Participation

Apart from Member States responsibilities to advance the women and peace and security agenda, we must also acknowledge the role of the civil society organizations, including women human rights defenders and women-led non-governmental organizations, as they play a crucial role at all levels of conflict prevention, decision- making, mediation and post-conflict resolution. We are convinced that close collaboration between Governments and civil society can significantly scale up the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda.

Since it is a primary responsibility of Member States to implement the commitments and obligations under the women and peace and security agenda into national policies and legislative framework, let me reassure the Council that Poland remains committed to the promotion of women’s meaningful participation in all stages of peace processes in its three dimensions — the political, institutional and financial.

Let me conclude by highlighting the fact that women are among the most vulnerable victims in war and conflict situations, yet they are also often the ones that trigger peace mechanisms. As the examples from Liberia or Colombia show, women’s movements are major agents of change in contributing to international peace and security. It is our moral obligation to enable their full participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.