Amidst the deluge of events, articles, and reports commemorating March as Women’s History Month, I was surprised to overhear a male legislative colleague ask, “Why do we need a Women’s History Month?”

When I realized that this was a serious question, I paused. I realized the response had to go beyond the history, beyond the fact that of the 239 years since the founding of the United States, women have only been able to vote for 95 of those years. My response had to acknowledge the fact that current women’s history includes fighting for career and reproductive rights, as well as fighting against domestic abuse and sexual assault.

It makes sense to me that women’s profound journey deserves recognition. This is also an opportunity to underscore how women’s voices are critical in achieving sustainable solutions to conflict, and how they must be empowered to make these important decisions.

Women’s History Month highlights that women, both in the U.S. and around the world, have been at the forefront of peace-building — advocating for diplomacy rather than war, reaching across political, ethnic, and religious divides to bring communities together, and addressing the root social causes that lead to insecurity and conflict. We know that women play a crucial role in creating and implementing sustainable solutions to conflict.

Yet women are most often excluded from the table. Inclusive peace and security processes are the only path to sustainable peace.

This month is not unlike any other month with continuing violence in many places around the globe including Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, and South Sudan,and the rise in violent extremism, as concerns increase over the rights of women in Afghanistan as the U.S. withdraws its troops. Now more than ever it is critical we bring women’s voices to the table to help us find pathways to actual sustainable peace.

Women’s History Month pays tribute to the generations of women whose commitment to equality have proved invaluable to society.

In recognition, join with me to urge our Members of Congress to pursue inclusive diplomacy over war and pass the Women, Peace, and Security Act, recently introduced in the Senate, which would ensure women’s full and meaningful participation in all of our diplomatic, development, and defense efforts at home and abroad. Let us make sure that women’s voices are heard on the most important issue of all — peace.

Now that is something to celebrate.

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Rep. Jennifer DeChant (D-Bath) is a member of the Maine House of Representatives, representing District 52. She serves on Energy Utilities and Technology Committee and is a member of the Women Legislators’ Lobby, a program of Women’s Action for New Directions.