STATEMENT OF ANDORRA AT THE OPEN DEBATE ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY, OCTOBER, 2015
STATEMENT OF ANDORRA, October, 2015
This year marks 15 years since the historic, unanimous adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) by the Security Council. Since then, we have seen notable progress in favour of women, such as the establishment in 2010 of UN-Women and the international recognition of sexual violence as a threat to international peace and security. Andorra, as everyone knows, does not have armed forces but has nonetheless continued to support United Nations peacekeeping operations and a various initiatives of the Organization. I cannot fail to note our co-sponsorship of resolution 2225 (2015) of 18 June 2015, concerning children in armed conflict, which has some bearing on today’s debate and which reiterates concern over sexual violence against girls and encourages States to continue to implement the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy concerning sexual exploitation and abuse.
STATEMENT OF ANDORRA, October, 2015
Resolution 1325 (2000) also urges Member States to incorporate women in decisionmaking processes. In that regard, I should like to highlight Andorra’s experience, which has achieved a gender-balanced Parliament without adopting legislative measures but rather as a result of a society that was able to evolve in terms of equality. Agendasensitive legislative power has made it possible to undertake important activities with respect to gender equality. For example, Andorra was the tenth State to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, thereby allowing the Convention to enter into force. On 15 January, we also adopted a law criminalizing gender-based and domestic violence. The law calls for the establishment of a national commission for the prevention of gender- based and domestic violence. Andorra has made a commitment, as it did during the second cycle of the universal periodic review, to endowing that body with the resources necessary to effectively meet its goals.
STATEMENT OF ANDORRA, October, 2015
Our experience of recent years has demonstrated yet again the effectiveness of including women in decision-making, and I can confirm that Andorra’s commitment to gender equality remains steadfast. The Government of Andorra recently set up focal point for equality policies under the auspices of the Secretary of State for Social Affairs, which is part of my Ministry for Health, Social Affairs and Labour, a Government body that is in charge of coordinating national equality policies. Andorra is also committed to adopting as soon as possible an omnibus gender-equality law to strengthen the existing legislative framework. Also with respect to this future act, the Government intends to adopt a national plan for equality that will draw on the participation of civil society.
STATEMENT OF ANDORRA, October, 2015
Andorra reiterates its commitment to the role of women in the maintenance of international peace and security. There is no doubt that the implementation of and followup to resolution 1325 (2000), as well as the inclusion of women in decision-making, will promote progress in women’s rights and the strengthening of peace and security in the world. In this conviction, it is an honour for me to announce to this Chamber Andorra’s decision to co-sponsor resolution 2242 (2015), which was led by Spain and the United Kingdom and adopted thismorning.