Speakers at a launch event for a report on women in the defense sector said inclusive armed forces are more effective and stressed the need to accelerate women's participation.

"Today we are here for the launch of this very important report, indeed, on women in the defense sector. The situation now, we have a clear picture about it. This report is really a milestone in this regard," said Speaker 1, a speaker at the event, noting that "Armed forces that are more inclusive, that are more representative, are also more efficient." Speaker 2 added that "Women's participation in the defence sector is not only a matter of equity. Diversity military teams enhance operational effectiveness, offering new perspectives that improve problem solving and foster deeper connections with the communities that they serve."

The speakers framed gender equality in the armed forces as a human-rights issue. "Gender equality is, issue of human rights. We cannot afford to leave half of our population and we have a big interest to bring more women in the armed forces," said Speaker 3.

Speakers cited measurable gains but urged faster change. Speaker 1 said, "We moved from a participation of women from 11 to 14% since 2016. 16. Now what we need to do is really to accelerate this progress." The transcript did not specify whether those percentages refer to a global, regional, or country-level measure.

Speakers from specific countries described local efforts. Speaker 4 said Nigeria has "cultivated a culture" that focuses on qualifications rather than gender and that women are being allowed into "every aspect of the military life" beyond traditional logistics and medical roles. Speaker 3 described Liberia's post-conflict outreach: "Today, in the Armed Forces of Liberia, we strive to have pre recruitment training for women. We strive to go to school buildings and talk to women, universities, campuses, and talk to women about their role that they need to play in the society, especially in the defense sector." Speaker 3 concluded, "So So let us give female the chance to prove herself and to come up with her own decisions to be what she wants to be."

The discussion combined statements of principle—linking inclusion to rights and effectiveness—with descriptions of outreach and training programs. No formal actions, votes, or specific funding commitments were recorded in the transcript. The report itself and any implementation timelines or responsible agencies were not specified in the provided text.

Speakers said progress has been made but emphasized the need to accelerate efforts through outreach, training and cultural change.