Statement of Malaysia at the May 15 Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict
IMplementation
The recent release of the 82 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram has provided some relief to their families. We believe that supporting those girls and their families must be at the forefront of any response. Equally important is ensuring that mechanisms and programmes are in place to facilitate the reintegration and rehabilitation of the abducted girls, victimized by such heinous acts, into their communities. Malaysia supports the intention to address conflict-related sexual violence in a broader, more systematic manner. While responses and reactions to the situation may provide short-term solutions, it is imperative that we look into preventive and corrective measures as a more sustained solution to the issue. Key to that would be to ride on the successfully renewed international momentum moving towards fully actualizing the involvement of women and leveraging their influence on matters of peace and security, following the high-level review of October 2015 (see S/PV.7533) and its accompanying global study of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) issued by UN-Women. Having said that, we agree with our briefers that ensuring women’s participation in all peacebuilding efforts and increasing their participation in peacebuilding operations deserve the full support of all Member States.
Part
We fully support efforts to increase and prioritize the participation of women at all levels in peace processes and mediation efforts. The peace process in Colombia showed us how significant the involvement of women, both at the main peace talks in Havana and in regional and national consultations, can be in supporting the successful conclusion of the initial peace agreement between the Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia — Ejército del Pueblo. Increased access to gender expertise by international mediators and negotiating parties in the drafting of peace agreements, which has resulted in the inclusion of gender-specific provisions in a number of agreements, is another positive development that should be sustained. Resolution 1325 (2000) recognized the need for a gender perspective to be taken into account in political, security and humanitarian action. While there has been some progress in mainstreaming gender considerations in the work of the United Nations, notably in the recent adoption of the Peacebuilding Commission’s Gender Strategy, there is still a long way to go in fully implementing such policies. In that regard, Malaysia believes that increasing the number of women in decision-making positions contributes to the development and implementation of holistic and gender-inclusive policies that benefit the community, the State and the Organization as a whole.
The call made in resolution 1325 (2000) for the increased representation of women at all decision-making levels, remains as acute and relevant now as it was then, including within the United Nations. We continue to support the Secretary-General’s efforts to achieve gender parity within the United Nations, especially at senior decision-making levels.
In conclusion, the women and peace and security agenda aspires to restore the role of women and girls, one half of humankind, as effective actors with an equal stake in peace and security efforts. Our task will be complete only when women’s representation and participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution becomes axiomatic. Until then, my delegation offers its steadfast commitment and support to the furthering of this agenda.
PK
We also share the assessment that the presence of women peacekeepers in conflict zones can facilitate interaction and confidence-building with local communities and affected populations, particularly women and children. In addition to endorsing the three Ps — planning, pledges and performance — the London communiqué, adopted by the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial meeting last year, also affirmed the commitment to increase women’s participation in uniformed roles. In that regard, I am pleased to share that, as of today, Malaysia has increased the number of women military personnel deployed within our contingent under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from 26 to 40. The Government of Malaysia is also currently taking steps to ensure that our contingent reaches the 15 per cent target of women military personnel deployed in Lebanon.
Additionally, my delegation would like to take the opportunity to advocate for mandatory predeployment training on child protection, in addition to training on sexual exploitation and abuse prevention, for all United Nations peacekeepers in support of the Secretary-General’s initiative for troop- and police-contributing countries to issue certificates of compliance. Knowledge is the best defence and the importance of the provision of training for peacekeeping personnel cannot be overstated as a means of prevention.