If Countries Had More Women Leaders, We’d Have A More Peaceful World: Dalai Lama

Addressing the London Police on Wednesday from Dharamshala, India, the Dalai Lama highlighted the importance of women in peacemaking processes. He said that if countries had more women leaders, this world would have been a much more peaceful world. “Historically, we see that a majority of warriors are men, even butchers tend to be men. Women represent a gentler approach,” he said in online interaction with the London Police.

"When the present Prime Minister of Finland was recently sworn in and appointed women to key posts in her cabinet, I wrote to congratulate her."- Dalai Lama

Encouragement For Women In A Male-Dominated Organisation

His Holiness' statement that women leaders account for a more peaceful world came in response to a question asked by a woman police officer. The woman sought his advice and encouragement for women in a male-dominated organisation. To this, he said, " Women are symbols of love. Mothers embody love and compassion. Sometimes I observe that if countries had more women leaders, we’d have a more peaceful world. In fact, when the present Prime Minister of Finland was recently sworn in and appointed women to key posts in her cabinet, I wrote to congratulate her."

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Further, underlining the sensitivity with which women play their role, he said, "Scientists have found evidence that women are more sensitive to the feelings of others. Historically we see that the majority of warriors are men; even butchers tend to be men. Women represent a gentler approach. Therefore, wherever they work women should take a more active role in promoting love and compassion in relation to others."

"Historically we see that the majority of warriors are men; even butchers tend to be men. Women represent a gentler approach."- Dalai Lama

This isn't the first time when the Dalai Lama stressed the importance of women leaders in maintaining peace throughout the world. In 2017, in the National Women’s Parliament, organised by the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh in  Amravati, he propagated the message of bringing gender equality to the forefront when we talk about peacemaking processes. Notably, globally, women form on an average only 8 percent of negotiators, 5 percent of signatories, and 2 percent of mediators in peace talks.

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