mainstream women into peace and security isn’t only rhetoric—it’s built into national strategy, policy, and action.
The Women, Peace and Security Centre of Excellence now serves as a model for similar programs in Africa and Asia. As the initiative expands, it continues to position the UAE not just as a hub of commerce, but as a center for humanitarian diplomacy and gender-based peacebuilding.
“When we train women for peace,” said a UAE official involved in the program, “we are training communities to rise, rebuild, and resist hatred.”
Looking Ahead
Sheikha Fatima’s peace initiative is more than a story—it is a movement. It offers a rare lens into how leadership, tradition, and vision can converge to rewrite the future of conflict resolution.
In a time when global headlines are filled with war and division, the story of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and the women she empowers offers a counter-narrative: Peace begins with her.
Women are born to lead. They are mothers, sisters, visionaries—strong and courageous, even in silence. Across borders and backgrounds, they are united by one mission: to build peace. The example of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and her enduring activism is living proof that when women lead, nations heal. Her work stands as a call to the world: follow women on their path to solidarity, stability, and a more peaceful future for all.
Article: Ana S. Gad
Videos: UN Women / YouTube LSE/YouTube
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