STATEMENT OF SENEGAL ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY, OCTOBER, 2015
STATEMENT OF SENEGAL, October, 2015
As an integral component of crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes, sexual and gender-based violence breaches the social contract that binds civilians to security forces, undermines the foundations of peace and destroys development efforts. Moreover, discrimination against women in peace efforts, in addition to further aggravating such injustice, runs the risk of sowing the future seeds of resurgent conflict.
STATEMENT OF SENEGAL, October, 2015
The implementation of this programmatic and operational framework, strengthened by other resolutions, led the Council to take into account the issue of women and peace and security in 7 of 13 agreements concluded in 2013 and in 14 of 20 resolutions creating or extending United Nations peacekeeping mandates. I commend the participation of women in all United Nations-led peace mediation efforts in 2013.
STATEMENT OF SENEGAL, October, 2015
However, despite those highly encouraging efforts, women and girls continue to be subject to the lawlessness of warlords. That is why we believe it important, as we pursue our efforts under resolution 1325 (2000) and other substantive texts, to adopt an integrated, holistic approach that prioritizes the political, development and human rights perspectives in order to better keep the peace, break the cycle of impunity and ensure reconciliation and the social reintegration of victims and their former executioners.
STATEMENT OF SENEGAL, October, 2015
That brings me to the question of the empowerment — particularly economic — of women during and after conflict as they take part in the kind of recovery efforts that are so valued by the Peacebuilding Commission. In that respect, I underscore the meaningful contributions that regional and subregional organizations can and must provide to the implementation of that important agenda. In that light, I reaffirm that Senegal, as the seventh-largest troop- contributing country and candidate for non-permanent membership of the Council for 2016-2017, maintains a priority focus on the women and peace and security agenda.
STATEMENT OF SENEGAL, October, 2015
That priority is already manifested by the 60 Senegalese women participating in United Nations missions and the Senegalese contribution towards making the idea of a situation room a familiar concept. Senegal’s faith in the leadership of women was highlighted by
President Macky Sall’s choice to co-sponsor the launching of the United Nations campaign against sexual violence.