Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, June 2016

Friday, June 10, 2016

Open Debate: Protection of civilians in the context of peacekeeping operations.

June 10, 2016

Overview

On Friday June 10, 2016, under the French presidency, the Security Council held a ministerial-level open debate under the theme, "Protection of civilians in the context of peacekeeping operations." The debate was intended to continue discussions on the reform of peace operations, which featured in the United Nation’s three major reviews last year—the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) report, the Advisory Group of Experts report on Peacebuilding, and the Global Study on the Implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security—as well as in the General Assembly’s High-Level Thematic Debate on Peace and Security on 10 and 11 May. In line with the discussion developed in the concept note, speakers discussed venues through which relevant regional and international organisations can be encouraged to take the protection of civilians into account; local-level protection capacities can be developed; and partnerships with humanitarian actors can be strengthened. One of the main focuses of the debate was the Council’s peacekeeping-reform agenda in the context of emerging threats from non-State actors. Speakers called for clear protection mandates that should be effectively implemented as a part of a coherent strategy. According to the majority of speakers, ensuring that deployed personnel have a clear understanding of tasks and effective training is of crucial importance.

UN Photo/Rick Bajornas: Isabella Lövin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate of Sweden

General Analysis

Governments and parties to conflict also had a responsibility to uphold their protection responsibilities, ensure compliance with international law, and take precautions to prevent harm to civilians. However, the representative of the Central African Republic highlighted that states need the unfailing support of the international community to ensure the lasting protection of the people. Speakers stressed that financial assistance to the parties to the conflict and the existence of  peacekeeping missions with clear mandates are not enough.

The credibility and legitimacy of United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping largely depends on the capability to act when civilians were under threat. Presenting his report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the Secretariat was doing its utmost to support missions through a renewed focus on performance and accountability. Speakers condemned instances of sexual abuse by United Nations peacekeepers and emphasized that all perpetrators must be brought to justice. The representative of Nepal announced that the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force of Nepal had integrated UN policies on civilian protection, sexual exploitation and abuse, and protection of human rights into pre-deployment training.

Another weaknesses of the peacekeeping mandates - the use of force - was also widely discussed. Since there is no set standard on the use of force, speakers were divided in their opinions. In this vein, representative of Brazil suggested that military action is not a panacea for the protection of civilians. However, the Representative of Argentina emphasized that lessons must be learned from the failure of the use of force to protect civilians in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

Further expanding the discussion on the need to pursue non-violent means of protecting civilians, speakers suggested that the international community has to take action to end the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (20%). In this vein, the representative of the Holy See claimed that a sure way to protect civilians was taking a preventive approach, which included the limitation on the manufacture, sale, and gifting of weapons.

Finally, speakers also highlighted the importance of engaging with local stakeholders, including civil society, as a means to build trust and gain a deeper understanding of challenges on the ground. The representatives of France and Estonia suggested that relations with local actors and non-governmental organizations play an important role in providing United Nations peacekeepers with information that could help prevent and stop violations.  

Gender Analysis

Out of the 76 statements delivered, only thirty-four speakers (45.34%) used a specific gendered language. In the briefing, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that “no amount of strategy, resources or accountability would mitigate the grave and tragic consequences of war for ordinary women, children, and men.” Echoing this statement, nine speakers spoke explicitly about the need to protect women while paying additional attention to the needs of women in conflict. As suggested by the representative of Kazakhstan, protecting civilians is not only a matter of their physical security, but is also linked to the dignity of women and children.

Thirty-five speakers (46.67%) suggested that women and children too often suffered from sexual and gender-based violence by both parties to the conflict and peacekeepers. In this vein, the representative of Senegal underlined that sexual abuse during conflict must not be tolerated. Representatives of Italy and Morocco, among others, voiced support for the zero-tolerance policy, which must be met with training tailored to reach a zero-case reality and to protect the credibility and trust of missions. As per representative of France, an acute and urgent concern must be paid to the phenomenon of sexual violence and the use of rape as a tactic of warfare against women. Peacekeepers need to be prepared to address the special needs of women. Therefore, the representative of Djibouti invited other speakers to the need for gender sensitivity training as a central part of security sector reform.

There must be concrete efforts to increase women’s engagement in that area. Eleven speakers (14.67%) recommended to involve women in all levels and processes of mediation, peacekeeping and peace maintenance, reconstruction and development. As suggested by the representative of Mexico, the work of women blue helmets is crucial to strengthen and support early-warning mechanisms and strengthen trust. Looking at the need to involve more women in peace processes, the representative of Sweden mentioned the work of the Nordic Women Mediators’ Network that helped to ensure meaningful participation by women and girls as powerful agents for civilian protection. The statement of the representative of the European Union suggests that women’s rights groups and other civil society organizations should play a role in conflict prevention.

Less frequently, Member States referred to issues related to the implementation of Security Council Resolutions (8%), displacement (8%), peacebuilding (13.34%), and peace processes (12%) from a gender-based perspective.

Women have proved to make a positive impact on peacekeeping environments, both in supporting the role of women in building peace and protecting women's rights. In addition, speakers concluded that local women’s voices should be also taken into account through comprehensive collaborative strategies. However, the detailed strategies that will further guard the implementation of zero-tolerance policy remains as unclear and under-discussed as the strategies to end the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

 

Resources: 

Report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/2016/447).

Concept note for the High-level open debate on protecting civilians in the context of peacekeeping operations, June, 2016

Meeting Records: Post-conflict peacebuilding: Protection of civilians in armed conflict, June 10, 2016

Please choose

General Women, Peace and Security
  • Country

    Niger
  • Extracts

    Indeed, as you know, the Niger is a country resolutely committed to peacekeeping operations through our significant contribution of civilian, military and police components. To date, we have more than 1,820 men and women serving in those operations, making our country, the Niger, the 17th global contributor in that regard.

    The first is that the nature of conflict has evolved considerably to the point that most conflicts are not inter-State wars involving regular armies in which the men and women involved are conventional soldiers known and recognized as part of a regular army and identifiable by their uniform or their units.

  • Country

    Nigeria
  • Extracts

    Since the establishment of the Multinational Joint Task Force, considerable success has been recorded in the battle against Boko Haram. Over a thousand kidnapped women and children have been rescued, and all territories once controlled by the group have been recovered.We pay tribute to the men and women who have lost their lives while serving in United Nations peacekeeping missions, and we offer our deep condolences to their families, their friends and their Governments.

  • Country

    Senegal
  • Extracts

    We have all seen that, in various conflicts across the world, in particular in Africa, armed conflicts have always been characterized by the indiscriminate use of violence and the high number of civilian casualties, among which, unfortunately, the majority are children and women.

    Senegal is honoured to be the seventh largest troop- and police-contributing country in the world, the third in Africa and the first in West Africa, with approximately 3,769 men and women serving in seven peacekeeping operations.

Conflict Prevention
  • Country

    Senegal
  • Extracts

    The Security Council adopted resolutions 1265 (1999) and 1894 (2009), through which it established the protection of civilians as a top priority and expressed its determination to deal with situations in which serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights are committed. The Security Council must do more in the face of those challenges. In the same spirit, it is important to take into account resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, and the involvement of women in conflict prevention and the management and resolution of conflicts.

  • Country

    Spain
  • Extracts

    Conflict prevention is closely linked to women and peace and security agenda, to which Spain is also particularly committed. My country led the review of resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, and is now working to put it into practice. Last October, the Security Council held an open debate (S/PV.7533) with a record number of speakers, at which it unanimously adopted resolution 2242 (2015). The big challenge now is to move from rhetoric to fulfilling our commitments in deed. Spain continues to work in that direction. Among other measures, alongside the United Kingdom it has headed the creation of an informal group of experts of the Security Council on women, peace and security, which we want to become a key tool for integrating gender issues into the discussions of the Council on the situation the countries on its agenda.

    Naturally, the women and peace and security agenda is not relevant solely to the protection of civilians, given its aspects related to conflict prevention. Unfortunately, women and children are the primary victims in conflict, and as such are the first in line in need of protection. In that sense, I would stress the importance of deploying protection of women advisers in all United Nations missions. The same is true of child protection advisers. Protection mandates should also continue to enjoy support at the highest level to fulfil their essential task of ensuring effective and consistent protection.

Participation
  • Country

    Italy
  • Extracts

    Secondly, our training includes courses on the protection and promotion of human rights and international humanitarian law and on sexual and gender-based violence and includes individual programmes on appropriate conduct and local customs, while ensuring the firmest stance against abuses. We believe that the zero-tolerance policy must be met with tailored training to reach a zero-case reality and protect the credibility and trust of the missions.

    Fourthly, strengthening the gender perspective of peace operations is key to effective protection and can be achieved both by increasing the overall number of women serving in peace operations and — during the mission — by reaching out to women and girls in local communities, engaging them as actors of peace and prevention.

  • Country

    Mexico
  • Extracts

    As far as Mexico is concerned, the work of women Blue Helmets fosters trust and contributes to an enhanced understanding of the essential needs of protection of local populations, thereby paving the way for more effective responses. For that reason, we would like to reiterate to encourage greater participation by women in peacekeeping operations.

  • Speaker

    International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC)
  • Extracts

    I have myself seen remarkable examples of local men and women negotiating access for humanitarian organizations, for instance. There is a role for peacekeepers in community engagement, as the Secretary-General also highlighted ahead of today’s meeting. Peacekeepers must create and support those spaces in which locals can negotiate.

  • Speaker

    European Union
  • Extracts

    In that context, United Nations peace operations need to be staffed and equipped in a way that allows United Nations personnel to better interact with the local population and civil society organizations, including women’s rights-based groups, with the overarching aim of responding to warning signals and reducing the risk of atrocity crimes.

  • Country

    Senegal
  • Extracts

    The Security Council adopted resolutions 1265 (1999) and 1894 (2009), through which it established the protection of civilians as a top priority and expressed its determination to deal with situations in which serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights are committed. The Security Council must do more in the face of those challenges. In the same spirit, it is important to take into account resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, and the involvement of women in conflict prevention and the management and resolution of conflicts.

Protection
  • Country

    Argentina
  • Extracts

    The protection-related tasks of the United Nations have a central role to play in the context of the new emphasis placed by the Organization on conflict prevention and the achievement of sustainable peace and development, on the basis of the three reviews that took place focusing on peacekeeping operations, peacebuilding and the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security. There can be no doubt that such protection tasks, particularly those carried out by peacekeeping operations of the United Nations, are vital when it comes to sustaining peace before, during and after conflict.

  • Country

    Bangladesh
  • Extracts

    It is critical for peacekeepers and humanitarian actors to work in tandem in a protection crisis so as to be able to respond to the particular needs of those affected, especially women, children and the elderly.

  • Country

    Venezuela
  • Extracts

    That tragic reality is evident in the conflicts that are rocking the Middle East and Africa, where women, children and the elderly have become targets of attacks perpetrated by the actors involved in those bloody wars, particularly terrorist groups, in violation of international humanitarian law.

  • Country

    Egypt
  • Extracts

    The atrocities that civilians endure in the many conflicts raging around the world today, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, represent an unprecedented challenge to the basic pillars of international law, international humanitarian law and the enforcement of the principle of protecting civilians in times of conflict. Such atrocities particularly impact women and children, the groups most vulnerable to such violations.

  • Country

    Georgia
  • Extracts

    Unfortunately, the most flagrant violations of human rights occur in the circumstances surrounding armed conflict, wherein innocent civilian populations, especially women and children, constitute the overwhelming majority of victims.

  • Country

    Ireland
  • Extracts

    Thirdly, the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is a valuable tool to advance the protection of civilians. Resolution 1325 (2000) was a milestone for the Council. It acknowledged that women and girls face specific risks in conflict settings, which require specific actions for protection. Ireland works to mainstream gender throughout military operations by appointing gender advisers in each brigade and formation, and we have prioritized diversity in our Defence Forces’ recently launched recruitment drive.

    The first workshop of gender advisers from across regional organizations, which Ireland hosted this month, is another firm step towards ensuring the participation of women in peacekeeping. Furthermore, Ireland is resolute in its belief that the heinous crime of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers can be fully stamped out, including by strengthened pre deployment and ongoing professional training programmers.

  • Country

    Italy
  • Extracts

    Secondly, our training includes courses on the protection and promotion of human rights and international humanitarian law and on sexual and gender-based violence and includes individual programmes on appropriate conduct and local customs, while ensuring the firmest stance against abuses. We believe that the zero-tolerance policy must be met with tailored training to reach a zero-case reality and protect the credibility and trust of the missions.

    Fourthly, strengthening the gender perspective of peace operations is key to effective protection and can be achieved both by increasing the overall number of women serving in peace operations and — during the mission — by reaching out to women and girls in local communities, engaging them as actors of peace and prevention.

  • Country

    Japan
  • Extracts

    To that end, Japan has provided financial support to the United Nations training-the-trainers course on the protection of civilians, in which Japanese trainers also participate. Furthermore, Japan assists in the development of training materials for women’s protection advisers in missions, who play a critical role in protecting women. Finally, Japan also supports the development of an e-learning programme on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse that targets all categories of field personnel, including military, police and civilian.

  • Country

    Lithuania
  • Extracts

    The effective protection of civilians and, for that matter, the safety of peacekeepers themselves depend also on close ties with and the trust of local communities, including women, youth and marginalized groups.

  • Country

    Romania
  • Extracts

    We think that mixed teams can be quite useful. Women in peacekeeping operations can facilitate contact with women and with the most vulnerable members of local communities.

    Romanians who participate in missions under the United Nations flag are given very strict training prior to deployment, including with regard to respect for civil and human rights, with particular attention to the protection of women and children. Over the past 25 years, more than 10,000 Romanian Blue Helmets have contributed to peace and security everywhere in the world and have never been implicated in incidents reflecting non- respect for the local civilian populations, because we apply a zero-tolerance policy for all violations.

  • Country

    Sweden
  • Extracts

    Needless to say, the protection of civilians includes the protection of women and children, in particular girls. Furthermore, women and girls need to be considered as powerful agents for prevention and protection. We therefore need to ensure women’s and girls’ influence and meaningful participation. One tool in support of United Nations mediation activities is our Nordic Women Mediators’ Network.

  • Country

    Sweden
  • Extracts

    Needless to say, the protection of civilians includes the protection of women and children, in particular girls. Furthermore, women and girls need to be considered as powerful agents for prevention and protection. We therefore need to ensure women’s and girls’ influence and meaningful participation. One tool in support of United Nations mediation activities is our Nordic Women Mediators’ Network.

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
  • Country

    Venezuela
  • Extracts

    The recourse to violence and terrorism to undermine societies, civilizations, religions and beliefs is assuming terrible manifestations, such as the recruitment of children, abductions, the destruction of the cultural heritage of humankind, slavery and sexual violence as weapons of war, as well as the use of chemical weapons.

  • Country

    Ivory Coast
  • Extracts

    Civilians, in principle, are not fighters but nevertheless count among the largest number of casualties in armed conflict. They are subject to mass killings, rape and often forced displacement — in a word, all types of violence.

  • Country

    Estonia
  • Extracts

    The protection of civilians in armed conflict remains a deep concern for Estonia, as do the particular needs of women and children. As was expressed by my delegation in this Chamber last week (see S/PV.7704), sexual violence in conflict is also a continuing concern.

    Pre-deployment and in-mission training should also include issues such as sexual exploitation and abuse as well as child protection.

    In this context, let me once again express serious concern over the significant increase in the number of allegations of sexual exploitation by United Nations peacekeepers. In this regard, Estonia fully supports the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy.

  • Country

    Georgia
  • Extracts

    Georgia is fully committed to a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeeping personnel. On 5 June, an inter-agency investigative team, set up at the initiative of the Defence Minister of Georgia, left for the Central African Republic to carry out investigative activities on the ground. Also, in response to a Secretariat request, the Government of Georgia presented the candidature of an officer, on a gratis basis, to serve with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, whose focus would be on the legal issues surrounding the sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by international peacekeeping forces.

  • Country

    Ireland
  • Extracts

    Thirdly, the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is a valuable tool to advance the protection of civilians. Resolution 1325 (2000) was a milestone for the Council. It acknowledged that women and girls face specific risks in conflict settings, which require specific actions for protection. Ireland works to mainstream gender throughout military operations by appointing gender advisers in each brigade and formation, and we have prioritized diversity in our Defence Forces’ recently launched recruitment drive.

    The first workshop of gender advisers from across regional organizations, which Ireland hosted this month, is another firm step towards ensuring the participation of women in peacekeeping. Furthermore, Ireland is resolute in its belief that the heinous crime of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers can be fully stamped out, including by strengthened pre deployment and ongoing professional training programmers.

  • Country

    Italy
  • Extracts

    Secondly, our training includes courses on the protection and promotion of human rights and international humanitarian law and on sexual and gender-based violence and includes individual programmes on appropriate conduct and local customs, while ensuring the firmest stance against abuses. We believe that the zero-tolerance policy must be met with tailored training to reach a zero-case reality and protect the credibility and trust of the missions.

    Fourthly, strengthening the gender perspective of peace operations is key to effective protection and can be achieved both by increasing the overall number of women serving in peace operations and — during the mission — by reaching out to women and girls in local communities, engaging them as actors of peace and prevention.

  • Country

    Japan
  • Extracts

    To that end, Japan has provided financial support to the United Nations training-the-trainers course on the protection of civilians, in which Japanese trainers also participate. Furthermore, Japan assists in the development of training materials for women’s protection advisers in missions, who play a critical role in protecting women. Finally, Japan also supports the development of an e-learning programme on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse that targets all categories of field personnel, including military, police and civilian.

  • Country

    Kazakhstan
  • Extracts

    The protection of civilians cannot be limited to physical defence; it must also protect the human dignity of women and children. The behaviour of peacekeepers must be impeccable with zero tolerance with regard to sexual exploitation and abuse, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Secretary-General.

  • Country

    Malaysia
  • Extracts

    The horrors of conflict became even more gruesome when women and girls became targets of terror groups like Da’esh and Boko Haram and were sold into sexual slavery or were used as objects for recruitment or ransom. We have seen too many deaths and the numbers presented to us represent our fellow human beings — human faces that we must not ignore. They include those suffering from sexual abuse. The only way to conclude is to reaffirm our commitment and resolve to help those who beg us to intervene and save their lives.

  • Speaker

    European Union
  • Extracts

    The specific protection needs of women and children require special attention. Similar attention should also be paid to the phenomenon of sexual violence and the use of rape as tactics of warfare, affecting women, children, but also men.

  • Country

    Netherlands
  • Extracts

    The report confirms our worst fears about conflict-related sexual violence. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, especially when they are displaced and seek refuge in another country. They can fall victim to human trafficking, abuse and forced prostitution. That includes women and girls in Europe. I fully support the Secretary-General’s call to redouble our efforts to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and take action to stop it. Let us not forget that, in the end, peacekeeping missions are about all those vulnerable men, women and children in conflict situations who depend on us, the United Nations, for their protection.

  • Country

    Portugal
  • Extracts

    Portugal reiterates its commitment to continue to conduct training programmes for members of its national security and armed forces who have been deployed to international peacekeeping missions. Such training programmes cover such issues as gender equality, violence against women and girls, including all forms of sexual violence and gender-based violence, as well as trafficking in human beings.

  • Country

    South Africa
  • Extracts

    We all recognize that States have the primary responsibility to put an end to impunity and to prosecute perpetrators responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including those relating to sexual violence against women and girls.

    South Africa condemns sexual exploitation and abuses committed during armed conflict. We believe that protecting the most vulnerable populations — that is, women, girls and children — is central to any protection of civilians mandate. It is for that reason that any acts of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers are particularly deplorable.

  • Country

    Central African Republic
  • Extracts

    Displaced populations and ethnic and religious minorities are at particular risk of violence, while women and children all too often suffer from gender-based violence and are victims of recruitment by armed groups.

  • Country

    Ukraine
  • Extracts

    Sexual violence destroys the lives of women and girls and young men.

  • Country

    United Kingdom
  • Extracts

    There is no greater need for accountability than for those sexually exploited and abused by peacekeepers — those who have been betrayed by the people sent to protect them.

Peacekeeping
  • Country

    Lithuania
  • Extracts

    Today’s debate is a reminder once again that an ample knowledge base exists on what is needed to improve the protection of civilian populations by peacekeeping missions, including as reflected in the recommendations of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (S/2015/446) and last year’s reviews on peacebuilding and women and peace and security.

    As noted by many delegations today, clear, credible and achievable mandates matched by the reliable and readily availability of the necessary materiel, equipment and critical enablers; strong mission leadership and personal responsibilty; the pre-deployment training of troops, including on the protection of civilians; inclusion of thematic advisers on women, children and the protection of civilians in peacekeeping missions; a more robust, proactive protection posture; and the existence of specific protection-of-civilians strategies for each peacekeeping mission with a protection mandate all play an important role in the protection of civilians.

  • Country

    Luxembourg
  • Extracts

    Since the early 2000s, the Council has endowed itself with a normative framework and ambitious mandates in particular with respect to the most vulnerable groups — children and women — by developing its children and armed conflict agenda and its women and peace and security agenda. It is important to implement these with rigour and without exceptions or restrictions.

    To that end, the majority of the peacekeeping operations deploy specialist advisers — women’s protection advisers and child protection advisers.

  • Country

    Nepal
  • Extracts

    Nepali peacekeepers are fully oriented towards protecting civilians, particularly women and girls, during and after conflict. The Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force Nepal have all integrated United Nations policies regarding the protection of civilians, sexual exploitation and abuse, and protection of human rights into the predeployment training of peacekeepers. Together, we have already started placing investigation officers in every contingent to investigate disciplinary issues, gender-based violence, and sexual exploitation and abuse.

  • Country

    Portugal
  • Extracts

    Portugal reiterates its commitment to continue to conduct training programmes for members of its national security and armed forces who have been deployed to international peacekeeping missions. Such training programmes cover such issues as gender equality, violence against women and girls, including all forms of sexual violence and gender-based violence, as well as trafficking in human beings.

  • Country

    Romania
  • Extracts

    We think that mixed teams can be quite useful. Women in peacekeeping operations can facilitate contact with women and with the most vulnerable members of local communities.

    Romanians who participate in missions under the United Nations flag are given very strict training prior to deployment, including with regard to respect for civil and human rights, with particular attention to the protection of women and children. Over the past 25 years, more than 10,000 Romanian Blue Helmets have contributed to peace and security everywhere in the world and have never been implicated in incidents reflecting non- respect for the local civilian populations, because we apply a zero-tolerance policy for all violations.

  • Country

    United Kingdom
  • Extracts

    There is no greater need for accountability than for those sexually exploited and abused by peacekeepers — those who have been betrayed by the people sent to protect them.

Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform
  • Country

    Portugal
  • Extracts

    Portugal reiterates its commitment to continue to conduct training programmes for members of its national security and armed forces who have been deployed to international peacekeeping missions. Such training programmes cover such issues as gender equality, violence against women and girls, including all forms of sexual violence and gender-based violence, as well as trafficking in human beings.

Implementation
  • Country

    Ireland
  • Extracts

    Thirdly, the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is a valuable tool to advance the protection of civilians. Resolution 1325 (2000) was a milestone for the Council. It acknowledged that women and girls face specific risks in conflict settings, which require specific actions for protection. Ireland works to mainstream gender throughout military operations by appointing gender advisers in each brigade and formation, and we have prioritized diversity in our Defence Forces’ recently launched recruitment drive.

    The first workshop of gender advisers from across regional organizations, which Ireland hosted this month, is another firm step towards ensuring the participation of women in peacekeeping. Furthermore, Ireland is resolute in its belief that the heinous crime of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers can be fully stamped out, including by strengthened pre deployment and ongoing professional training programmers.

  • Country

    Kazakhstan
  • Extracts

    Kazakhstan already supports the effective implementation of three United Nations reviews, namely, on peacekeeping operations, on the peacebuilding architecture in 2000 and on resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security.

    It is essential to focus on capacity-building in host countries, while adopting a road map for the protection of civilians at national and local levels. This requires a greater awareness among community leaders, women, young people and local communities to mobilize them to participate in peacekeeping operations. It also requires adequate resources and competent trainers.

  • Country

    Luxembourg
  • Extracts

    Since the early 2000s, the Council has endowed itself with a normative framework and ambitious mandates in particular with respect to the most vulnerable groups — children and women — by developing its children and armed conflict agenda and its women and peace and security agenda. It is important to implement these with rigour and without exceptions or restrictions.

    To that end, the majority of the peacekeeping operations deploy specialist advisers — women’s protection advisers and child protection advisers.

  • Country

    Nepal
  • Extracts

    Nepali peacekeepers are fully oriented towards protecting civilians, particularly women and girls, during and after conflict. The Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force Nepal have all integrated United Nations policies regarding the protection of civilians, sexual exploitation and abuse, and protection of human rights into the predeployment training of peacekeepers. Together, we have already started placing investigation officers in every contingent to investigate disciplinary issues, gender-based violence, and sexual exploitation and abuse.