Austria
....
Peacebuilding efforts also need to focus on the establishment
of a gender-sensitive judicial system and need to comprise programmes
targeted at the inclusion of women as judges, lawyers and lawmakers.
Burkina Faso
....
Education and training are the primary tools we must give [women]
to help them empower themselves and participate in every aspect
of the social, political and economic arenas, including even the
military.
Ghana
....
There is a need for greater recognition of the roles women play
in peace consolidation, and they should must be consulted in all
activities undertaken on their behalf and be equitably represented
in strategic responses to violations.
Better liaison with women’s
constituencies can improve access to operational intelligence
and can serve as force multipliers in the achievement of mission
objectives. Increasing women’s voice in security and governance
structures can help weed out the root causes of violence and discrimination.
Liberia
....
We call for a coordinated approach that brings together different
ministries such as Justice; Gender; Health; Internal and Education
and women's NGO; We in Liberia are pleased with the coordinated
SRSG System and the Residence Coordinator. to alleviate the burden
on Government.
Netherlands
....
Finally, Mr. President, women are not only victims. It cannot
be repeated enough that women and women's organizations have to
be included in peace and reconciliation processes. They also need
to be involved in formulating justice and reparation programmes,
including post rape care.
South Africa
....
The deployment of women facilitates engagement with local women
through the setting up of women's desks in IDP and refugee camps
that assists women to talk about their needs and trauma, including
information sharing on sexual harassment, abuse and rape.
Spain
....
An integral response to sexual abuse used as a weapon of war continues
to be a challenge for the international community. Besides, the
ad hoc measures adopted in extreme cases - squads around refugee
camps, protection and escort to groups of women heading to the
fields, wells, or markets -, it is imperative that the United
Nations, in close coordination with its Programs and Funds, particularly
with UNIFEM, UNICEF and CEDAW, study, in close consultations with
other regional organizations, stakeholders and the civil society,
how to structure and institutionalize an efficient response of
the international community to this problem.
Switzerland
Additionally, the Security Council might wish to ask the Secretary-General
to submit reports on "lessons learned based on the expertise
of UN specialised agencies or programmes, such as UNIFEM and UNICEF,
and take into account the security assessments of local and international
women's groups.
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to top
Conflict
Resolution, Prevention & Peacebuilding
Afghanistan
....
The Government of Afghanistan has made considerable achievements
in protecting women from violence and assuring a secure environment
where their rights are protected, and their participation in decisions
making bodies and in the peace building process is guaranteed.
....
The escalation of violence and insecurity in some parts of the
country as a result of the terrorist activities carried out by
the Taliban and A1 Qaeda, hinders the implementation of the rule
of law and consequently makes women vulnerable to all forms of
violence. Different methods of violence
against women are used by the Taliban and Al Qaeda to intimidate,
terrorize, and force Afghan women's retreat from public activities
and limit their access to health care, education, justice and
economic and social endeavors, especially in the southern and
eastern parts of Afghanistan.
....
Sustainable peace in Afghanistan can't be achieved without the
participation of half of its population, namely Afghan women.
Afghanistan recognizes the importance of women's positive contribution
to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and the promotion
of peace and security. As Secretary General Ban Ki Moon justly
stated this morning the most effective way to combat violence
against women is to make women messenger of peace instead of victims
of violence and this reflects our vision for Afghan Women.
Argentina
....
In the framework of a human rights perspective, Argentina places
high priority in the situation of women and the girl child in
conflict situations, and in the participation of women as fundamental
actors in peace processes and the peace building stage.
Austria
....
Empowerment and active participation of women will make a difference.
Women are severely affected by armed conflicts in multiple ways.
Their experience is an invaluable contribution in peace processes,
their voices must be heard. Women must have a seat and voice at
negotiation tables. Regrettably women's representation in peace
processes still constitutes an exception.
Austria in its National Action Plan on implementing
SC-Res 1325 adopted in 2007 has made a clear commitment to lobby
worldwide foe women's participation in all peace efforts.' Conferences
in Vienna last year bringing together Women leaders from the Middle
East as well as from Serbia and Kosovo were important opportunities
to establish networks which allow for the multiplication of their
voices and influence…. I would also like to urge all SRSG's
and Envoys to make full use of the potential of women in peace
processes and conflict resolution.
....
Examples in recent post-conflict areas such as Burundi and Uganda
have demonstrated that sexual violence against women and girls
does not necessarily end with the cessation of hostilities but
rather can become socially accepted. Although mainstreaming gender
as well as the rights and needs of women and girls figure in many
frameworks for peacebuilding, transitional justice, SSR and DDR,
it often seems to be difficult to translate the general recognition
of the importance of gender into concrete measures and to commit
to their implementation. All stakeholders need to make more efforts
not to fall into the post-conflict trap of focusing almost exclusively
on the so-called "angry young men", while neglecting
the needs and rights of women.
....
Peacebuilding efforts also need to focus on the establishment
of a gender-sensitive judicial system and need to comprise programmes
targeted at the inclusion of women as judges, lawyers and lawmakers.
Bangladesh
....
There is no denial of the fact that we need to ensure adequate
representation of women at all levels of division making in conflict
prevention, and in post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The true measure of women's participation in peace negotiations
is not, through numbers, but through power in decision making.
In the consolidation of peace the role of women remains vital
but often ignored.
....
Without adequate attention to and understanding of gender relations
and inequalities, women will continue to remain excluded from
peace-building initiatives. As a result of such situation their
requirements are not understood. We need to furthe1 intensify
our efforts to incorporating the gender perspectives at all levels
of peace-building. We also need to create expertise to address
the issues related to sexual violence. One way to augment the
capacity building is to facilitate women's participation in both
formal and non-formal negotiations in the peace process.
Benin
....
Care for victims of sexual violence is best provided by women
and by women’s civil society organizations. They should
regard this as a field of action in which they have a clear comparative
advantage. Their participation in negotiations to conclude and
implement peace accords and to establish truth and reconciliation
bodies would be an additional guarantee of the mainstreaming of
gender-specific issues. They could also help to ensure that effective
prevention policies are adopted.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
....
Bosnia and Herzegovina strongly believes that women should be
more involved in prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace
negotiations, peace negotiations, peace building in post conflict
situations and promotion of sustainable peace.
Brazil
....
An effective response to violence against women requires a comprehensive
approach, in which peace and security concerns are integrated
into a human rights-based perspective. In that regard, empowering
women and girls must be at the center of any effort to address
gender-based violence. The overall situation of women and girls
will only improve if equal participation in decision-making at
all levels is ensured.
In the specific case of armed
conflicts, the full-fledged participation of women in peacebuilding
efforts is critical. In this respect, more interaction is necessary
between the Security Council and ECOSOC, under Article 65 of the
Charter. We should also make full use of the possibilities of
cooperation within the Peacebuilding Commission, which can contribute
to the implementation of Resolution 1325 (2000). As we see in
the country-specific case of Guinea-Bissau, peacebuilding can
greatly benefit from women's perspectives and actions.
Canada
....
As we call for further concerted action to eliminate sexual violence,
let us reaffirm our commitment to the equal participation and
full involvement of women in the maintenance and promotion of
peace and security, including in peace processes, and remind ourselves
of the need to take concrete measures to increase their role in
decision-making with respect to conflict prevention and resolution.
China
....
Civil society should continue to be encouraged to join the efforts
to protect women. Our colleagues from the NGO community deserve
our appreciation for the work they carry out in the field to protect
the rights and interests of women under difficult circumstances.
China supports the constructive role that the NGOs continue to
play in the protection of women in armed conflict and encourages
them to increase their communication with UN agencies, especially
those with a direct mandate for the issue of women, and make good
proposals.
Colombia
....
Colombia has also been meeting the commitments provided for in
Resolution 1325 of the Security Council, and has submitted the
corresponding reports concerning its implementation, which has
allowed us to make more visible the important role of women in
the prevention and solution of conflicts.
Democratic Republic of
the Congo
....
Thus, we would stress that the implementation of resolution 1325
(2000) will lead to the recognition of the role of women in peacebuilding
and peacekeeping. It is important to involve women in the mechanisms
for the prevention and resolution of conflicts so that they can
lend to humanity their capacity to create consensus, to resolve
conflicts and to build peace.
Ghana
....
There is a need for greater recognition of the roles women play
in peace consolidation, and they should must be consulted in all
activities undertaken on their behalf and be equitably represented
in strategic responses to violations.
Better liaison with women’s
constituencies can improve access to operational intelligence
and can serve as force multipliers in the achievement of mission
objectives. Increasing women’s voice in security and governance
structures can help weed out the root causes of violence and discrimination.
Liberia
....
In so doing, the United Nations Security Council recognized that
by protecting women and securing their engagement in peace processes,
the likelihood of success in peacemaking and peace consolidation
dramatically increases.
Much remains to be done to implement
the vision of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace
and security to ensure that women are protected from the worst
abuses in times of conflict and to empower them to plan their
rightful and vital role in helping their countries prevent, end
and recover from conflict.
....
The importance of women's participation in peace process and post-conflict
governance and reconstruction, including the expansion of the
number of women Special Representatives of the UN Secretary General,
involvement in local women in the decisions affecting their lives,
and inclusion of women as peacekeepers and civilian observers.
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
....
In conclusion, let me stress that the complete solution to sexual
violence against women and girls in conflict situations lies in
resolving conflict, attaining peace, creating an accountable,
transparent and effective security sector, encouraging development
in post-conflict countries and promoting women’s participation
in many fields.
Through its specialized agencies, the United Nations can contribute
by supporting national efforts to advance women and by funding
training and education programmes for women and children, in particular
in rural areas.
Liechtenstein
....
In particular, the United Nations must appoint more women to senior
positions with regard to preventive diplomacy, mediation and peace
operations. This would have a clear impact on the topic under
discussion today: Appointing more women to leading positions would
have a catalytic effect and empower women affected by armed conflict.
It would strengthen the perception that women are stakeholders
– as opposed to mere victims or aid recipients. A few years
ago, during my time as Permanent Representative in New York, I
headed a group of like-minded Ambassadors aiming to increase the
presence of women in such positions. The success of our cooperation
with the Secretary-General in this regard was very modest indeed
– and several years later, it is sad to note that almost
no progress has been made, in spite of repeated expressions of
good intent from all sides.
....
It is therefore crucial to deploy more women in civilian components
of peacekeeping missions, empower local women leaders and increase
their role in all peacekeeping efforts.
Netherlands
....
Finally, Mr. President, women are not only victims. It cannot
be repeated enough that women and women's organizations have to
be included in peace and reconciliation processes. They also need
to be involved in formulating justice and reparation programmes,
including post rape care.
New Zealand
....
SCR 1325 remains the internationally-accepted blueprint for a
multifaceted response to the issues facing women in conflict and
post-conflict reconstruction. It has played an invaluable part
in highlighting the important role of women in the prevention
and resolution of conflicts.
Nigeria
....
In Africa, the most significant achievements under Resolution
1325 have taken place in post-conflict environments, where women
now enjoy considerably enhanced role in decision-making. Strengthened
by the African Union's 2005 Protocol on the Rights of Women, and
the 2004 Heads of States Solemn Declaration on Gender Equity in
Africa, a number of countries have scaled-up women's participation
in politics and decision making. Through special measures, such
as 'gender quota' and 'minimum threshold’, some countries
have accelerated the integration of women into national decision-making
processes. Increasingly, women are also being included in national
and continental peace and security initiatives.
Panama
In conclusion, allow me to emphasize the need to acknowledge that
women and girls are crucial pillars of society. Ending the cycle
of violence against them before, during and after armed conflict
depends in large part upon their empowerment and active participation
in all areas of the political, social, economic and cultural life
of their countries. To put it slightly differently, women and
girls require peace, and peace requires them.
Philippines
....
The fundamental strategy of the Philippines in pursuing Resolution
1325 lies in enabling more women to systematically participate
in conflict prevention, management, resolution and post-conflict
peacebuilding, while at the same time, rehabilitating their communities
and ensuring basic services and livelihood. Women are empowered
to take part in local peace processes by building capacities and
mobilizing peace constituencies. Women in indigenous communities,
for instance, are even serving, as intermediaries in local peace
dialogues and as mediators in the restoration of broken peace
pacts.
Because the roles that women play
are critical to addressing the issues that affect them, the Philippines
remains convinced that women must be harnessed as active agents
in confronting gender/based violence.
Russia
....
Women’s full participation in peace negotiations and post-conflict
recovery efforts is an important precondition for the elimination
of violence against women. In those processes, we must consistently
implement the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against women, the Convention on
the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination and similar instruments in
the area of human rights.
Slovenia (on behalf of
the European Union)
....
Resolution 1325, linking gender equality to global security and
acknowledging the importance of women's voices in building lasting
peace, represents a milestone on the road to more gender-sensitive
peace processes and security policies.
European Union attaches great
importance to the situation of women in armed conflict. We believe
that local, national or international actions in order to be successful
and sustainable in any field, including that which is intended
to bring development or peace, must involve and empower women.
....
The positive role that women can play in conflict-affected societies
is also not receiving the attention it deserves. We must considerably
strengthen our efforts to guarantee the protection of women and
girls in conflict-affected societies and to ensure their full
and equal participation in peace processes at all levels, including
negotiations and decision-making, insisting that women be fully
engaged in all humanitarian, reconstruction and development programs.
....
The European Commission Communication of last year on gender equality
and women's empowerment in development cooperation had a specific
emphasis on fighting gender-based violence, including rape as
a war crime. In partnership with UNIFEM, we are working to build
capacity and improve accountability for gender equality in our
partner countries, with a specific focus on women in peacebuilding
and the implementation of UNSCR 1325. Through the European Initiative
for Democracy and Human Rights, we supported women's participation
in peace processes in Colombia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.
Furthermore, the EU Initiative for Peacebuilding will be exploring
ways to ensure the effective implementation of UNSRC 1325 by the
international community, governments and local civil society organizations.
South Africa
....
While women may be the first casualties of war, they remain active
agents of change and play a meaningful role in the recovery and
reintegration of their families and communities. Women are among
leading policy-makers and have been instrumental in bringing about
democracy and reconciliation in post-conflict societies.
Sexual violence in conflict situations
is inextricably linked to gender inequality and we therefore need
to advocate more strongly for the equal participation and full
involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion
of peace and security.
Spain
....
The Spanish Action Plan, in line with Resolution 1325, acts in
response to the certainty that "peace cannot exist without
equality of men and women," and that "women's equal
access and full participation in power structures and their involvement
in prevention and resolution of conflicts are essential for the
maintenance and promotion of peace and security."
....
Spain is determined to foster new actions to implement Resolution
1325 and we are finalizing an Action Plan on Women and Peacebuilding
addressed to all actors and stakeholders of the Spanish Cooperation
for Development system. This action plan does not disregard the
condition of women as primary victims of gender violence, but
highlights as well their relevance as contributors of peaceful
arrangements for conflicts.
Tunisia
....
The active and involved participation in this debate of so many
delegations of Member States reflects the primary interest that
we all attach to issues of peace and security and to the central
role of women in achieving this and in achieving the ideals of
our universal organization.
....
Today’s debate makes it incumbent upon us to make a collective
commitment to ensure that women, wherever they are, are no longer
vulnerable, are no longer placed in an inferior position and are
no longer exposed to discrimination, threats or terror. In this
framework, our civilizations must choose to genuinely participate
in the global move towards ensuring that women get the place and
role that they deserve in today’s societies as full-fledged
citizens, partners benefiting from equal opportunities and holders
of responsibilities in all sectors and at all levels. This is,
of course, a blueprint for a civilized society where women are
a guarantee of modernity, a vehicle for development, a guarantor
of political stability, and especially a preventive security shield
against any obscurantist and retrograde tendencies — in
other words, the spearhead of a society mobilized for progress
and prosperity.
UK
....
My government believes that the Security Council should show leadership
on the issue of sexual violence by:
1. ....
2. Ensuring that that we provide for women's participation in
all processes relevant to conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The proliferation of sexual violence against women is in part
aimed at excluding and marginalising women's roles in society
and in rebuilding communities. We have to correct that.
3. ....
4. ....
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to top
Appointments
Austria
....
We are encouraged by the Secretary General's recent appointments
of women as Special Representatives and Envoys as well as to leading
positions in the Secretariat. We hope to see more female appointments
in the near future and thus reiterate our call on all Member States
to support, encourage and nominate women for such positions.
Belgium
....
....this perhaps complements the Secretary-General’s initiative
to designate a messenger for peace, of which he spoke earlier
— relates to documenting the magnitude of this phenomenon,
its roots, its evolution and the preparations for the work that
must be done by the courts, whether national or international.
Here, I would like to suggest that the Secretary-General might
appoint a woman special investigator on sexual violence in armed
conflict to carry out the systematic collection of information
and to gather all the material that is already available in the
field, whether from peacekeeping operations, the United Nations
agencies or others operating in the field. All of this should
lead us towards zero impunity, and we must clearly affirm the
United Nations commitment to peace and security. That must be
translated into efforts to tirelessly and determinedly hunt down
the perpetrators of these crimes so that those monsters will never
again be able to sleep in peace.
China
....
Recent years have witnessed a great number of positive measures
taken by the Secretariat to increase the ratio of women in senior
positions and at the head of peacekeeping missions. More efforts
are needed in this direction in the future.
Liberia
....
We are pleased that the Secretary General in responding to UNSCR
1325, has appointed a woman SRSG in Liberia, who is building on
her predecessors work.
Liechtenstein
....
In particular, the United Nations must appoint more women to senior
positions with regard to preventive diplomacy, mediation and peace
operations. This would have a clear impact on the topic under
discussion today: Appointing more women to leading positions would
have a catalytic effect and empower women affected by armed conflict.
It would strengthen the perception that women are stakeholders
– as opposed to mere victims or aid recipients. A few years
ago, during my time as Permanent Representative in New York, I
headed a group of like-minded Ambassadors aiming to increase the
presence of women in such positions. The success of our cooperation
with the Secretary-General in this regard was very modest indeed
– and several years later, it is sad to note that almost
no progress has been made, in spite of repeated expressions of
good intent from all sides.
Mauritania
....
The Special Rapporteur on violence against women has done remarkable
work, but the persistence of rape of women in armed conflict has
reached a level that requires a strengthening of the capacities
of the Office of the Special Rapporteur, particularly in human
resources; here, women should be the focus of the choices that
are made. That is why my delegation believes that the proposal
made by the Minister for Development Cooperation of the Kingdom
of Belgium to appoint a woman special investigator on sexual violence
is appropriate as an effective means for eradicating this practice.
South Africa
....
Gender-sensitive training, the deployment of more women peacekeepers
and appointment of more women Special Representatives and Envoys
of the Secretary-General should be implemented.
PeaceWomen 