Security Council Open Debate: Women and peace and security: the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution in Africa. March, 2016

To support that effort, we have to increase women’s participation in politics and society. That means delivering on the commitments we made in resolutions 1325 (2000), 1889 (2009), 2242 (2015) and so many others because breaking down barriers facing women in peace talks requires breaking down barriers facing women across society. It means helping girls stay in school, improving health care and, yes, tackling sexual violence. At its heart, it is about ending discrimination against women. We all have a part to play. In Somalia, the United Kingdom is helping make health services available to over 1 million Somali women and children, but also providing legal assistance to thousands of Somali women and will soon be supporting initiatives that boost their participation in politics too.

Since we call upon Africa’s leaders to do more to bring women into conflict prevention and resolution, let us also heed the call ourselves. What signal does it send when the primary body for preserving international peace and security only has one woman among its 15 permanent representatives. What message does it send to that young girl in Somalia who dreams of becoming president, or to those who want to answer the question “What was your role?” with something other than “survivor”? If we want half of the world’s population to have a say in conflict prevention and resolution, then let us begin in this building. That is why the United Kingdom has been clear that we need as many credible women as possible to apply to be the next Secretary-General. We have had three so far and I hope that there are more to come.

It is undeniable that some progress on the women and peace and security agenda has been made across Africa since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) in 2000. We appreciate the efforts of the 18 African countries that have developed national action plans that seek to institutionalize the greater participation of women throughout government and society. But there is still much work to be done. I would like to suggest three areas where we should redouble our efforts: first, in helping women overcome systemic obstacles to political participation; secondly, in addressing genderbased violence; and, thirdly, in tranlating the women and peace and security norms established by the Security Council into concrete success in the real world.

The participation of women continues to be inadequate in peace negotiations in Africa and in other regions of the world. It is uncontestable that women are the most credible spokespeople for expressing the needs of local communities. They inspire the greatest degree of trust in situations that require the collection of information and testimony from the victims of sexual and gender-based violence. Women have much to say on issues, such as those involving victims, reparations and the conditions needed to ensure that conflict does not reoccur. Women also bring new approaches to negotiations, making constructive contributions to ensure lasting peace. In that regard, they endow the peace process with greater sensitivity with regard to issues that are related to family, education, gender issues and equity, and are called on to play a determining role in verifying and implementing agreements.

Since we call upon Africa’s leaders to do more to bring women into conflict prevention and resolution, let us also heed the call ourselves. What signal does it send when the primary body for preserving international peace and security only has one woman among its 15 permanent representatives. What message does it send to that young girl in Somalia who dreams of becoming president, or to those who want to answer the question “What was your role?” with something other than “survivor”? If we want half of the world’s population to have a say in conflict prevention and resolution, then let us begin in this building. That is why the United Kingdom has been clear that we need as many credible women as possible to apply to be the next Secretary-General. We have had three so far and I hope that there are more to come.

To support that effort, we have to increase women’s participation in politics and society. That means delivering on the commitments we made in resolutions 1325 (2000), 1889 (2009), 2242 (2015) and so many others because breaking down barriers facing women in peace talks requires breaking down barriers facing women across society. It means helping girls stay in school, improving health care and, yes, tackling sexual violence. At its heart, it is about ending discrimination against women. We all have a part to play. In Somalia, the United Kingdom is helping make health services available to over 1 million Somali women and children, but also providing legal assistance to thousands of Somali women and will soon be supporting initiatives that boost their participation in politics too.

When women actively participate at all levels of political decision-making, we know that we are all safer, that our efforts at peacebuilding are stronger and that around the world Constitutions and peace agreements are more inclusive, just and lasting. But women in Africa continue to face, and to overcome, systemic obstacles to their political participation at all levels of decision-making. In February 2013, for example, 11 countries in the Great Lakes region of Africa signed a peace accord to address decades of violence in eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region was a landmark document to be sure. But it was also negotiated and adopted without any women having participated in the negotiations. The technical committees formed to oversee the implementation and the monitoring of the agreement also did not include any women. In March 2013, recognizing the absence of women in the formal process, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region convened consultations with women leaders and civil society groups across the region, seeking to link their community-level effort in building peace to the regional and the national implementation committees. In January 2014, the Great Lakes Women’s Plaform for the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework was launched by the Special Envoy, and it provides grants to women’s organizations already working to implement peace in the region. We applaud the dedicated leadership by the United Nations and the countries of the Great Lakes region for recognizing that women were missing from the table and for taking the steps necessary to change that.

Men and women continue to suffer without distinction the most serious violations of human rights. However, it is women and children who suffer from that extreme violence in a singular and disproportionate manner. In that context, women are subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment, causing them great suffering. Gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, genital mutilation, forced marriages and pregnancies and child marriage are just some of the situations that girls and women face daily. In that regard, the high level of impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of the worst crimes against humanity is a matter of great concern. I emphasize the importance that Uruguay attaches to the women and peace and security agenda. We continue to play an active role with regard to the rights of women and girls and have, on a number of occasions, reiterated the imperative of women’s participation in the prevention and resolution of armed conflicts.

The number of women in special political missions on the ground, especially in leadership positions, remains very limited, and the need for the greater participation of women persists, particularly in all mechanisms related to peace processes and postconflict reconstruction. The primary responsibility for involving women in those processes falls upon the shoulders of the African States themselves. It is at the national level that they must put in place good practices and promote greater participation of women at all levels, because that helps increase operational efficiency and reduce conflicts. Experience on the continent shows us numerous cases of women who have courageously been able to boost recovery in their communities.

The participation of women continues to be inadequate in peace negotiations in Africa and in other regions of the world. It is uncontestable that women are the most credible spokespeople for expressing the needs of local communities. They inspire the greatest degree of trust in situations that require the collection of information and testimony from the victims of sexual and gender-based violence. Women have much to say on issues, such as those involving victims, reparations and the conditions needed to ensure that conflict does not reoccur. Women also bring new approaches to negotiations, making constructive contributions to ensure lasting peace. In that regard, they endow the peace process with greater sensitivity with regard to issues that are related to family, education, gender issues and equity, and are called on to play a determining role in verifying and implementing agreements.

The participation of women continues to be inadequate in peace negotiations in Africa and in other regions of the world. It is uncontestable that women are the most credible spokespeople for expressing the needs of local communities. They inspire the greatest degree of trust in situations that require the collection of information and testimony from the victims of sexual and gender-based violence. Women have much to say on issues, such as those involving victims, reparations and the conditions needed to ensure that conflict does not reoccur. Women also bring new approaches to negotiations, making constructive contributions to ensure lasting peace. In that regard, they endow the peace process with greater sensitivity with regard to issues that are related to family, education, gender issues and equity, and are called on to play a determining role in verifying and implementing agreements.

As the international community responds to violence extremist threats, including across Africa, we must ensure that the needs and the perspectives of women and girls most affected by extremist violence are integrated into our larger approach to countering violent extremism. 

Men and women continue to suffer without distinction the most serious violations of human rights. However, it is women and children who suffer from that extreme violence in a singular and disproportionate manner. In that context, women are subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment, causing them great suffering. Gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, genital mutilation, forced marriages and pregnancies and child marriage are just some of the situations that girls and women face daily. In that regard, the high level of impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of the worst crimes against humanity is a matter of great concern. I emphasize the importance that Uruguay attaches to the women and peace and security agenda. We continue to play an active role with regard to the rights of women and girls and have, on a number of occasions, reiterated the imperative of women’s participation in the prevention and resolution of armed conflicts.

The number of women in special political missions on the ground, especially in leadership positions, remains very limited, and the need for the greater participation of women persists, particularly in all mechanisms related to peace processes and postconflict reconstruction. The primary responsibility for involving women in those processes falls upon the shoulders of the African States themselves. It is at the national level that they must put in place good practices and promote greater participation of women at all levels, because that helps increase operational efficiency and reduce conflicts. Experience on the continent shows us numerous cases of women who have courageously been able to boost recovery in their communities.

But this issue will not be solved by one country alone. That is why the United Kingdom is contributing $1 million to the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (GAI). By funding the GAI, we can all offer material support that can break down those barriers. In Burundi, a network of women mediators was able to deal with 5,200 local conflicts in 2015. That is over 14 a day. Thanks to the GAI, they are now scaling up their activities. At a time when the Council has been so frustrated by the crisis in Burundi, it is heartening to see how powerful women’s civil society can be in their local mediation efforts.

To support that effort, we have to increase women’s participation in politics and society. That means delivering on the commitments we made in resolutions 1325 (2000), 1889 (2009), 2242 (2015) and so many others because breaking down barriers facing women in peace talks requires breaking down barriers facing women across society. It means helping girls stay in school, improving health care and, yes, tackling sexual violence. At its heart, it is about ending discrimination against women. We all have a part to play. In Somalia, the United Kingdom is helping make health services available to over 1 million Somali women and children, but also providing legal assistance to thousands of Somali women and will soon be supporting initiatives that boost their participation in politics too.

But this issue will not be solved by one country alone. That is why the United Kingdom is contributing $1 million to the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (GAI). By funding the GAI, we can all offer material support that can break down those barriers. In Burundi, a network of women mediators was able to deal with 5,200 local conflicts in 2015. That is over 14 a day. Thanks to the GAI, they are now scaling up their activities. At a time when the Council has been so frustrated by the crisis in Burundi, it is heartening to see how powerful women’s civil society can be in their local mediation efforts.