Speeches made in the General Assembly mentioning Women and Peace

The General Assembly General Debate was held from November 10 - 16, 2001 at UN Headquarters in New York City. Below are selected quotes from the speeches made by Heads of State and Foreign Ministers.

All content on the following subjects has been extracted and placed on the WILPF International website at this link.
www.wilpf.int.ch/~wilpf/un/ga2001.html

1. Disarmament and Security: www.reachingcriticalwill.org/1com/ga56disarm.html
2 . War in Afghanistan: www.wilpf.int.ch/~wilpf/un/afgh.html
3. Role of the UN - references/commitments to multilateralism: www.wilpf.int.ch/~wilpf/un/unrole.html
4. Reform of the UN: www.wilpf.int.ch/~wilpf/un/reform.html
5. International Criminal Court (ICC): www.wilpf.int.ch/~wilpf/un/icc.html
6. Peace in the Middle East: www.wilpf.int.ch/~wilpf/un/me.html
7. Globalisation: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/~wilpf/un/glob.html

References to Women, Peace and Security

President of the USA, George W. Bush: Women are executed in Kabul's soccer stadium. They can be beaten for wearing socks that are too thin. Men are jailed for missing prayer meetings.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Mr Lee Han-dong: In many corners of the globe, the threat of terrorism looms large, and conflicts and confrontations caused by ethnic, religious and economic reasons still persist. Far worse, the greatest victims are often the most vulnerable of people, such as children, women and ethnic minorities.

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, President of the Council of the European Union, Mr. Louis Michel: The European Union is resolved to continue the fight against all forms of discrimination and violence against women and to ensure that all countries take strong measures to apply the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. Women must be able to enjoy their human rights in full, on an equal footing with men. Girls must have the same opportunities as boys, in particular in education and access to social services. The European Union insists that there must be equal rights to property, credit facilities and social services, including reproductive health services. It is in the interest of everyone that women should be able to participate fully at all levels in economic and political life.
The Union stresses the importance of implementing Security Council Resolution 1325 and the special attention which must be given to the participation and full association of women on an equal footing in all endeavours to maintain and promote peace and security.

President of the Islamic republic of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf: It is perverse to regard the rape of Kashmiri women as a punishment inflicted in the course of .. We have successfully put in place a sound democratic structure, based on empowerment of the people at the grass root levels. A revolutionary step has been taken by providing 1/3rd of the seats to women at District level governing councils. I want to put on record in this august gathering that Pakistan is proud of this representation and empowerment of women, which is a unique feature in the world. Our resolve of holding elections to Provincial and National Assemblies and the Senate in October 2002 in accordance with the road map announced last August, will remain unchanged inspite of the prevailing environment in the region. war.

President of the Republic of Bolivia, Jorge Quiroga Ramirez: In my country we are conscious that the long struggle for freedom and against terrorism is just beginning and will only end when all the citizens of the world, men and women, are entitled to vote and elect, to offer their opinions and profess their faith, to freely move about and above all to live free from fear of terror.

Prime Minister of Jamaica, P. J Patterson, QC, MP: For the past two years, Jamaica has worked with other members of the Council to make peace-keeping operations more efficient; to create strategies for sustained peace-building; bring warring factions to the peace table and beyond that, promote compliance with resulting accords; put in place mechanisms for protecting those most affected by situations of conflict, especially the women and children among them.

Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama: At the onset of the new millennium, we hope that gender issues will continue to engage the attention of the international community. The adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995, and the subsequent adoption of the further actions and initiatives by the Twenty-third Special Session of the General Assembly last year, indicate the universal recognition of empowering women as partners in socio-economic development. As a result of the great importance that Ghana attaches to the advancement of women, our government has elevated the national machinery for the advancement of women into a full-fledged Ministry headed by a Cabinet Minister. We are determined, through practical measures, to make our women full and effective partners in the development of our country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Andorra, Mr. Julie Minoves-Triquell: Second, outside of Islam, a return to the humanism that lies at the heart of our modernity, the modernity in which we still are living. To recognize modernity, and its great contribution of a secular and universal culture-a mass culture is something that needs to be protected, fought for. A modernity that insists on the rights of men, women and children.

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs United Kingdom, Jack Straw MP
Conflict, poverty, discrimination and injustice still blight the lives of millions in every part of the globe. Individuals' rights, especially women's rights, are ignored with impunity. The very structure of communities collapses.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland, H.E. Mr. Halldor Asgrimsson
By passing Security Council Resolution 1325 last year, on Women, Peace and Security, the Council recognized the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into peacekeeping operations. When the UN becomes involved in peace building and reconstruction in Afghanistan we have to make sure that in the process, Security Council Resolution 1325 will be honored for the benefit of Afghan women and as a result for the Afghan population as a whole. The United Nations must play a key role in the nation-building process in Afghanistan. In the case of a UN post conflict involvement Iceland stands ready to contribute civilian experts to such an operation.Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, H.E. Dr. Benita Ferrero-Waldner. In this context we have to give greater recognition to the role of women in providing human security and human development in all our societies. This recognition is due in particular in crisis areas where women have not only sustained most of the victimization of intra-societal violence, but have also assured the survival of the neediest. An example in point is Afghanistan and Afghani society. 85 % of refugees and internally displaced persons are women and children. In fact,those who are often depicted as the weakest element in society had to bear the brunt of violence and repression. As we design our programmes for reconstructing a post-terrorist Afghanistan, we must conceive of programmes by which women, in particular those now in refugee camps, are enabled to contribute their share in a governance of development, peace and cooperation. This is essential for a society that wishes to overcome the scars of decades of conflict and war.

I concretely suggest, therefore, that programmes be implemented immediately that, through education and training, would empower women, in particular those in refugee camps, to assume public responsibility in the reconstruction of their country. Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. J.J. van Aartsen Yet, again: reconstruction cannot be imposed upon a nation. Here, too, a sustainable recovery needs to come from within. Allthe men, and especially the women of Afghanistan must once again become the makers of their own fate and future. The answer lies with them.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, H.E. Ms Anna Lindh
Thirdly, we must assist the people of Afghanistan in the reconstruction of their country. Restoring this ravaged nation into peaceful co-existence must include the support for a political process leading to a representative government that respects human rights and fosters a democratic development. The role, protection and participation of women must be high on every
policy agenda.

Discrimination in any form is unacceptable and incompatible with these fundamental principles. It is the responsibility of every government to safeguard equal rights and opportunities to men and women, as well as the rights of the child. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Lesotho, The Honourable Motsoahae Thomas Thabane Lesotho also remains keenly aware of the important role that women play in the advancement of the nation's social and economic development processes as well as the need to sustain their involvement and participation at all levels. To this end, we have heeded the call to States Parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) that entered reservations to the Convention to review those reservations. Our reservation to CEDAW has been amended with a view to withdrawing it at a later stage.

Mr. President,
The events in Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda as well as the gruesome images of women and children whose limbs were hacked by rebel forces in Sierra Leone have shown that accountability for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and universal jurisdiction over these crimes are key to bringing an end to the circle of impunity which we have witnessed over the years. Lesotho's veritable contribution in helping to end this culture of impunity is demonstrated by its support and assistance to the activities of the international tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda in bringing those responsible for the most egregious crimes to justice, as well as its support for the creation of the Special Court for Sierra Leone for which Lesotho has pledged $100,000.00 over three years. A payment of $40, 000.00 in respect of the first year has already been deposited.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique, H.E. Dr. Leonardo Santos Simao
The fight against HIV/AIDS is another priority for the Government of Mozambique for which it has adopted a National Strategic Plan that focuses on prevention and reduction of its impact. The plan places the human being at the centre of actions, and is directed to the vulnerable groups of the society, including women, orphaned children, and the youth, particularly girls. In this endeavour the government has adopted a multi-sector approach, with the active involvement of all stakeholders, including civil society.

Ministre des Affaires Etrangeres de la République d'Haiti, Monsieur Joseph Phillipe ANTONIO
Quand des enfants, des femmes, des hommes, toute une population se meurt par faute de moyens, de ressources financières, serait-il exagérer de parler, Monsieur le Président, d'une autre forme de terrorisme économique qui n'ose se dévoiler?

President Of the Republic of the Philippines, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
The vision of nations where poverty is rapidly reduced cannot be attained in places where women and girls are mistreated and their rights trampled upon. As the woman Head of State, woman Head of Government and woman Commander-in-Chief of the world's 14th largest nation, I say: we cannot conquer poverty without liberating women and girls where they are oppressed. The gender gap is a part of the development gap and must be addressed with equal vigor.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Sahr Matturi
Mr. President, the sacrifices we have made for peace in Sierra Leone are not just for Sierra Leoneans alone. They are also in the interest of peace and stability in the Mano River Union `triangle' in particular, and the West African - sub-region as a whole. Recent rapprochement at the Ministerial level, followed by meetings of Joint Security Committee, and the initiative launched by the Mano River Union Women Peace Network in the three countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, augur well for the proposed Mano River Union summit meeting.
The President of the General Assembly at the Close of the General Debate, H.E. Han Seung- Soo. The general debate has also witnessed renewed commitment to gender equality and the implementation of Beijing and Beijing+5 as well as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Several delegations highlighted national action to ensure equality of opportunity for women and men, while others called for programs and measures for the empowerment of women, including in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

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