Statement of Kenya at the 2016 WPS Open Debate
Kenya Implementation
Resolution 1325 (2000) was adopted a year after Kenya’s tenure on the Security Council came to an end. Kenya commends the Security Council for its sustained, committed engagement to the agenda on women and peace and security over the past 16 years. Kenya’s commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, is unequivocal. It is further underlined by our full support at the regional level of the African Union Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa. I am pleased to inform the Council that our Government has undertaken a number of far-reaching measures to that end.
In 2016, Kenya launched a national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), aptly entitled “Kuhusisha Wanawake ni Kudumisha Amani’ — which in Kiswahili means “To Involve Women is to Sustain Peace” — that encompasses the changing nature of insecurity by incorporating women’s human security.
Secondly, the action plan will continue to mainstream resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) into Kenya’s national development framework. The national plan also takes into account progress made by Kenya in advancing the promotion and protection of women and girls, in accordance with the Kenyan Constitution and intergovernmental and regional policies related to security, peacebuilding and conflict resolution; in improving the quality of women’s participation in their contribution to security at the national level by increasing their numbers through well- targeted recruitment; and in developing programmes at the National Defence College that integrate gender training for troops prior to deployment in peacekeeping operations undertaken in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
Kenya Justice
The Kenyan Constitution, promulgated in 2010, now addresses structural discrimination challenges and protects and guarantees fundamental freedoms and the civic and socioeconomic rights of men and women equally.
Kenya Human rights
Based on our national experience, I would like to underscore the important role that education, capacity- building and communication can play in combatting violence against women and girls. Kenya therefore urges all stakeholders, Member State and the United Nations to prioritize education and the creation of awareness of the critical role of women in peacebuilding, peace and security.
Kenya PB
As the current Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Kenya has been at the forefront of efforts to operationalize the United Nations women and peace and security agenda. On 7 September, the Commission adopted a gender strategy to promote gender-sensitive peacebuilding. The strategy acknowledges the vital role of women’s leadership and participation in conflict prevention and sustaining peace. Kenya urges all Member States to address issues relating to existing gaps. I am convinced that only thus can we meet our collective commitments to women, peace and security. We therefore welcome the cogent remarks made by the representative of the penholder, the United Kingdom, advocating for champions and leaders, and we were happy to note that the representative of Sweden is a good candidate for such a champion.
Kenya implementaion
It is therefore necessary that we provide predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding, target more funds towards gender equality, and support special funds, such as the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women and the United Nations Fund for Gender Equality.
Finally, Kenya believes that if the issue of the diversion of resources from development to waging war is not urgently addressed, our efforts to meet our commitments to women and girls will continue to lag behind.