Better Together: Women Leading the Future of Peace, Development, and Human Rights

Each September, the world turns its eyes to New York as the United Nations General Assembly gathers to set the global agenda. This year’s theme, Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights, offers us a timely reminder that while governments and institutions carry responsibilities, it is people who build the fabric of peace and progress. And within that, women play a defining role.

For eight decades, the United Nations has stood as a symbol of international cooperation, yet peace, development, and human rights remain fragile and unevenly distributed. Women continue to face disproportionate barriers to safety, education, economic participation, and leadership. At the same time, history demonstrates that when women stand together, societies are more resilient, businesses are more sustainable, and communities are more just.

For business and professional women, the call is even clearer. We are not simply participants in the workplace; we are architects of the future. Our choices as leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and advocates set the stage for generations to follow. The balance sheets we prepare, the policies we implement, the partnerships we cultivate - each has an echo that reaches far beyond boardrooms and businesses. These decisions affect families, communities, and ultimately, the stability of nations.

To be better together means rejecting isolation and competition as the dominant models of success. It means understanding that the rise of one woman does not come at the expense of another but opens the door wider for all. It means mentoring young women who are only beginning to glimpse their potential, and it means amplifying the voices of those too often left unheard.

This responsibility is not optional. At a time when conflicts are increasing, when technology is outpacing regulation, and when inequality continues to erode trust, women have the opportunity - and the obligation - to lead differently. We bring to the table empathy, collaboration, and a holistic vision of progress that connects profit to purpose. If the next 80 years are to be marked by greater peace, more  inclusive development, and stronger protection of human rights, it will be because women refused to stand on the sidelines.

As members of NFBPWC and the international BPW community, we carry this legacy forward. Our networks span cultures, continents, and sectors. That diversity is our strength. Together, we can build not only businesses that thrive but societies that endure.

The United Nations theme is a global call, but for us it is also personal. Better together is not just an aspiration; it is a mandate. The future is watching, and it will remember whether we stood together as women, as professionals, and as leaders committed to peace, development, and human rights for all.

Larisa Miller

BPW GALWAY & NFBPWC USA NFBPWC INTERNATIONAL

Relations Chair (2024-2026) International Liaison

UN Standing Committee