Statement of Australia at the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, October 2016

Australia is appalled by the continuing use of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence in conflict and the targeting of women and girls by extremist groups. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2016/822) is clear that, despite progress made on the women and peace and security agenda, there remain many gaps that require immediate action.

I cannot conclude without again voicing our deep concern about sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers. We welcome initiatives aimed at prevention, survivor assistance and accountability, and stress again that there is no excuse for these actions, nor excuse for inaction in addressing sexual exploitation and abuse. We know that to sustain peace we must include women; not just in our words, but in our actions. And we must accelerate and strengthen practical efforts to place women front and centre in the peace and security agenda.

By harnessing the expertise of civil society organizations on the ground we can be more effective in our efforts to remove barriers and create meaningful opportunities for women to engage equally in all stages of peace processes. Civil society groups represent those whose lived experience is most relevant. In most instances, they existed before the conflict and they will exist after it. That is why Australia, working with partners, established the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (GAI). The GAI helps women’s civil society organizations to contribute to conflict prevention, crisis response, and peacebuilding. We encourage other Member States to support that practical mechanism.

Australia reiterates its support for increasing the participation of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations, particularly in staff officer and military observer roles, as outlined in the London communiqué of the United Nations peacekeeping defence ministerial meeting