Statement of Argentina at the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, October 2016
Statement by Argentina
The merit of resolution 1325 (2000) has been to acknowledge the important role that women play as key actors in peace processes. The international community should join forces to make this role possible. One of the greatest challenges still is the implementation on the ground by all stakeholders of the commitments made in the framework of the United Nations.
For Argentina, the gender perspective in the design and implementation of public policies is a priority. That is why the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions is fully embedded in the firm commitment assumed by the Government of my country to achieve gender equality, the empowerment of women and the defence and protection of women’s rights.
Argentina welcomes the establishment of the informal national focal points tetwork for the agenda on women and peace and security. I congratulate the Kingdom of Spain for that initiative. The establishment of that network multiplies the efforts for the full achievement of the human rights of women in countries in conflict, which contributes to the implementation by States of their obligations and commitments.
After the adoption of Argentina’s national plan and its launch in 2016, Argentina offered to cooperate with Columbia on gender topics in order to contribute to the country’s peace process. We are convinced that working towards the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) will have a real impact on peacebuilding in various parts of the world, which is why my country has promoted its policies regarding women’s access to justice and the fight against impunity. It has done that, to give just one example, by participating in the Justice Rapid Response initiative; my country is a member of the initiative’s governing body and has nominated experts to be included in its roster.
Statement by Argentina
In many cases, the violation of women’s human rights and the assaults against the sexual integrity of women and girls in situations of conflict, as well as the abduction of women and girls, with the goal of exploiting them for work, sexual slavery and trafficking, are committed by members of rebel or terrorist groups, as well as by members of armed forces or security forces. In some cases, such crimes are even committed by members of participating peacekeeping operations.
We need to work in favour of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and to strengthen measures aimed at preventing cases of sexual abuse and exploitation in peacekeeping operations, in line with the Organization’s zero-tolerance policy. We should also implement the resolution with regard to its military, police and civilian components, so as to move from a culture of impunity to a culture of prevention. Such measures would have a real impact on peacebuilding in various parts of the world.
Statement by Argentina
Sustaining peace will be achieved only if we increase the participation of women as actors in all stages of the peace process, including in particular in peacekeeping operations. We wish to underscore that 15 per cent of Argentine personnel participating in peacekeeping operations or in special political missions are women, according to the latest data. That is higher than the general average of 4.22 per cent. We will continue to work on deepening that commitment.
Argentina fully agrees with the importance that the United Nations attaches to the role of women in preventive diplomacy, at the negotiating table and in post-conflict reconstruction. That perspective is naturally linked with the new concept of sustaining peace, which recognizes the important role to be performed by women
Argentina is committed to the meaningful participation of women in decision-making and in all peace processes. That is why we adopted our national plan of action for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions as an instrument that integrates all national agencies working in the area of women and peace and security. One of the goals of the national action plan is to increase the participation of women from various spheres — political, social, economic and security — to contribute to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacemaking.
My country strongly believes that more equitable and egalitarian societies that respect the rights of women are more peaceful societies. With that in mind, strengthening the meaningful role of women in all the phases of peace processes and mainstreaming a gender perspective in peace agreements and in public policies are priorities of our foreign policy in that area. Argentina also encourages the incorporation of a gender perspective into all peace processes involving the United Nations. We consider it fundamental to work with civil society organizations, which should continue to participate in designing and implementing policies related to the topic.