Security Council Open Debate on Women Peace and Security, October 2016

At the outset, I would like to pay tribute to Ms. Fatoumata Siré Diakité, late President and founder of the Association for the Progress and Defence of Women in Mali, who passed away on 14 October. She was recognized as Woman of the Year in Mali in 2015 and was honoured by numerous awards. Ms. Diakité opened the way for Mali to recognize the rights of women in every domain — the fight against female genital mutilation, child marriages and gender-based violence. That woman serves as a model who can inspire all of us.

An open debate (see S/PV.7533)was held a year ago on the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). It was the most well-attended debate in the history of the Security Council, with 113 speakers over a two-day period. The vast majority of Member States co-sponsored resolution 2242 (2015). That overwhelming participation clearly shows the importance that Member States attach to the women and peace and security agenda.

There is a strong correlation between gender equality, peace and development. Gender equality is the only effective way to achieve sustainable peace and development. Not only women, but societies in general benefit from women’s increased participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on women and peace and security set out a visionary agenda for achieving gender equality as a prerequisite for peaceful, inclusive and just societies

Ethiopia welcomes the progress made in mainstreaming a gender perspective in the work of the Security Council since the adoption of the groundbreaking resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on women and peace and security. The establishment of the women and peace and security normative framework to protect women affected by conflict and enhance their effective participation at all levels in conflict prevention and peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts is indeed a step in the right direction.

A special thank you goes to the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for this year’s report on women and peace and security (S/2016/822). We align ourselves with the statement of the European Union and of the Group of Friends of Women and Peace and Security, and we reiterate our commitment to and support for protecting women’s and girls’ rights globally. The fundamental lesson that this report teaches us is the sheer level of detail that is required in order to address the issue of women’s rights violations, so that no one gets left behind.

Indonesia remains committed to working with Member States, the United Nations and other relevant actors to empower women and girls as agents for change for peace and security around the world. Conflict is painful. It is disfiguring and debilitating to anybody’s sense of humanity. Women who live in the midst of conflict are given no choice but to take charge when they lose their father, brother or husband. Resolution 1325 (2000) was a call to give notice to the important role of women as peace-brokers and catalysts for change. Foremost, it takes notice of women’s resilience, despite the odds they face in conflict. Through the four pillars of resolution 1325 (2011), women were recognized as actors, not bystanders, in conflict management, conflict resolution and sustainable peace. Resolution 2242 (2015), which was adopted last year, provides recommendations to better implement the agenda. Moving forward, there are some pertinent points to consider.

The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remind us of the fact that there is a strong and direct relationship between sustainable peace and security and sustainable development, as well as of the fact that women and girls must be at the forefront of programmes designed to help us attain sustainable development, peace and security.
Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security also focuses on the specific impact of armed conflict on women; the positive role they can play in conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding; as well as the important roles women can play to keep and strengthen peace and security at local, regional and international levels.
Current crises and situations, especially in the Middle East, have taken new and abhorrent forms and dimensions and constitute unprecedented challenges to the stability of our region. Women are among the main victims of these situations, grappling with the scourge of violent extremism and terrorism.

The historic adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) 16 years ago represented international recognition of the role played by women in matters of peace and security, not only as victims but also as agents of change and essential players in the restoration, maintenance and building of peace. A number of resolutions followed, enshrinomg greater political recognition of the question of women and peace and security with precise and clear provisions regarding the need to ensure the fair representation of women and men in peace processes and to improve the physical and legal protection of women and girls.

Nigeria welcomes the opportunity to reflect on the progress made in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda 16 years after the adoption of the landmark resolution 1325 (2000). While we acknowledge the substantial achievements made in this endeavour, there are still challenges and significant gaps yet to be addressed. They include the participation of women in decision-making and leadership roles, more involvement of women in the prevention of conflict and peace efforts, insufficient funds, lack of disaggregated data, forced displacement exacerbated by persistent armed conflict, and continuing unprecedented levels of sexual violence and assault. It is our expectation that this debate could offer prospective solutions to address the prevailing challenges and gaps, and suggestions for acquiring the needed resources to advance the role of women within the context of the global peace and security architecture.

Meeting these challenges is critical to making progress on the women and peace and security agenda. This will require a multi-stakeholder approach involving actors at the global, regional, subregional and national levels. Communities, civil society and individuals also have a crucial role to play.

We underscore the significant value of resolution 1325 (2000), which was adopted unanimously in 2000, as the first instrument to establish the relationship between the experiences of women in conflict and the international peace and security agenda, thereby focusing attention on their disproportionate impact on women. Today more than ever before, that resolution and subsequent Security Council resolutions are of great relevance, given the increasing violence against women and girls carried out by extremist groups that threaten their rights, dignity, integrity and lives.

Portugal is encouraged by several very positive developments with regard to the women and peace and security agenda, such as the fact that the issue is a consistent feature in Security Council resolutions and peacekeeping mandates, as well as the fact that gender- sensitive reporting is now understood as a fundamental element for a thorough understanding of the gender dimensions of conflict and that reinforced efforts are necessary to shape adequate responses at the local and international levels.

However, since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the peace and security context and the nature of conflict have evolved — at times dramatically — characterized by entrenched cycles of conflict and fragility, daily violations of human rights and humanitarian law, growing humanitarian crises, mass-scale displacement of persons and refugees, and new threats, such as increasing violent extremism and terrorism, which disproportionately affect women and girls.

Unfortunately, today the severe effects of conflicts in various regions on women and girls still constitute a significant challenge that needs to be addressed by the international community. Furthermore, our world is now facing the largest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War, with an increasing influx of displaced populations due to protracted conflicts and lack of security. That causes even further difficulties to vulnerable groups, including women and girls. Yet, it was promising to see that gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment emerged as an overarching theme of the commitments made at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May. It will be equally important to transform such commitments into action.

We further share the Secretary-General’s view on the need to strengthen women’s particiaption and leadership in peace and security endeavours and on United Nations progress towards achieving a gender balance in its staff at all levels by emphasizing the essential link between women’s involvement in conflict prevention and resolution and post-conflict reconstruction in order to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of these processes. The Permanent Representative of the United States was particularly eloquent in illustrating that reality.

 In Angola, women’s participation was decisive to the attainment of peace. After the end of the armed conflict, their direct involvement in peacebuilding efforts was instrumental in providing psychological support to the victims as counsellors of peace, in national reconciliation and in strengthening social cohesion. Moreover, relevant measures were adopted promoting women’s empowerment, and women are currently playing a crucial role in the political, economic and social life of the country.

 Women should play a crucial role in bolstering conflict prevention. In the short-term, they can lead efforts aimed at promoting pre-emptive dialogue and early warning systems. In the long-term, they can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the causes and contribute to solutions to conflict. It is also important to explore the synergies between the women and peace and security agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly regarding the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 5, without losing sight of their specificities and the integrity and universality of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the twenty-first century, it is more evident than ever that women play an integral part in our global efforts in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peacebuilding and providing humanitarian response. Women are an integral part of global society and therefore should be no longer overlooked. We are currently witnessing changes in how peace is defined. Peace does not mean only the absence of war, but can also be sustained through a more inclusive political process that includes the upholding of justice, reconciliation and the promotion of human rights. In this regard, it is worth looking at the analysis and recommendations in the global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

Georgia shares the view that effective conflict prevention must start from an understanding of the broad and deep insecurity that permeates women’s lives prior to conflict and the ways that pre-conflict structural inequality can facilitate violence and insecurity, as stated in the global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

We are moving closer to plugging what former Secretary-General Kofi Annan termed the “gaping hole” in the United Nations machinery for sustaining peace. Much more remains to be done. Resolution 2282 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 70/262, adopted in April, provide us with a robust policy framework for enhancing the United Nations work in the areas of conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

As we can see from the name, peace is at the centre of the women and peace and security agenda. It is not just about making conflict safer for women or including women in post-conflict reconstruction; most important, it is about empowering women in order to prevent conflict.

The need for the United Nations to become more effective in conflict prevention was one of the main outcomes of the three high-level reviews last year and is one of the most important aspects of the global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We therefore call on the Security Council, the United Nations and its States Members to place greater emphasis on gender-sensitive conflict prevention and early warning.

An essential element of the women and peace and security programme is conflict prevention. Women’s perpectives in dealing with social tensions; their awareness of threats to personal, familial and community threats; their knowledge of the flow and circulation of small arms and light weapons, particularly within their communities; and their interpretation of extremism in local discourse all contribute to the creation of primary mechanisms for rapid response, early warning and intelligence of imminent conflicts that may be rarely understood or heeded by local security authorities.

Peace can be sustained only if conflicts can be prevented and addressed at their roots. Viet Nam welcomes a sharper focus on conflict prevention, including peaceful dispute settlement and preventive diplomacy. Efforts should also focus on the socioeconomic development and post-conflict peacebuilding, recovery and reconstruction, as affirmed in resolution 1889 (2009), introduced by Viet Nam and unanimously adopted by the Security Council in 2009.

In recognition of the differential impact of armed conflicts and proliferation of small arms on women and girls, Bangladesh has decided this year to co-sponsor a draft resolution entitled “Women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control”.

The Arms Trade Treaty has had an important impact on highlighting the gender dimension of arms control and disarmament. As reflected in resolution 2220 (2015), my delegation urges further strengthening of the gender dimension in tackling the issue of small arms and light weapons. Ensuring women’s full and meaningful participation in efforts to combat and eradicate the illicit transfer and misuse of small arms and light weapons must remain a priority. NATO and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council guidelines on implementing resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, regarding small arms and light weapons and mine action is a good example in that respect. We also support the Secretary-General’s call to strengthen gender- responsive approaches to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform, further integrating the gender dimension into relevant processes.

Trinidad and Tobago is steadfast in its implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). In 2010, my country introduced, and has been the main sponsor since then, of the first General Assembly resolution entitled “Women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control” (General Assembly resolution 69/61). It must be highlighted that the catalyst for the resolution on women and disarmament in 2010 was the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security. Since its introduction, the resolution has received the support of a majority of Member States and is currently being considered again in the First Committee. The resolution transcends the notion of women as victims of armed conflict and armed violence and recognizes women as empowered and indispensable actors in decision-making efforts to address the issue of disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control. Trinidad and Tobago is pleased that the language contained in the current and last versions of the resolution on women and disarmament is reflective of the Arms Trade Treaty and its provisions on gender- based violence and violence against women and girls.

At the regional level, we have also worked with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs on initiatives to strengthen the participatory role played by Latin America and the Caribbean in combating illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons.

We further share the Secretary-General’s view on the need to strengthen women’s particiaption and leadership in peace and security endeavours and on United Nations progress towards achieving a gender balance in its staff at all levels by emphasizing the essential link between women’s involvement in conflict prevention and resolution and post-conflict reconstruction in order to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of these processes. The Permanent Representative of the United States was particularly eloquent in illustrating that reality.

 In Angola, women’s participation was decisive to the attainment of peace. After the end of the armed conflict, their direct involvement in peacebuilding efforts was instrumental in providing psychological support to the victims as counsellors of peace, in national reconciliation and in strengthening social cohesion. Moreover, relevant measures were adopted promoting women’s empowerment, and women are currently playing a crucial role in the political, economic and social life of the country.

Sustaining peace will be achieved only if we increase the participation of women as actors in all stages of the peace process, including in particular in peacekeeping operations. We wish to underscore that 15 per cent of Argentine personnel participating in peacekeeping operations or in special political missions are women, according to the latest data. That is higher than the general average of 4.22 per cent. We will continue to work on deepening that commitment.

Argentina fully agrees with the importance that the United Nations attaches to the role of women in preventive diplomacy, at the negotiating table and in post-conflict reconstruction. That perspective is naturally linked with the new concept of sustaining peace, which recognizes the important role to be performed by women

Argentina is committed to the meaningful participation of women in decision-making and in all peace processes. That is why we adopted our national plan of action for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions as an instrument that integrates all national agencies working in the area of women and peace and security. One of the goals of the national action plan is to increase the participation of women from various spheres — political, social, economic and security — to contribute to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacemaking.

My country strongly believes that more equitable and egalitarian societies that respect the rights of women are more peaceful societies. With that in mind, strengthening the meaningful role of women in all the phases of peace processes and mainstreaming a gender perspective in peace agreements and in public policies are priorities of our foreign policy in that area. Argentina also encourages the incorporation of a gender perspective into all peace processes involving the United Nations. We consider it fundamental to work with civil society organizations, which should continue to participate in designing and implementing policies related to the topic.

By harnessing the expertise of civil society organizations on the ground we can be more effective in our efforts to remove barriers and create meaningful opportunities for women to engage equally in all stages of peace processes. Civil society groups represent those whose lived experience is most relevant. In most instances, they existed before the conflict and they will exist after it. That is why Australia, working with partners, established the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (GAI). The GAI helps women’s civil society organizations to contribute to conflict prevention, crisis response, and peacebuilding. We encourage other Member States to support that practical mechanism.

Australia reiterates its support for increasing the participation of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations, particularly in staff officer and military observer roles, as outlined in the London communiqué of the United Nations peacekeeping defence ministerial meeting

As part of our contribution to United Nations peacekeeping, we remain committed to enhancing the role and participation of women, including in our national contingents. So far, Bangladesh has had 1,047 women peacekeepers participating in various missions, including 774 police personnel. We are currently in the process of detailing two female military observers, and look forward to deploying women contingent commanders in the near future. We remain confident that we will be able to deploy a female military contingent by 2021.

Bangladesh welcomes the adoption of the gender strategy by the Peacebuilding Commission, and has been particularly supportive of further strengthening women’s participation and leadership in this year’s resolutions on peacebuilding architecture and mediation. We are relieved to learn about the mediated release and rescue of a number of women and girls held hostage by certain international and regional terrorist groups. We urge the Council to continue efforts to secure the freedom of the remaining women and girls, as their continued captivity and degrading treatment are an affront to us all.

We acknowledge the recent trend of increased women’s representation in various peace negotiations, and in increasing gender-specific provisions in peace agreements. In our national context, in the aftermath of a peace accord signed with a local insurgent group in 1997, we saw how women played a critical role in advancing the accord’s implementation, preventing relapse into conflict, and building awareness and resilience against gender-based violence.

Our Government has made it a priority to further mainstream women’s participation in our multidimensional efforts to combat terrorism and prevent violent extremism. Our

Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has made an appeal to mothers to work as sentinels within their families and has urged female teachers, elected representatives and women working at the grass-roots level to actively contribute towards a whole-of-society response against violent extremism and radicalization. We remain determined to forge ahead with our women’s development and empowerment efforts to defeat the violent extremists and terrorists in one of their fundamental pursuits.

First, we urgently need to increase the active participation and representation of women in all political, justice and peace processes. Indeed, many studies have shown that women’s participation increases the effectiveness of humanitarian aid, the credibility and quality of peacekeeping operations, the speed of economic recovery in post-conflict situations and the sustainability of peace agreements.

 Women should play a crucial role in bolstering conflict prevention. In the short-term, they can lead efforts aimed at promoting pre-emptive dialogue and early warning systems. In the long-term, they can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the causes and contribute to solutions to conflict. It is also important to explore the synergies between the women and peace and security agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly regarding the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 5, without losing sight of their specificities and the integrity and universality of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Women represent a strong link in the chain that supports the most vulnerable members of society. Women’s perseverance and kind virtues take their role beyond the home as they play an important role in peacebuilding processes. It is unfortunate that women and girls have been recent targets in many areas of conflict. The more we lack key female participation, the more our chances to sustain peace are diminished. Therefore, it is mandatory for the United Nations to look into the overall aspects of peacebuilding, including female key players. The significance of these criteria mean that their adoption should be a prerequisite for the implementation of the common agenda on women and peace and security.

In recognizing women as the backbone of the country, it is important to build and strengthen international norms conducive to giving women equal rights in order to encourage their full participation in all spheres of activities, including political, economic, social and cultural pursuits through the integration of international legal instruments by the respective Member States.

Cambodia has therefore ensured a greater number of women are employed in positions of influence, particularly in the civil service and State institutions, with a shift from 20 to 50 per cent in female employment in those areas in 2016. Cambodia has also pursued ways to increase its female recruits, as we recognize that their professional skills and talents can benefit peace processes in the world, and we are increasing their participation, thereby advocating equal participation, in international forums. Since 2006 we have deployed 142 women out of our 3,800 Cambodian United Nations peacekeepers. In conclusion, Cambodia strongly commits to increasing momentum in the area of gender equality, empowering women and realizing their rights. We are continuing to work closely with the relevant ministries, civil society organizations and the private sector, as well as with our development partners.

Noting the impact of inclusion, especially women’s participation, on the durability of peace agreements, the Group stresses the importance of the meaningful participation of women at all stages of the peace processes and the elimination of barriers to their participation, as well as the mainstreaming of gender- specific language and the human rights of women in peace agreements. The Group also encourages the United Nations to include the women and peace and security agenda more systematically in its work on preventive diplomacy. The Group emphasizes the indispensable role played by women in United Nations peacekeeping and underscores that their participation at all levels is key to the operational effectiveness of missions. The Group calls for the increased participation of women in peacekeeping at all levels, the integration of the human rights of women and a gender perspective into all aspects of peacekeeping, and the timely and appropriate resourcing and staffing of gender advisers at United Nations Headquarters and missions. The Group also calls for the full implementation of the commitments made at the United Nations peacekeeping defence ministerial held in London in September.

Furthermore, Chile is committed to increasing women’s participation in various United Nations missions. We are convinced of their contribution and undeniable role in establishing effective ties in restoring the confidence of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. This year we have deployed a senior officer in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and, before 11 November, Chilean women will participate as observers in the United Nations Mission in Colombia. As of 2017, women’s access will be ensured to all military professions. That will be extended in 2018 to include the navy and the air force. That will enable Chilean women to be deployed in various areas of peacekeeping missions.In another area, Chile appreciates the recommendations concerning the global study on resolution 1325 (2000) set out in the latest report (S/2016/822) of the Secretary-General. We emphasize the importance of enhancing the participation and leadership of women as a central aspect of peace and security initiatives.

We should not just think about the numerical increase of women in peace operations, but should also include a gender perspective in the planning and conduct of missions. As noted by the Secretary-General in his report, the participation of women should not be limited to certain phases; it is necessary throughout the conflict cycle to achieve sustainable peace. Finally, women are agents of change and contribute to building more just and egalitarian societies. We must thererfore take advantage of their rich potential. As noted by the Secretary-General last year during his visit to Chile, empowering women and girls is the smartest investment that the international community can make to ensure a future of justice and peace for all.

We recognize that civil society, especially women’s organizations, have spurred that rebuilding and the future adherence to the agenda for women’s rights. That is why they are now strategic State partners in the search for that shared goal. Although challenges remain, the Government’s resolve to overcoming them is underpinned by its commitment to offering women reparations for the injuries they have suffered, guarantees that the abuses will not recur and preventive measures. My country will continue to promote a culture free of all forms of discrimination and violence. To that end, we have signed on to the recently created Women, Peace and Security National Focal Points Network, an initiative led by Spain and other regional countries.

As underlined in the global study, women’s participation in decision-making in the sphere of peace and security worldwide remains unacceptably low, while the extent of sexual violence against women and girls in conflict situations continues to be devastating. What we need now is to translate the existing commitments into concrete actions that would bring tangible benefits for the advancement of women and girls in their political and economic empowerment, as well as the full realization of their human rights in times of both conflict and peace.

Croatia’s continued engagement in the area of women and peace and security rests on our firm belief that the full realization of women’s rights is an indispensable basis for safeguarding basic human rights and achieving lasting peace and security. Croatia has therefore taken steps to integrate the gender perspective into the national foreign and security policy through its national policy for the promotion of gender equality and its first national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). One of the most important results of the first national action plan cycle has been an increased level of awareness of the role of women in the area of peace and security and the more effective integration of the gender perspective into our foreign and security policy and actions. In the national security sector, the gender perspective has also been strengthened with an increased number of women involved in the activities of the security system, including intelligence agencies and their increased presence at the decision-making level.

We firmly believe that girls and women are not just survivors and victims of war; they are also leaders and peace builders. Conflict through a woman’s eyes brings an invaluable perspective, one which has often been ignored in our history. That is one of the reasons why the Czech Republic negotiated a resolution on equal political participation on four occasions in Geneva. Women, however, are still underrepresented in decision-making positions in the Czech Republic. That is why, in July, the Government adopted an action plan for the balanced representation of women and men in decision-making positions for the years 2016-2018.

As a major troop- and police-contributing country, Ethiopia has been working towards increasing the participation of women. We are particularly proud that Ethiopia is one of the leading contributors of female peacekeepers. We will continue to enhance the participation of our women in the military, police and civilian components.

As a country in which women represent 51 per cent of the population, the Islamic Republic of the Gambia welcomes this debate on women and peace and security. Over the years, we have come to recognize the importance of women in peacebuilding and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, yet we have not been able to give women the requisite power or even status to play a role in the achievement of peace and security. We recognize the gallant efforts of the United Nations as exemplified in many resolutions, especially resolution 1325 (2000), which enjoins us all to involve women in peacekeeping, the prevention of conflict and post-conflict reconstruction. Unfortunately, time and circumstances have shown that lack of political will, intolerance leading to conflicts, and archaic laws continue to serve as obstacles to the full participation of women in the quest for peace and security. The only effective way to facilitate the direct involvement of women in efforts aimed at creating a culture of peace in the world is to ensure that women have access and a voice at the table where policies and programmes are articulated.

Guatemala has always supported that agenda and eiterates that women play an essential role in preventing and resolving conflicts, promoting justice, fostering reconciliation, supporting disarmament, demobilization and social reintegration, and rebuilding national institutions. Women are the critical link in development as they are the centre of the family and the source of its values, customs and the identity of each child. All these are essential pillars for consolidating lasting peace. It is essential that women be involved in decision-making at all levels.

Hungary strongly supports the efforts to increase the meaningful participation of women at all stages and levels of peace processes. We also encourage Member States to support women’s engagement in local, national and global decision-making structures, including the participation of women in electoral processes. We have heard today strong examples. They should inspire all of us because they are examples for all of us and through those examples we could create mechanisms that enable the participation of women in conflict resolution, peacebuilding and conflict prevention. In this period, for example, Hungary financed a gender-based training workshop in Kenya within the framework of its international development cooperation strategy. Women play a key role in areas affected by conflict in ensuring the livelihoods of their families in the midst of chaos, and are particularly active in community- building and peace movements at the grass-roots level. However, such women-led organizations are noticeably fewer, or even absent, from formal peace processes. We hope to see recognized the important role that civil society and women-led organizations play in peace processes. Similarly, the increased participation of women in peacekeeping missions is of the utmost importance. Their contribution could be particularly useful in designing and implementing strategies for the protection of civilians and humanitarian assistance. The Security Council should also continue to promote women’s participation and gender mainstreaming as part of making peacebuilding processes and post-conflict recovery efforts more inclusive. We do not only want women to be present in decisionmaking at the negotiation table because it is just; we want them to be included because history has shown so many times that the participation of women is vital to peacebuilding and the creation of peaceful and inclusive societies.

Fifthly, we need to strengthen the contribution of Member States in peacekeeping missions. Indonesian military and police forces are currently in 10 United Nations operations with close to 3,000 personnel in total, many of whom are female peacekeepers, who have expertise in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Indonesia’s Peacekeeping Training Centre has also incorporated gender perspectives into its programme so as to equip them in the field. The participation of women and girls in peacebuilding is a must and a prerequisite for sustainable peace. We need to address the problem of ensuring predictable and sustainable funding for women and peace and security. Setting specific numerical targets, such as allocating 15 per cent of peacebuilding funds to projects whose principal objective is to address women’s specific needs and advance gender equality, is a step in the right direction.

In this regard, we support the Secretary-General’s decision to include women’s participation, leadership and empowerment as keys drivers in his Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.

The issue of women’s participation has real and tangible effects on the promotion of international peace and security.

We reaffirm the importance of women’s full participation in efforts to achieve peace and security and the ensuring that the necessary resources and funds are available to implement these programmes. We are here today to assess the efforts of the international community, in terms not only of the settlement of conflict, but also of the empowerment of women in the context of forging of lasting peace. We are also here to assess women’s role in peace negotiations, the prevention of conflict, humanitarian assistance and the fight against extremism.

We are pursuing our efforts to strengthen the participation of women in decision- making and have made qualitative progress, as reflected in the results of the most recent parliamentary elections, which were held in September. The number of women in Parliament has increased from 12 to 24 per cent and 18 per cent of our magistrates are now women. There are also a great many Jordanian women who hold high positions.

We fully support efforts to increase and prioritize the participation of women at all levels in peace processes and mediation efforts.

We also share the assessment that the presence of women peacekeepers in conflict zones can facilitate interaction and confidence-building with local communities and affected populations, particularly women and children.

In addition to endorsing the three P’s — planning, pledges and performance — the London communiqué adopted by the United Nations peacekeeping defence ministerial meeting held last month also affirmed the commitment to increase women’s participation in uniformed roles. In that regard, I am pleased to share that, as of 16 September, Malaysia has increased from 26 to 40 the number of women military personnel deployed within our contingent under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

In that regard, Malaysia believes that increasing the number of women in decision-making positions contributes to the development and implementation of holistic and gender-inclusive policies that benefit the community, the State and the Organization as a whole.

The call made in resolution 1325 (2000) for increased representation of women at all decision-making levels remains as acute and relevant now as it was then, including within the United Nations. We continue to support the Secretary-General’s efforts to achieve gender parity within the United Nations, especially at senior decision-making levels.

In conclusion, the women and peace and security agenda aspires to restore the role of women and girls — one half of humankind — as effective actors with an equal stake in peace and security efforts. Our task will be complete only when women’s representation and participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution is axiomatic. Until then, my delegation offers its steadfast commitment and support to furthering the Secretary-General’s agenda. We hope that Secretary- General- designate Guterres will continue to build on the women and peace and security initiative begun under Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

Sustainable peace requires comprehensive and long-term approaches that link political action, security, justice, development, and the promotion of human rights in support of national efforts, in which women play a central role. In particular, we recognize the need to foster greater participation by women in United Nations initiatives relating to conflict prevention, mediation, the cessation of hostilities, disarmament and the monitoring of peace agreements.

In that regard, Mexico highlights the successful case of Colombia, where the negotiations process leading up to the peace agreement in that country was marked by the significant presence and participation of women. We also acknowledge the efforts of the United Nations Mission in Colombia to maximize the number of women as observers and in all other roles. The approaches followed in Colombia must become the norm.

On that account, we welcome the initiative of the Secretary-General to identify gender equality as one of the priorities of his Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, and we see it as a positive sign that General Assembly resolution 70/291, which was the culmination of the fifth review of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, highlights the importance of promoting greater synergies among Member States, the United Nations and women’s organizations in developing strategies to combat terrorism and violent extremism.

Despite signs of progress, we are forced to note that the overall result is far from being satisfactory. Evaluations of the achievements of the 15 past years clearly show that the participation of women in negotiation processes has remained low. Between 1992 and 2011, only 9 per cent of negotiators were women. Only 27 per cent of peace agreements signed between 2000 and 2015 referred to women’s gender equality and the needs of women. Women make up just 3 per cent of the positions of authority throughout the world. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, today only 2 per cent of foreign funds invested in reviving the economies of post-conflict countries are allocated to promoting the equality of women, their empowerment or the satisfaction of their specific needs for a period of time.

And yet, women constitute half of the world’s population. Their involvement in peacebuilding remains not only a right, but also, given the disproportionate impact of conflict on their lives, an obligation. They can make an undeniably valuable contribution to peace negotiations. It is therefore necessary to change the paradigm so as to change the status quo and give women more power so as to shake up the established order. Indeed, the participation of women in negotiating processes increases the chances of a settlement of conflict and the sustainability of peace. That fact was confirmed by a global study undertaken by UN-Women in 2015, which revealed that the presence of women in peace negotiations promoted the sustainability of peace agreements, and that 35 per cent of agreements negotiated by women lasted more than 15 years.

We are convinced that the only way to achieve sustainable peace is by the meaningful inclusion of women in conflict prevention, in conflict resolution and in mediation and peace processes.

We promote the engagement of women and men in changing power relationships and gender norms in support of a more inclusive society. We believe that the way forward is to take our best practices and turn them into standard practices. The inclusion of women in peace processes should be the rule rather than the exception.

We support women’s participation in peace processes through the support of civil society organizations. For example, together with UN-Women — I am glad to see the head of UN-Women is here — we assist female members of Syrian civil society to unite in the Syrian Women’s Initiative for Peace and Democracy. With that initiative, which dates back a couple of years, we aim to help Syrian women from different backgrounds to pursue a common agenda and to give them a voice during the Syrian peace talks. Some of the women we supported have joined the Women’s Advisory Board of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura.

The advancement of the role of women is crucial in all our efforts for peace, justice and development. The Kingdom of the Netherlands will remain a partner to promote the rights of women in all those dimensions.

That also means deploying more women in United Nations missions. And it means ensuring that those deployed — male and female — have the knowledge and training required to respond to challenges related to a lack of gender equality or women’s empowerment. That requires making greater effort within our national military and police forces. New Zealand is actively increasing the recruitment, promotion and retention of senior women within the police and the defence force. We are determined to deploy women at all levels of decision-making in conflict-resolution processes.

Where women are included and can exert an influence, we are more likely to reach a peace agreement and the peace is more likely to last. Where women are involved in peacekeeping, the operation enjoys more trust and is more effective. Where there is political will, sexual violence can be addressed, even in humanitarian crises.

Yet, in spite of our knowledge and experience, in spite of our commitments, we still have a long way to go. Women are still excluded from many processes that will decide their future. Women are still suffering abuse and even being targeted directly. We are still not tapping into the resources of 50 per cent of our populations when it matters the most.

From now on, women will expect to take part. Civil society will demand to be heard. More stakeholders will want to have a say, because it has been done before. And even though the Syria talks are not moving in the direction we hoped, the Geneva process has achieved something new: women and civil society are consulted regularly through innovative formal mechanisms. We now have very concrete examples of inclusion. We have been very happy to support these developments.

The Nordic countries deploy many women to United Nations peace operations: 35 per cent of the police officers deployed by Norway and 50 per cent of those deployed by Sweden are women and 40 per cent of all personnel Finland sends to civilian crisis management operations are women. Women made up 50 per cent of the experts deployed by the Icelandic Crisis Response Unit last year. This is because we know that gender balance makes our contingents better. We also support the African Union and several African countries in their endeavours to train more women and to ensure that their police forces are gender responsive.

Women across the world, from Columbia to Uganda to Burundi to Tunisia, have emerged as leaders and consensus-builders, thus inspiring hope of peace and prosperity amid conflict, chaos and violence.

As agents for peace, women also have a vital role to play in achieving sustainable development, because peace and development, as we all agree, are inextricably linked.

Women’s special skills in mediation make them particularly suited as Special Envoys and Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, yet they have had very few such missions. That clearly needs to change.

Violent extremism has intensified and degenerated into the worst forms of violence against women, including sexual violence used as a weapon of war, thereby returning us to a time that we thought had been overcome by humankind. States must therefore strengthen collective efforts, including national plans and strategies to promote the increased participation of women in all stages of the peacebuilding process, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction.

The role that women can and should play in conflict prevention and resolution and decision-making processes aimed at sustainable peace is fundamental. That is why it is essential to empower women globally and continuously, as recommended in the report of the Secretary-General.

Women’s inclusion and equality are essential elements of the equation in achieving the development we want. We need to end the exclusion of 50 per cent of the world’s population and recognize the active, vital role of women as agents of change, whose participation at all levels is an undeniably positive element favouring peaceful and constructive action.

The equal participation of 100 per cent of our population in every single step towards lasting peace and security will ultimately free up human potential to resolve the issues we face — all we need is the will to act. Given the current situation of ever- increasing global challenges, it is unacceptable to continue debating questions involving women’s rights as leaders, or to hold high-ranking positions or to equitably participate at all levels of political, social or economic life.

Finally, the measures we take and implement today to defend the rights of women and girls will be steps towards saving humankind.

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.

We consider it critical to ensure the active and meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects and stages of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict processes.

In conclusion, 16 years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), we must redouble our efforts in consolidating and reinforcing the implementation of this agenda. Ensuring a gender perspective and women and girls’ participation in all stages of peace processes, including in prevention and disarmament, protection in displacement settings, peacekeeping, policy-making and reconstruction, strengthens the protection efforts by United Nations peacekeepers, contributes positively to the achievement of sustainable peace, accelerates economic recovery and development and helps counter violent extremism.

The equal participation and involvement of women in peace and security is a cross- cutting issue and gender expertise is needed in all areas, including security sector reform. The participation and involvement of women is key to operational effectiveness, local ownership and strengthened oversight. Increasing the recruitment of female staff, preventing human rights violations and collaborating with women’s organizations contribute to creating an efficient, accountable and participatory security sector that responds to the special needs of both women and men.

We call for greater recognition of, and support for, women’s participation in all stages of conflict resolution and post-conflict reconciliation.

As a group of countries promoting human security, the Human Security Network would like to emphasize that the personal security of women is essential for human security. Women’s empowerment and participation are the cornerstones of any prevention and protection response.

The economic, political and social empowerment of women and girls reduces their vulnerability and enhances their ability to protect themselves and exercise their rights. In that regard, we need to ensure that women and girls’ interests are fully respected and systematically integrated in the context of peace processes. Strategies for the effective integration of gender perspectives should therefore be pursued to promote women’s empowerment and participation.

To conclude, Slovenia agrees with the report of the Secretary-General that prioritizing gender equality and women’s empowerment in peace and security settings must remain a continued effort. We all must strive to remove obstacles to women’s participation, in particular in efforts to prevent and combat sexual- and gender-based violence and harmful practices that impede women from enjoying human rights on an equal footing with other members of society.

South Africa strongly believes in the involvement and empowerment of women in every aspect of peace, security and development. That finds a robust reflection in the fact that democratic South Africa has one of the largest contingents of women peacekeepers deployed throughout the African continent. Women’s participation in peacekeeping and peacemaking efforts is recognized as a contributing factor to the effectiveness and long-term success of United Nations deployments. The recognition of the importance of the role of women in the context of peace operations is a strong incentive to building women’s capacities within the peacekeeping landscape. It also contributes to the accessibility and credibility of United Nations deployments in local communities.

In that regard, South Africa has been developing the training programmes needed to equip our peacekeepers to deal with the unique circumstances that may develop during peace operations. In 2015, the South African Government, in partnership with UN-Women, launched a training course tailored for female military officers stationed at the South African Army School’s Peace Mission Training Centre in Pretoria. A second training course, co-facilitated by South Africa and Kenya, will take place in Kenya in November.

That is why we hope that the effective participation of women will be a priority during the next Secretary- General’s mandate. I have heard him speak, I know him, and I am sure that it will be so, but resolutions 1325 (2000) and 2242 (2015) represent a cause that affects us all. It is indeed a just cause, but above all it is necessary if we are to truly contribute to building a peace with a solid foundation.

Sudanese women have always been essential partners in preparing and participating in parliamentary and presidential elections, including those held this past year. Today, 30 per cent of our parliamentarians are women. Women hold important positions in Government. They are and have always been essential partners within the framework of the national dialogue launched in 2014 by the President of the Republic, the results of which we celebrated on 10 October. Women make up 66 per cent of the civil servants of the Sudan. We can therefore rightly state that women in the Sudan serve as an example, as they have enjoyed all of their rights for almost 60 years.

As one example, Sudanese women enjoyed the right to vote and to run for office back in 1955, well before women in many other countries around the world, including those of the other continents. Women also participate in and are members of our security and police forces. They are legal practitioners and work in the diplomatic services. We consider their participation in civil society to be essential. Women’s associations have contributed to expanding women’s participation in many fields, thereby strengthening the implementation of international strategies and policies, including in the context of relevant Security Council resolutions.

Strengthening women’s participation in decision-making is necessary to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

In these challenging times, it is essential to promote partnerships with civil society, and in particular with women’s networks. Colombia is a perfect example of the role that civil society women’s networks can play in peace and peacebuilding efforts. In that regard, I thank the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security and all affiliated organizations for their tireless efforts to promote the women and peace and security agenda here in New York.

At the national level, the equal rights of women and men are guaranteed under the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago. Equal opportunities exist for women’s participation at the decision-making level in matters regarding peace and security. That is underscored by the recruitment and ascendency of women to senior ranks of the security sector in Trinidad and Tobago.

As the nature of threats to international security continues to evolve in complexity, my delegation submits that the primary objective of our Organization would be elusive without the full and effective integration of women into all spheres of conflict resolution, conflict prevention and peacebuilding processes. Trinidad and Tobago is fully committed to the goal of gender equality. For us, the empowerment of women is an integral part of national development and an essential pillar in the maintenance of sustainable peace.

My country pledges its commitment to continue to work with the United Nations in advancing and empowering women at the global level. Consequently, Trinidad and Tobago was elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in April. We are eager to begin our mandate in January 2017 and to join international efforts to promote the advancement of women and girls everywhere.

The horrific acts perpetrated against women and girls by terrorist organizations, such as Da’esh and Boko Haram, require a comprehensive approach to eliminating the root causes of the problem. That approach should include women’s equal and full participation as active agents in the prevention and resolution of conf licts, peacebuilding and peacekeeping. Member States should vigorously pursue and ensure women’s equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. Our recent history om conflict settlement includes success stories of women who have played a crucial role to that end.

Multiple initiatives and programmes have been established to ensure prevention, participation, protection and education for women and girls. As an example, between 2013 and 2015 Turkey’s humanitarian aid programme on eliminating and responding to gender-based violence for Syrian women and girls was conducted by the Ministry of Family and Social Policies, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund. Similar programmes regarding Syrian women and girls in Turkey will continue in the coming period. We believe that women and girls will have an important role to play in rebuilding Syria’s future.

One of the founding principles of the United Arab Emirates is the full, meaningful and continually improving participation of women in every aspect of our society. In recognition of that core belief, the United Arab Emirates foreign policy strategy now includes women’s empowerment and protection as priority themes. In recognition of the key role that UN-Women plays in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, the United Arab Emirates and UN-Women opened a UN-Women Liaison Office in Abu Dhabi just last week. The Office will enhance and strengthen collaboration to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls — a core part of any women and peace and security agenda in the region.

The United Arab Emirates is contributing to that research base by supporting the UN-Women global programme on women and peace and security in order to promote conflict resilient societies through prevention efforts that facilitate women’s participation, leadership and the protection of their rights. The global programme will further gender-sensitive research and data collection to reveal the drivers of extremist violence and the impacts of counter-terrorism strategies on women’s rights and women’s organizations.

First, we must bring women’s participation and leadership to the core of peace and security efforts. Women are transformative agents of change. By removing obstacles and incentivizing the effective participation of women in peace and security, we can strengthen the sustainability and inclusiveness of our peace and security efforts. That includes increasing the leadership of women at senior decision-making levels here at the United Nations. Secondly, we must prioritize the protection of women’s and girls’ rights during and after conflict. Thirdly, we must address the humanitarian crisis with the understanding that women are best placed to advise and lead on humanitarian responses.

The United Arab Emirates is committed to prioritizing gender equality and women’s empowerment in peace and security settings. We will continue to advocate for the full, effective, and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of leadership and decision-making, and working towards the full realization of the women and peace and security agenda.

In politics and governance, more women have been able to be elected to the national legislature and other Government legislative institutions due to the deliberate Government policy of affirmative action of reserving certain positions for women alone, in addition to their ability to compete with men in other positions. More female members have also been appointed to the national Cabinet in Government. The Government of Uganda is committed to continue exploring more opportunities in the effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We wish to call upon the United Nations to involve more women in preventive diplomacy, negotiations and mediation to promote gender balance in these areas.

I would like to say the following. Ukrainian women have rallied to deal with the current situation. Female politicians, social activists, volunteers and human rights activists are working actively to re-establish peace, and their role in dealing with women and peace and security issues is extremely important and ever-growing.

I should also point out that today women make up 12 per cent of the members of the Government and the Parliament of Ukraine. They play a very active role, first and foremost in the peacemaking processes. In February 2016, the Ukrainian Government adopted a national plan of action for implementing resolution 1325 (2000). The implementation of the plan will allow us to ensure even greater participation by women in peacekeeping and decision-making in the field of national security and defence, and in further combating gender-based violence.

The aggression against Ukraine has led to greater involvement by women in the peacemaking processes, and the President of Ukraine has appointed a woman to a position in charge of the peace process in the Donbas region. We also have women in at least two Minsk working groups dealing with humanitarian and political issues, and they are doing everything possible to ensure a peaceful solution to the situation in the Donbas.

We reassert our firm belief that women can be major players in ensuring the emancipation of our people. In our country women play a vital role in constructing

society. In the process of our Bolivarian revolution, they have taken very important steps in the legal and constitutional context aimed at achieving gender equality at all levels regarding the functionality of our State’s society. At the global level, women should be working in and benefitting from equal conditions and opportunities in the development of peace and they should be included in an equal way. They have wrought change. In the aforementioned historical process, we reiterate our country’s commitment to continue to work with determination in following the noble goal of paying the historical debt of humankind back to women.

Sustaining peace will be achieved only if we increase the participation of women as actors in all stages of the peace process, including in particular in peacekeeping operations. We wish to underscore that 15 per cent of Argentine personnel participating in peacekeeping operations or in special political missions are women, according to the latest data. That is higher than the general average of 4.22 per cent. We will continue to work on deepening that commitment.

Argentina fully agrees with the importance that the United Nations attaches to the role of women in preventive diplomacy, at the negotiating table and in post-conflict reconstruction. That perspective is naturally linked with the new concept of sustaining peace, which recognizes the important role to be performed by women

Argentina is committed to the meaningful participation of women in decision-making and in all peace processes. That is why we adopted our national plan of action for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions as an instrument that integrates all national agencies working in the area of women and peace and security. One of the goals of the national action plan is to increase the participation of women from various spheres — political, social, economic and security — to contribute to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacemaking.

My country strongly believes that more equitable and egalitarian societies that respect the rights of women are more peaceful societies. With that in mind, strengthening the meaningful role of women in all the phases of peace processes and mainstreaming a gender perspective in peace agreements and in public policies are priorities of our foreign policy in that area. Argentina also encourages the incorporation of a gender perspective into all peace processes involving the United Nations. We consider it fundamental to work with civil society organizations, which should continue to participate in designing and implementing policies related to the topic.

By harnessing the expertise of civil society organizations on the ground we can be more effective in our efforts to remove barriers and create meaningful opportunities for women to engage equally in all stages of peace processes. Civil society groups represent those whose lived experience is most relevant. In most instances, they existed before the conflict and they will exist after it. That is why Australia, working with partners, established the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (GAI). The GAI helps women’s civil society organizations to contribute to conflict prevention, crisis response, and peacebuilding. We encourage other Member States to support that practical mechanism.

Australia reiterates its support for increasing the participation of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations, particularly in staff officer and military observer roles, as outlined in the London communiqué of the United Nations peacekeeping defence ministerial meeting

Furthermore, Chile is committed to increasing women’s participation in various United Nations missions. We are convinced of their contribution and undeniable role in establishing effective ties in restoring the confidence of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. This year we have deployed a senior officer in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and, before 11 November, Chilean women will participate as observers in the United Nations Mission in Colombia. As of 2017, women’s access will be ensured to all military professions. That will be extended in 2018 to include the navy and the air force. That will enable Chilean women to be deployed in various areas of peacekeeping missions.In another area, Chile appreciates the recommendations concerning the global study on resolution 1325 (2000) set out in the latest report (S/2016/822) of the Secretary-General. We emphasize the importance of enhancing the participation and leadership of women as a central aspect of peace and security initiatives.

We should not just think about the numerical increase of women in peace operations, but should also include a gender perspective in the planning and conduct of missions. As noted by the Secretary-General in his report, the participation of women should not be limited to certain phases; it is necessary throughout the conflict cycle to achieve sustainable peace. Finally, women are agents of change and contribute to building more just and egalitarian societies. We must thererfore take advantage of their rich potential. As noted by the Secretary-General last year during his visit to Chile, empowering women and girls is the smartest investment that the international community can make to ensure a future of justice and peace for all.

We must continue to prioritize the participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution and peacebuilding, and States must fully assume the responsibility of safeguarding and guaranteeing women’s rights in a safe and suitable environment. In Colombia, as we close a difficult chapter of the hemisphere’s most protracted conflict, we understand that women and girls play a fundamental and proactive role in the building of the peace we so desire. We can say that the process has been a new, almost unprecedented experience. It is the first time that a gender focus is expressly included, not only through the participation of women as fully empowered members of both the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia guerillas and the Government, but also through the creation and work of a gender subcommission — that the Secretary-General and many of delegations recognized this morning — which, through often difficult but respectful dialogue, bore fruit as all resulting chapters of the final peace agreement provide concrete gender- specific provisions. As the Secretary-General’s report (S/2016/822) on women and peace and security indicates, women accounted for up to a third of the participants at the table, approximately half of those participating in the consultations and over 60 per cent of the victims and the experts that visited the negotiation table in Havana.

The commitment to gender equity and peace was strengthened on 21 October when President Santos and 109 women’s organizations reaffirmed their support for the peace agreement and welcomed the fact that victims’ rights were at the heart of the agreement and that the fundamental role of women and girls in peacebuilding was recognized. The President of Colombia will continue to strive for peace until the very end of his mandate.

Hungary strongly supports the efforts to increase the meaningful participation of women at all stages and levels of peace processes. We also encourage Member States to support women’s engagement in local, national and global decision-making structures, including the participation of women in electoral processes. We have heard today strong examples. They should inspire all of us because they are examples for all of us and through those examples we could create mechanisms that enable the participation of women in conflict resolution, peacebuilding and conflict prevention. In this period, for example, Hungary financed a gender-based training workshop in Kenya within the framework of its international development cooperation strategy. Women play a key role in areas affected by conflict in ensuring the livelihoods of their families in the midst of chaos, and are particularly active in community- building and peace movements at the grass-roots level. However, such women-led organizations are noticeably fewer, or even absent, from formal peace processes. We hope to see recognized the important role that civil society and women-led organizations play in peace processes. Similarly, the increased participation of women in peacekeeping missions is of the utmost importance. Their contribution could be particularly useful in designing and implementing strategies for the protection of civilians and humanitarian assistance. The Security Council should also continue to promote women’s participation and gender mainstreaming as part of making peacebuilding processes and post-conflict recovery efforts more inclusive. We do not only want women to be present in decisionmaking at the negotiation table because it is just; we want them to be included because history has shown so many times that the participation of women is vital to peacebuilding and the creation of peaceful and inclusive societies.

Fifthly, we need to strengthen the contribution of Member States in peacekeeping missions. Indonesian military and police forces are currently in 10 United Nations operations with close to 3,000 personnel in total, many of whom are female peacekeepers, who have expertise in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Indonesia’s Peacekeeping Training Centre has also incorporated gender perspectives into its programme so as to equip them in the field. The participation of women and girls in peacebuilding is a must and a prerequisite for sustainable peace. We need to address the problem of ensuring predictable and sustainable funding for women and peace and security. Setting specific numerical targets, such as allocating 15 per cent of peacebuilding funds to projects whose principal objective is to address women’s specific needs and advance gender equality, is a step in the right direction.

Thirdly, women-and-peace-and- security mainstreaming has also driven changes in mediation and peace processes. A formula for lasting peace cannot be reached by excluding half of society. That has been shown by the Global Study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and is also rooted in fundamental logic.
Thankfully, we are advancing in that regard. Since 2012, all United Nations mediation-support teams have included women. We have best practices, including Colombia, from which to draw. Nevertheless, the report of the Secretary-General shows mixed progress regarding the inclusion of women in peace processes. Through our experience of reconciliation on our own island and our consistent engagement with
the United Nations Mediation Support Unit, Ireland can attest to the crucial need for the participation of women in mediation and peace processes. We call for the redoubling of efforts on the part of special envoys and representatives, with support from Security Council member States and regional partners, so as to ensure that next year’s report of the Secretary-General can point to clear progress in that regard.

We continue to witness a large number of conflicts around the world. According to the World Bank, 90 per cent of conflicts from 2000 to 2009 were relapses. It is against such a backdrop that securing women’s participation in peace processes is vital for the success and sustainability of those processes. For example, in 2014 a peace agreement was reached in Mindanao, the Philippines, after 17 years of conflict, and another was recently reached in Colombia after half a century of civil war. It is noteworthy that in both of those recent cases one third of the negotiators at the table were women. Just like the case of Ms. Murabit in Libya, those examples illustrate that many female activists are seeking to bring peace to their countries — and they are succeeding.

When we look at positive examples of the inclusion of women in peace processes — for instance, in Colombia — we clearly see that it is indispensable to empower women as agents of peace. We have data that show that women’s participation increases the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least two years by 20 per cent, and at least 15 years by 35 per cent. In order to make that possible, we need to eliminate barriers to their participation in peace-related activities. We also need to ensure that women are fully included during the formulation and implementation of early- warning systems and peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts at all levels.

The peace process in Colombia showed us how the significant involvement of women, both at the main peace talks in Havana and in regional and national consultations, was critical in supporting the successful conclusion of the initial peace agreement between the Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia — Ejército del Pueblo. Increased access to gender expertise by international mediators and negotiating parties in the drafting of peace agreements, resulting in the inclusion of gender-specific provisions in a greater number of agreements, is another positive development that should be sustained.

Accordingly, we support calls upon the Secretary- General to appoint more women mediators and women leaders of mediation groups and to ensure that United Nations-launched mediation processes incorporate a gender perspective. Similarly, gender perspectives and the specific needs of women must be comprehensively included in all peace agreements.

Despite signs of progress, we are forced to note that the overall result is far from being satisfactory. Evaluations of the achievements of the 15 past years clearly show that the participation of women in negotiation processes has remained low. Between 1992 and 2011, only 9 per cent of negotiators were women. Only 27 per cent of peace agreements signed between 2000 and 2015 referred to women’s gender equality and the needs of women. Women make up just 3 per cent of the positions of authority throughout the world. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, today only 2 per cent of foreign funds invested in reviving the economies of post-conflict countries are allocated to promoting the equality of women, their empowerment or the satisfaction of their specific needs for a period of time.

And yet, women constitute half of the world’s population. Their involvement in peacebuilding remains not only a right, but also, given the disproportionate impact of conflict on their lives, an obligation. They can make an undeniably valuable contribution to peace negotiations. It is therefore necessary to change the paradigm so as to change the status quo and give women more power so as to shake up the established order. Indeed, the participation of women in negotiating processes increases the chances of a settlement of conflict and the sustainability of peace. That fact was confirmed by a global study undertaken by UN-Women in 2015, which revealed that the presence of women in peace negotiations promoted the sustainability of peace agreements, and that 35 per cent of agreements negotiated by women lasted more than 15 years.

Women’s participation increases the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least two years by 20 per cent. That percentage rises to 35 per cent after 15 years. But all too often, that is not reflected in our peacebuilding activities.

On a positive note, the peace process in Colombia has provided a best-practice example of women’s participation. As we have heard, Colombian women have successfully advocated for the inclusion of women and ensured that the peace process adequately addresses crucial issues, including violence against women and community displacement. That must be maintained in the ongoing dialogue towards a final peace agreement and encourage contributors to the United Nations Mission to respond to the call to deploy women.

We also commend the initiative of the Secretary- General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to establish a women’s advisory board to ensure that the voices of Syrian women are reflected in the peace process. Unfortunately, however, such positive outcomes remain rare, and we have yet to achieve the meaningful participation of women as a natural and necessary element for all peace processes.

Today more women are included in peace talks, more peace agreements contain provisions in support of women’s human rights and more security- sector personnel are trained to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

Data show that when women are included in peace processes, there is a 20 per cent increase in the probability of an agreement lasting at least two years and a 35 per cent increase in the probability of an agreement lasting at least 15 years. The building of peace is a continuous process that requires broad popular support and the participation of all layers of society. Every generation has to rediscover the value of peace and build on previous generations’ achievements in preserving it. Peace is built every day by teachers in schools, by youth on sports fields and by employees in their workplaces.

Evidence has shown the nexus between gender mainstreaming, sustaining peace and civic engagement. For example, seven out of 10 peace agreements signed in 2015 included gender-specific provisions.

A crucial element of the women and peace and security agenda is the involvement of women in peace-related activities. We see today that more women are involved in peace talks and that more peace agreements include provisions that relate to the specific needs of women and girls, including supporting their human rights, as the 2016 report (S/2016/822) of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security highlights. The Network supports the Secretary- General’s call that initiatives to promote women’s participation and inclusive consultations should become standard practice in the mediation of peace agreements. Their important role as active agents of change in the promotion and maintenance of peace and security in all phases of conflict resolution and peacebuilding is invaluable not just for women, but for society as a whole.

Despite the progress made and the recognition of the facts that the women and peace and security agenda is critical for conflict prevention and effective responses to complex crises and that women are important agents of progress in peace talks, they remain unequally involved in those processes, particularly in political dimensions. The positive role that women play in all stages of conflict prevention and resolution is often underestimated or even ignored, instead of being recognized and utilized.

The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, in collaboration with the Government of Norway, has established an initiative for training and creating a network of mediators, with the ultimate objective of broadening the inclusion of women’s mediation efforts all over the world. UN-Women and the United Nations Department of Political Affairs have also participated in that training programme, and the African Union has included it in its own work.

 South Africa supports efforts to mainstream women’s involvement in peace and security, which can be achieved through further coordination and cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations. That, we believe, can help to formalize the training of women mediators and ensure their effective mainstreaming into United Nations peacebuilding efforts. South Africa would like to encourage the United Nations to develop a database of women mediators that could ensure their meaningful participation in peacebuilding delegations. That would be in addition to cooperation between Member States on training courses designed to help build women’s capacities in various specialized areas of the peace and security environment.

First, we must continue our efforts to integrate gender perspectives as we develop strategies for all stages of the conflict-solution process. In that vein, we recognize the increased number of female mediators and delegates in peace agreement negotiations, which has led to an increase in the number of agreements with gender- specific provisions. In fact, seven out of 10 peace agreements signed in 2015 had such provisions.

The consequences of armed conflict and violence, as well as the erosion of respect for international humanitarian and international human rights law, continue to have a devastating impact on millions of women and girls across the globe. We are deeply alarmed by the current displacement crisis and the wide range of violations that displaced people are facing. Effective protection measures in situations of displacement are required. In that context, the importance of gender-responsive approaches to refugee and migrant movements, as advocated by the SecretaryGeneral in his report (S/2016/822), cannot be overemphasized.

Today’s multiple briefings, in particular the testimony of civil society representative Ms. Rita Lopidia, demonstrate that, unfortunately, the impact of armed conflict on women is disproportionately greater and thereby makes them more vulnerable and lacking sufficient protection.

Panama is firmly committed to promoting and protecting women’s human rights.

Despite these improvements, including several judicial cases of conflict-related sexual violence, violations of the rights of women and girls persist, including by non-State actors and terrorist organizations that attack the fundamental rights of women as part of their political agendas, making women and children the main victims in conflict and post-conflicts situations. We urge States to comply with international, humanitarian, refugee and human rights law and to hold violators accountable. The equitable participation and full involvement of women in preventive diplomacy and related decision-making processes regarding conflict resolution and peacebuilding have been highlighted by the Security Council and are attested to by the high quality of gender expertise provided by the United Nations in relevant mediation processes.

Finally, we support the systematic inclusion of provisions related to preventing conflict-related sexual violence in relevant country-specific resolutions and in the mandates of special political and peacekeeping missions, and to increasing the inclusion of women and gender advisers. We attach utmost importance to the empowerment of women in peacebuilding and sustaining peace efforts by making them full participants in conflict prevention and resolution and post-conflict reconstruction.

In many cases, the violation of women’s human rights and the assaults against the sexual integrity of women and girls in situations of conflict, as well as the abduction of women and girls, with the goal of exploiting them for work, sexual slavery and trafficking, are committed by members of rebel or terrorist groups, as well as by members of armed forces or security forces. In some cases, such crimes are even committed by members of participating peacekeeping operations.

We need to work in favour of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and to strengthen measures aimed at preventing cases of sexual abuse and exploitation in peacekeeping operations, in line with the Organization’s zero-tolerance policy. We should also implement the resolution with regard to its military, police and civilian components, so as to move from a culture of impunity to a culture of prevention. Such measures would have a real impact on peacebuilding in various parts of the world.

Australia is appalled by the continuing use of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence in conflict and the targeting of women and girls by extremist groups. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2016/822) is clear that, despite progress made on the women and peace and security agenda, there remain many gaps that require immediate action.

I cannot conclude without again voicing our deep concern about sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers. We welcome initiatives aimed at prevention, survivor assistance and accountability, and stress again that there is no excuse for these actions, nor excuse for inaction in addressing sexual exploitation and abuse. We know that to sustain peace we must include women; not just in our words, but in our actions. And we must accelerate and strengthen practical efforts to place women front and centre in the peace and security agenda.

Our peacekeepers know that they must take decisive action to prevent and combat sexual and gender-based violence, as part of their broader mandate on the protection of civilians. We unequivocally condemn sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, and have demonstrated our resolve to cooperate in implementing the comprehensive measures outlined in the Secretary General’s enhanced programme of action to combat these scourges.

Secondly, in the fight against sexual violence in conflict situations, the fight against impunity is of paramount importance. This year is the tenth anniversary of the Brussels Call to Action to Address Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond. In the outcome document of that international symposium, held in June 2006, participants committed themselves to “intensify international, regional and national efforts to end impunity for perpetrators by strengthening the legal and judicial systems and by enacting and enforcing legislation, and provide national justice systems with the necessary resources to prosecute cases of sexual and gender- based violence”.

Belgium supports that appeal with determination and actively contributes to current efforts to pursue the so-called Islamic State — also known as Da’esh — for its crimes, especially those committed against the Yazidi community.

 Botswana is deeply concerned that women continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts, domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape and humanitarian crises. In that regard, it is imperative that we build the capacity of women to prevent violence, conflict and extremism and enhance their capacities to respond to humanitarian crises and emergencies. We are also concerned that the participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution, peacemaking and peacebuilding remains low at the national, regional and international levels, although studies show that women’s involvement would significantly contribute to sustainable peace and stability.

Brazil has made considerable progress in the past decade and remains a vocal advocate and staunch supporter of United Nations efforts to advance the women and peace and security agenda. Our South- South cooperation is closely aligned with that agenda. We have, for instance, supported projects to assist victims of sexual and gender-based violence in Guinea- Bissau, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. The Brazilian Peace Operations Joint Training Centre in Rio de Janeiro regularly holds workshops and courses to train peacekeepers on gender issues and the protection of women. Rigorous standards regarding the conduct and discipline of personnel are upheld.

The growing spread of violent extremism and terrorism also causes unspeakable suffering to women and girls. As it was highlighted during the Security Council open debate (see S/PV.7704) on conflict related sexual violence held in June, sexual violence is now also used as a tactic of terrorism. Moreover, restricting women’s rights in conflict settings through the misappropriation of religion has become widespread and is a very dangerous development. It is therefore crucial to integrate the gender perspective while putting in place strategies to counter terrorism and violent extremism.

We strongly condemn all acts of violence against women and girls in situations of armed conflict. Parties to conflict should respect their obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law and bring the perpetrators to justice to combat impunity and ensure accountability. In the same vein, we support ongoing measures to prevent and address cases of sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Member States with women having suffered from violence must be given the right support for their basic needs so that women and their dependent children can be reintegrated into the society, with consideration for increased investment in the educational needs of girls and women. Health-wise, specific physical, mental and psychological health services should be provided to violence-stricken women so as to restore their dignity and establish a collective memory.

In order to enhance our efforts to end gender-based discrimination, stronger national and regional legal instruments should be strengthened so as to provide a greater number of high-level posts for women. Empowering and protection are not only in the interests of women themselves, but also in the interests of the common good.

The Group condemns in the strongest terms incidents of sexual violence in all conflicts, including the ongoing trafficking, rape and enslavement of Yazidi women and girls by Da’esh; the abduction and sexual abuse of women and schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Nigeria; and the ongoing use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, among many others. Such gender- based violence is a grave violation and abuse of human rights and international humanitarian law, and remains a barrier to the full achievement of gender equality, peace and development. We call for accountability for such crimes, including through the implementation of the international protocol on the documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict, as well as greater support for survivors. Furthermore, the Group deplores the fact that the stigmatization of survivors exacerbates their marginalization and is a barrier to their full recovery. Lastly, the Group of Friends condemns in the strongest terms cases of sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations, and it reaffirms its full commitment to the zero-tolerance policy of the United Nations with regard to all civilian, military and police personnel. We call on the international community to redouble its efforts to combat this scourge and welcome the recent efforts undertaken by Member States and the Secretary-General to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, to pursue accountability for perpetrators and to provide support to victims. In this regard, we welcome the adoption of resolution 2272 (2016), the appointment of the Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and the establishment of the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

First, Canada supports the important work of UN- Women and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Secondly, the advancement of gender equality and the socioeconomic empowerment of women and girls are critical to all peace and development goals. Thirdly, the United Nations and its Member States must do more to integrate women and peace and security issues in peace operations by ending sexual violence and abuse by peacekeeping personnel and by devoting more resources to gender adviser positions. Fourthly, we must take a broad approach to ending gender inequality by involving men and boys as well as women and girls in the joint creation of a truly inclusive space. 

As underlined in the global study, women’s participation in decision-making in the sphere of peace and security worldwide remains unacceptably low, while the extent of sexual violence against women and girls in conflict situations continues to be devastating. What we need now is to translate the existing commitments into concrete actions that would bring tangible benefits for the advancement of women and girls in their political and economic empowerment, as well as the full realization of their human rights in times of both conflict and peace.

As a country having recently experienced war and acquired post-conflict management experience, we are particularly interested in sharing our experiences and lessons learned as a contribution to wider, global efforts in preventing and combating sexual violence in war and conflict. As a member of the group of global champions of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Combat initiative, Croatia will spare no effort in preventing and combating sexual violence in war and conflicts, and will continue to give its firm support to all areas of the women and peace and security agenda.

Every topic diverges into a number of smaller issues; for example, violence against women breaks down into matters such as stereotyping, conflict-zone violence, sexual violence and extremist violence. If we focus only on sexual violence, for instance, we start looking at questions of identification, prevention, detection and victim support. From victim support, we derive different types of services, whether it be creating awareness, promoting access or supplying psychological and physical specialists. This overall process is a fragile transition that begins with the facts, figures and estimates we read on paper, and narrows down to the actual care and support each and every woman receives personally. Every detail in that transition will correspond to a certain woman living in the world. When a detail is forgotten, a woman may be, too. We, as Member States, must do two things for the benefit of every single woman in need of help — invest and collaborate more.

We cannot speak of peace without taking concrete steps to outlaw violence against women. It is sad, indeed tragic, that women and girls are still subjected to rape and other forms of violence. Women are the soft targets in any conflict, and now we are witnessing the alarming rate at which the rape of women is being used as a weapon of war. This atrocity must stop, and we wish to add our voice in condemning it as a gross violation of human rights. Rape, with all the pain and indignities it entails, should not only be condemned but also prosecuted. It should be prosecuted as a human rights violation punishable by stiff penalties. Rape in war zones should be made a crime against humanity and prosecuted by all countries. Those who use rape and violence against women should have no place to hide, and we should articulate international laws that will give all countries the right to prosecute the perpetrators of this horrible act if they enter our jurisdictions.

At the same time, we need to address the current challenges in peacekeeping in a comprehensive and transparent way that acknowledges the centrality of the protection of civilians. Georgia is fully committed to a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping and to ensuring the full accountability of perpetrators, by responding to alleged crimes in a survivor-centred manner. It was precisely with that approach that the Georgian Government and the Georgian armed forces reacted immediately to the allegations voiced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in January with regard to the sexual abuse cases involving minors by members of foreign military forces in the Central African Republic.

Having condemned any violence against local civilian populations, the Georgian Government created an ad hoc inter-agency investigation team, involving not only the representative of the Office of the Prosecutor and the Minister of Defence, but also experts on human rights and child protection services, as well as psychologists. The team established direct communication and worked closely with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Legal Affairs, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the Executive Director of UNICEF, the European Union Military Committee, as well as the Legal Director of Médecins sans frontières. Georgia officially requested the engagement of all the relevant parties in the investigation process by assigning respective points of contact on the ground. In June 2016, the team travelled to Bangui for the on site phase of the investigation, conducting inquiries and interviews with alleged victims in close cooperation with the EU, MINUSCA and UNICEF. United Nations agencies acknowledged that the team was highly professional and exemplary. Materials collected during the visit to the Central African Republic are being carefully studied. So far, preliminary investigation data reveal no sign of Georgian soldiers’ involvement in the crimes committed. Should the results of the investigation prove them innocent, Georgia would appreciate acknowledgement by the relevant United Nations bodies. We hope that the measures undertaken by my Government that I mentioned will serve as an example of best practice when it comes to a prompt and effective response to cases of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. We also encourage other countries to do the same as, we believe that only through such an approach can we produce a sustained change in dealing with the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse in conflict situations.

We reiterate that the prevention and protection of women against gender violence and sexual abuse require the involvement of all, including men and boys. We strongly condemn cases of sexual violence and the fact that it continues to be used as a tactic of intimidation or terrorism. We also condemn violence and sexual abuse in peacekeeping operations. We demand the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy. Security forces entrusted with ensuring the security and integrity of women as an important aspect of peace and security must be made to understand that.

Guatemala is striving to combat impunity and to bring the perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice. In that regard, early this year we brought to justice two soldiers who were responsible for the sexual enslavement of 15 Quechi women in the military base of Sepur Zarco. Although it took 32 years to bring this case to trial, we believe that it is worth mentioning because access to justice should be guaranteed for all Guatemalans. However, we must improve access to justice and strengthen the participation of women in the process of drafting national legislation.

The Rome Statute, which is the international legal framework on gender-based crimes, is the most progressive to date. It is important to incorporate it into national legislation so that States have a comprehensive framework for investigations into international crimes of sexual and gender-based violence, targeted proccedings to support victims and witnesses, programmes to inform women of the laws that concern them, resources to monitor the implementation of laws that take the gender perspective into account, and provisions for the compensation of victims. All of those components are essential to ensuring that women have access to justice.

Coordination among United Nations bodies should respect and make full use of their respective mandates and competencies, particularly those whose work is relevant in promoting women’s empowerment and gender equalities in all sectors, including the prevention of gender-based violence in conflict situations. Sexual violence conducted by members of peacekeepers has been a particular concern. As an agent of peace, every peacekeeper should be held to the highest ethical and moral standards. Along this line, Indonesia supports the work of United Nations agencies in promoting zero tolerance of sexual violence and abuse in conflict. We urge United Nations agencies to strengthen their work with Member States in promoting global initiatives to protect women and children in armed conflict, such as the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative. 

The spread of violent extremism and takfiri ideology, which have no respect for women, threatens in an unprecedented way the life and rights of women and girls in our region. Women and girls have suffered the most and been targeted for systematic sexual exploitation and slavery, rape and other forms of violence by extremists and terrorists groups, such as Da’esh and Boko Haram.
The international community should make clear in every instance that there will never be any leniency for those who subject women and girls to the most inhumane acts of corporal and mental violence. Iran strongly condemns the barbaric acts of terrorist and violent extremists groups, as well as indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including women and children.

Iraq is witnessing the most violent terrorist attacks in the world perpetrated by lethal terrorist groups. The people in the areas under the control of such gangs have experienced the most savage and horrendous criminal practices committed against, in particular, women and children. Such gangs and groups have kidnapped a huge number of Yazidi women and people from other ethnicities of all ages in Iraq, whohave been sold as chattel in the areas between Iraq and Syria. Their dignities have been humiliated. They have been raped, enslaved and tortured psychologically, physically and sexually. We therefore call on the international community to make further efforts to support Iraq, free these women, return them to their families and reintegrate them into society.

Secondly, women suffer disproportionately from the effects of armed violence in conflicts. They are killed, robbed, raped, trafficked and forced into prostitution at gunpoint. Women also bear the brunt of armed violence as single heads of households and caregivers. Their needs as ex-combatants and former child soldiers differ from those of their male counterparts.

Thirdly, although human rights violations targeting women increasingly figure in sanctions regimes, only five of these, as noted in the report of the Secretary- General (S/2016/822), explicitly include as designation criteria acts involving sexual violence or violations targeting women. We stress the need to reinforce the gender expertise of relevant expert groups, further enhance sanctions regimes’ cooperation with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and expand the designation criteria in sanctions regimes where sexual and gender- based crimes and specific attacks against women are persistently perpetrated.

A shocking 70 per cent of women journalists killed worldwide are murdered. Besides physical attacks, intimidation, harassment and rape, they are subjected to aggressive targeted trolling and sexualized attacks online.

Crises are not neutral in nature from a gender perspective. Armed conflicts affect women more because, unfortunately, sexual abuse and exploitation have become a weapon of war. Mexico condemns in the strongest terms the violence and sexual exploitation to which women and girls have been subjected in situations of armed conflict. For that reason, our country is a regional champion of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

My country commends the actions taken by the Secretary-General to prevent sexual abuse by personnel serving under the United Nations flag. Such acts must not be allowed to happen again. We particularly welcome the appointment of a special coordinator to deal with those issues and call upon all troop- contributing countries to strictly implement the zero- tolerance policy in connection with the commission of sexual abuse by their personnel. At the same time, we support international efforts to harmonize the training of military, police and civilian personnel in issues involving gender and the prevention of sexual abuse.

Mexico also expresses its concern with regard to the alarming increase in the use of sexual violence as a tactic by terrorist groups, particularly those involved in armed conflict.

My final point is the need to combat conflict-related sexual violence. Like others, New Zealand condemns the use of sexual violence, including as a method of warfare, and supports measures to tackle this challenge. Ongoing United Nations leadership to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence will be essential. New Zealand has also consistently supported the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers. It is time for an honest conversation among the Secretariat, contributing countries and Member States about why this continues to be a problem, how to stop it and, when it occurs, how to respond.

Sexual violence destroys both individuals and communities and it undermines peace and development. That is why the Nordic countries are focusing on preventing and combating such atrocities.

We are engaged in the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies, which is currently led by Sweden. We work with the African Union and we support United Nations action, Justice Rapid Response and civil society.

Millions of women and girls remain among the most vulnerable in situations of armed conflict. The perpetrators of crimes against women and girls include Da’esh and Boko Haram, as well as States that use sexual abuse as a weapon of war. In our region we have seen thousands of women fall victim to brutal oppression; countless others have suffered rape and sexual abuse — the worst and the most traumatic form of violence.

Violent extremism has intensified and degenerated into the worst forms of violence against women, including sexual violence used as a weapon of war, thereby returning us to a time that we thought had been overcome by humankind. States must therefore strengthen collective efforts, including national plans and strategies to promote the increased participation of women in all stages of the peacebuilding process, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction.

Today more women are included in peace talks, more peace agreements contain provisions in support of women’s human rights and more security- sector personnel are trained to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

Portugal also reiterates its pledge to continue conducting training programmes for national personnel and members of the armed and security forces assigned to international peacekeeping missions on gender equality and violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings.

In conclusion, we underline our continued support for the zero-tolerance policy of the United Nations and the approach of zero impunity for all military, police and civilian personnel of the United Nations in the area of prevention and protection against sexual violence in peacekeeping operations. We support resolution 2272 (2016), which requested that the Secretary-General assess whether a Member State had taken steps to investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, held the perpetrators accountable and informed him about the progress of investigations when determining its participation in peacekeeping operations.

We also call for greater efforts to promote and respect the human rights of women and girls as, well as to strengthen all efforts to effectively address gender- based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. For too long, sexual violence against women and girls has been committed on a systematic and widespread scale as a crime against humanity, or even a weapon of war. We stress the importance of fighting impunity and ensuring accountability under national or international jurisdictions. The perpetrators of such crimes must be brought to justice.

Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by conflict situations, especially where sexual abuse and violence are concerned. That reality underpins the principles of resolution 1325 (2000), which addresses sexual violence in conflict and forms an integral part of the women and peace and security agenda. We stress that Member States have a fundamental responsibility to prosecute the perpetrators of human rights abuses, war crimes and crimes against humanity, including those relating to sexual violence against women and girls.

Civilians, especially women and girls, continue to be caught up in armed conflicts around the world. Acts of sexual violence committed by non-State actors are particularly alarming.

We commend the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, which has continued to assist many Governments in strengthening the capacity of national justice systems, including in the areas of criminal investigations, prosecution and reparations for survivors.

We also welcome the Secretary-General’s appointment of a Special Coordinator on Improving United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, as well as the additional measures taken to strengthen accountability and assist victims. We believe that more determined actions need to be taken.

Secondly, we will gradually increase the number of women deployed in peacekeeping missions. It is important to recall that as of 1999, women can ascend to all positions of the armed forces and that we give women priority so that they can participate in peacekeeping missions. I see the Colombian Ambassador here today. She knows full well that we have surpassed the 20 per cent quota in the contingent of women that will be deployed to that marvellous country. Additionally, we believe that as the number of women that participate in peacekeeping missions increases, the unfortunate instances of sexual abuse and exploitation that are, regrettably, still ongoing, will be more effectively addressed.

The earlier that is accomplished, the better. Early conflict settlement spares and saves a great many lives. When such an agreement is concluded, all parties, domestic and foreign, must refrain from undermining it. The United Nations must adopt that principle and tolerate no exceptions in that regard, in the context of peacekeeping operations. We condemn all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse carried out by United Nations peacekeepers, and support the Secretary- General’s zero-tolerance policy. We also condemn the intolerance and violent extremism that are a source of concern for the whole world today, especially given the increase in the number and power of extremist groups that are attacking the principles of peace, justice, human dignity, in complete contravention to the basic tenets of the United Nations, as well as development efforts and human rights principles. The United Nations must confront those threats and take all necessary measures to protect women and children. We are gratified to learn of the Secretary-General’s contribution in that field.

Secondly, non-State armed groups must be considered in the implementation of the agenda on women and peace and security. Switzerland continues its efforts to facilitate direct dialogue with those groups, which must recognize the principles of international humanitarian law and commit to respecting existing rules, including those regarding sexual and gender-based violence. In that connection, Switzerland supports the Women’s Initiative for Gender Justice, a non-governmental organization that aims to rehabilitate and reintegrate former child soldiers of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda and victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by providing psychosocial support and access to medical assistance. The project also contributes to holding perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence accountable under national and international law. For example, the documentation of sexual and gender-based violence that was made possible through this project was used against two Congolese rebel leaders at the International Criminal Court.

Thirdly, sexual and gender-based violence is a major, pressing issue. Accordingly, Switzerland will make sexual and gender-based violence a priority in its humanitarian commitments. That will include fostering access for victims to various services, mainstreaming the topic in the various areas of humanitarian aid and supporting partner humanitarian organizations in their work in the area of sexual and gender- based violence.

When we look at the world’s trouble spots, we can see that women and children continue to suffer disproportionately in times of conflict and in post- conflict situations. The peace and security challenges have not lessened and in some cases have been exacerbated and have grown in complexity, bringing great suffering to those affected, in particular women and children.

Violence against women and children, including sexual violence, is devastating and has life-long effects. It must be strongly condemned and those responsible held accountable so as to break the continuum of violence. This, of course, includes any cases of sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by some United Nations peacekeepers. Funds are needed to also ensure that survivors can be supported in beginning the difficult task of dealing with their experiences and reconstructing their lives.

On the other hand, in accordance with resolution 1325 (2000), all actors should take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in situations of armed conflict. Coordinated and consolidated efforts are also necessary to prevent women and girls from becoming victims of human trafficking.

Terrorism and extremism are real threats, and violations of women’s rights, as well as sexual violence against women, are intrinsically linked with the strategic objectives and ideologies of extremist groups. United Nations-led investigations have uncovered the use of sexual and gender-based crimes by Da’esh and Boko Haram as tactics of those terrorist and extremist groups. We have all seen the widespread targeting of women and girls in conflict zones, which represents a fundamental push-back against women’s rights.

The United Arab Emirates is also committed to combating extremism through the Sawab Centre, an online messaging and engagement programme, developed in partnership with the United States, in support of the Global Coalition against Da’esh. Sawab uses direct online engagement to counter terrorist propaganda rapidly and effectively, including the messages used to recruit foreign fighters, raise funds for illicit activities and intimidate and terrorize local populations. In November 2015, Sawab launched a campaign entitled “Da’esh denies her dignity” to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The campaign told the stories of five women who escaped Da’esh through video testimonials and visual depictions of their treatment. Two of those women are Yazidi and describe how they were treated as less than human, beaten, and sold in slave markets over and over again.

Women and girls have endured some of the greatest acts of humiliation by being subjected to such degrading acts as rape and other forms of sexual violence and abuse during conflicts. In most instances, sexual exploitation, violence and abuse are even used as weapons of war.

United Nations reports are awash with many such acts in many conflicts and war situations all over the world, including in Africa. Conflicts and wars have registered many widows and orphans, the most vulnerable of whom are girls.

In local districts under the localization programme, Uganda, facilitated by the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, has adopted local action plans that have resulted in a decrease in sexual and gender- based violence.

Conflicts are always accompanied by violence against women and girls. We are aware of cases of trafficking in persons on temporarily occupied territories, sexual violence and exploitation, and the use of minors in military activities, which are incompatible with human rights law and unacceptable in our contemporary world and goes against the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by the Russian Federation. .

Allow me now to offer a few examples. Last month we discovered a shocking fact regarding the gender element of the violence in the temporary occupied territories of Donetsk oblast. Such violence was perpetrated by members of armed gangs and terrorist groups, including fighters of the so-called Pyatnashka International Brigade of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic. That involved the setting up of establishments where minors were forced to provide sexual services. Human trafficking also took place. Foreign nationals established studios to produce child pornography, and the materials were then distributed outside of Ukraine. Furthermore, children were recruited and received military training to participate in the fighting. That is yet another example of what we are also trying to resolve in the Minsk Working Group on Humanitarian Issues.

We have been unable to gather a complete set of evidence on the incidents, including the cases of sexual violence.

In that regard, I want to take this opportunity to reiterate once again, on behalf of Ukraine, our appeal to the United Nations to include in the mandates of the appropriate bodies of the Organization the need to combat sexual violence during the provoked armed conflict in Ukraine and the Crimea.

The various forms of violence, discrimination and gender inequality against women and girls are the product of a number of factors having political and economic roots that aggravate inequality. This is a priority matter for the world today, in particular when, because of armed conflicts of varying scales, women are considerably and disproportionately impacted by war more than ever.

Women in conflict situations continue to suffer in a disproportionate and brutal manner from the consequences of armed conflicts. They continue to be subjected to systematic violence and sexual abuse.

One of the other challenges facing the international community today is the high level of violence and sexual abuse used as tools of war by terrorist groups in the Middle East and Africa, particularly the so- called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Jaysh al- Islam, Al-Qaida, the Al-Nusra Front, Boko Haram and all other associated armed groups. Thousands of women and girls have been victims of atrocities and crimes committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, particularly those who fall into ethnic and religious minorities. Boko Haram has perpetrated more than 2,000 kidnappings of children, 276 of whom continue to be missing.

It is unacceptable that women and girls throughout the world continue to be considered the loot of war. It infringes upon their human condition and is shameful. There is also the situation of women and girls in the Palestinian occupied territories, where they are victims of disproportionate and constant violence, assassinations and detentions. Other conflicts, such as those in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen, have made women and girls the targets of hate, violence and armed attacks, all of which represent flagrant violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. We cannot accept impunity in the face of such crimes. Venezuela advocates assigning accountability for all forms of sexual violence, and there should be exemplary sentences handed down to those found responsible for such crimes.

In that regard, we repeat our appeal regarding the texts and resolutions of the Council relating to the prohibition against the provision of arms or financial and logistic support to such groups, so that we can neutralize their operational capacities and the horrendous practices of sexual exploitation and violence. We reiterate our appeal to the international community to strategically coordinate efforts to prevent sexual violence. There must be a common front linking all possible efforts to prevent extremist violence and terrorism.

Venezuela urges the international community to continue working on dealing with exclusion, inequality and the various forms of sexual violence against women and girls during armed conflicts. Such inexcusable instances of violence only reflect and exacerbate the disequilibrium and imbalance that women and girls are already subject to in periods before armed conflicts. During armed conflicts, those problems generate specific vulnerabilities that require urgent action and the highest possible political commitment.

Yet Viet Nam remains gravely concerned about the continuing violence targeting women and girls, especially those displaced by conflicts. Viet Nam condemns all acts of violence and abuse against women and girls. We call for strengthened efforts by the United Nations and Member States in addressing this issue. We urge the United Nations to strictly implement its zero- tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse.

Australia is appalled by the continuing use of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence in conflict and the targeting of women and girls by extremist groups. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2016/822) is clear that, despite progress made on the women and peace and security agenda, there remain many gaps that require immediate action.

I cannot conclude without again voicing our deep concern about sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers. We welcome initiatives aimed at prevention, survivor assistance and accountability, and stress again that there is no excuse for these actions, nor excuse for inaction in addressing sexual exploitation and abuse. We know that to sustain peace we must include women; not just in our words, but in our actions. And we must accelerate and strengthen practical efforts to place women front and centre in the peace and security agenda.

By harnessing the expertise of civil society organizations on the ground we can be more effective in our efforts to remove barriers and create meaningful opportunities for women to engage equally in all stages of peace processes. Civil society groups represent those whose lived experience is most relevant. In most instances, they existed before the conflict and they will exist after it. That is why Australia, working with partners, established the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (GAI). The GAI helps women’s civil society organizations to contribute to conflict prevention, crisis response, and peacebuilding. We encourage other Member States to support that practical mechanism.

Australia reiterates its support for increasing the participation of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations, particularly in staff officer and military observer roles, as outlined in the London communiqué of the United Nations peacekeeping defence ministerial meeting

As part of our contribution to United Nations peacekeeping, we remain committed to enhancing the role and participation of women, including in our national contingents. So far, Bangladesh has had 1,047 women peacekeepers participating in various missions, including 774 police personnel. We are currently in the process of detailing two female military observers, and look forward to deploying women contingent commanders in the near future. We remain confident that we will be able to deploy a female military contingent by 2021.

Our peacekeepers know that they must take decisive action to prevent and combat sexual and gender-based violence, as part of their broader mandate on the protection of civilians. We unequivocally condemn sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, and have demonstrated our resolve to cooperate in implementing the comprehensive measures outlined in the Secretary General’s enhanced programme of action to combat these scourges.

 Over the past few years, the women and peace and security agenda has been integrated into the political mainstream of the United Nations. United Nations entities, including UN-Women, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Commision on the Status of Women, have contributed in that regard. Likewise, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and several rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council have diligently worked to strengthen that vital agenda. It would be inconceivable today to establish a peacekeeping operation without deploying gender advisers, without including a mandate to protect women or without training peacekeepers to prevent and combat sexual exploitation and abuse, as highlighted by many countries in September during the peacekeeping defence ministerial in London

The growing spread of violent extremism and terrorism also causes unspeakable suffering to women and girls. As it was highlighted during the Security Council open debate (see S/PV.7704) on conflict related sexual violence held in June, sexual violence is now also used as a tactic of terrorism. Moreover, restricting women’s rights in conflict settings through the misappropriation of religion has become widespread and is a very dangerous development. It is therefore crucial to integrate the gender perspective while putting in place strategies to counter terrorism and violent extremism.

We strongly condemn all acts of violence against women and girls in situations of armed conflict. Parties to conflict should respect their obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law and bring the perpetrators to justice to combat impunity and ensure accountability. In the same vein, we support ongoing measures to prevent and address cases of sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Women represent a strong link in the chain that supports the most vulnerable members of society. Women’s perseverance and kind virtues take their role beyond the home as they play an important role in peacebuilding processes. It is unfortunate that women and girls have been recent targets in many areas of conflict. The more we lack key female participation, the more our chances to sustain peace are diminished. Therefore, it is mandatory for the United Nations to look into the overall aspects of peacebuilding, including female key players. The significance of these criteria mean that their adoption should be a prerequisite for the implementation of the common agenda on women and peace and security.

In recognizing women as the backbone of the country, it is important to build and strengthen international norms conducive to giving women equal rights in order to encourage their full participation in all spheres of activities, including political, economic, social and cultural pursuits through the integration of international legal instruments by the respective Member States.

Cambodia has therefore ensured a greater number of women are employed in positions of influence, particularly in the civil service and State institutions, with a shift from 20 to 50 per cent in female employment in those areas in 2016. Cambodia has also pursued ways to increase its female recruits, as we recognize that their professional skills and talents can benefit peace processes in the world, and we are increasing their participation, thereby advocating equal participation, in international forums. Since 2006 we have deployed 142 women out of our 3,800 Cambodian United Nations peacekeepers. In conclusion, Cambodia strongly commits to increasing momentum in the area of gender equality, empowering women and realizing their rights. We are continuing to work closely with the relevant ministries, civil society organizations and the private sector, as well as with our development partners.

Noting the impact of inclusion, especially women’s participation, on the durability of peace agreements, the Group stresses the importance of the meaningful participation of women at all stages of the peace processes and the elimination of barriers to their participation, as well as the mainstreaming of gender- specific language and the human rights of women in peace agreements. The Group also encourages the United Nations to include the women and peace and security agenda more systematically in its work on preventive diplomacy. The Group emphasizes the indispensable role played by women in United Nations peacekeeping and underscores that their participation at all levels is key to the operational effectiveness of missions. The Group calls for the increased participation of women in peacekeeping at all levels, the integration of the human rights of women and a gender perspective into all aspects of peacekeeping, and the timely and appropriate resourcing and staffing of gender advisers at United Nations Headquarters and missions. The Group also calls for the full implementation of the commitments made at the United Nations peacekeeping defence ministerial held in London in September.

Furthermore, Chile is committed to increasing women’s participation in various United Nations missions. We are convinced of their contribution and undeniable role in establishing effective ties in restoring the confidence of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. This year we have deployed a senior officer in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and, before 11 November, Chilean women will participate as observers in the United Nations Mission in Colombia. As of 2017, women’s access will be ensured to all military professions. That will be extended in 2018 to include the navy and the air force. That will enable Chilean women to be deployed in various areas of peacekeeping missions.In another area, Chile appreciates the recommendations concerning the global study on resolution 1325 (2000) set out in the latest report (S/2016/822) of the Secretary-General. We emphasize the importance of enhancing the participation and leadership of women as a central aspect of peace and security initiatives.

We should not just think about the numerical increase of women in peace operations, but should also include a gender perspective in the planning and conduct of missions. As noted by the Secretary-General in his report, the participation of women should not be limited to certain phases; it is necessary throughout the conflict cycle to achieve sustainable peace. Finally, women are agents of change and contribute to building more just and egalitarian societies. We must thererfore take advantage of their rich potential. As noted by the Secretary-General last year during his visit to Chile, empowering women and girls is the smartest investment that the international community can make to ensure a future of justice and peace for all.

In almost all cases, women in peacekeeping operations are relegated to secondary roles. Yet there are many roles, especially in the negotiating process, in which women can play an effective role and make effective contributions. As a start, we should encourage the appointment of more women to key and pivotal positions in peacekeeping operations. We note the positive move in Darfur, where the Commissioner of Police is a woman. In Abidjan, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General is also a woman. There are other such appointments, but more needs to be done.

Fourthly, the women and peace and security agenda is leading to a sea change in the peacekeeping paradigm. For Ireland, we do not have to look any further than home to see that. Resolution 1325 (2000) was transposed directly by our defence forces into an action plan for women and peace and security. That plan supports our national action plan on women and peace and security, which is now in its second phase. It means that women and peace and security priorities are included in almost every stage of Ireland’s overseas engagements, from pre-deployment training to the planning, execution and reporting of operations. Initiatives to target women in our 2016 army recruitment drives have been held up as best practices. We are also pleased to announce that the recent deployment of Lieutenant Colonel Mary Carroll to head the Irish contingent of the United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force represents the first woman commander of a mixed gender infantry unit in a United Nations mission.

Jordan is a pioneer regionally and internationally in its contributions to peace and security. We are a troop-contributing country and participate in dialogue and mediation efforts. Jordan is one of the largest contributors of troops to the United Nations. We also contribute police to peacekeeping missions, including 21 Jordanian women, and the number of women participating in such missions will grow. This clearly underscores the importance we attach to strengthening the role of women in peacekeeping operations.

We would like to stress the importance of adopting and taking this aspect into account in peacekeeping operations.

The Jordanian National Commission for Women, in cooperation with UN-Women and other bodies, has organized participative consultations, bringing together all relevant stakeholders and actors, including communities hosting refugees. These consultations have underscored the need to strengthen the participation of women in peacekeeping operations and to enhance the training provided and to fight against violence against women, which is often rooted in social causes.

It is essential that the activities carried out by a peacekeeping or special political mission take into account the specific needs of women and girls and recognize the importance of their participation in interactions with local communities. We therefore support the idea of peacekeeping operations integrating a gender perspective, starting from the planning phase and in all other phases, and we support the integration of gender advisers into such operations so as to provide specific and differentiated attention to women and girls who fall victim to conflict and violence. We acknowledge that 16 peacekeeping operations already have units or focal points dedicated to gender issues, and we call for the same effort to be made in special political missions, as there are gender experts in only 6 out of the 10 ongoing missions. In that regard, we also underscore that the deployment of a greater number of women on the ground as well as an increase in the number of female personnel in the national armies of States Members, continues to be a priority.

My second point is that the Security Council should match rhetoric with action. That includes doing better in the mandates we set for peace operations, ensuring that United Nations missions have the right specialized personnel and skills sets, and being more open-minded about who briefs the Council.

We all benefit when the women and peace and security agenda is fully realized: the operational effectiveness of our peacekeeping missions improves, our peacekeeping efforts are more likely to take hold and we improve the chances of sustainable peace being achieved. Those are goals to which we all should aspire.

Pakistan fully supports the objectives of the women and peace and security agenda and has played an important role in advancing those goals as a major troop contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions. Pakistani women peacekeepers have served as police officers — brave police officers — and as doctors and nurses in missions in Asia, Africa and the Balkans. Gender sensitization is a mandatory part of training for our peacekeepers. My country stands ready to share our experience by conducting training programmes for women security officers so as to enhance their capacity to respond to crisis situations.

Portugal also reiterates its pledge to continue conducting training programmes for national personnel and members of the armed and security forces assigned to international peacekeeping missions on gender equality and violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings.

Women are now deployed in all areas of peacekeeping and special political missions as part of the missions’ police, military and civilian personnel. More security personnel have been trained to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

 The Romanian Ministry of Defence has adopted a national plan applicable until 2024, aimed at implementing the women and peace and security agenda. It promotes fair and balanced access for men and women, whether military or civilian personnel, to operational, executive and leadership posts at all hierarchical levels. The selection of candidates is a process evaluating professional skills, with no gender specification. A focal point on gender is appointed within all Romanian military units. As a result, we have women who have reached the rank of General, and there is an increased number of military female staff participating in international missions. Gender equality, tolerance, non-discrimination and interdiction of sexual harassment and gender violence are reflected in all military education programmes in Romania. Romania continues to deploy mixed-gender teams, especially within the civil and military cooperation units in Afghanistan. Currently, 15 per cent of Romanian police officers deployed in United Nations missions are women.

In conclusion, we underline our continued support for the zero-tolerance policy of the United Nations and the approach of zero impunity for all military, police and civilian personnel of the United Nations in the area of prevention and protection against sexual violence in peacekeeping operations. We support resolution 2272 (2016), which requested that the Secretary-General assess whether a Member State had taken steps to investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, held the perpetrators accountable and informed him about the progress of investigations when determining its participation in peacekeeping operations.

South Africa strongly believes in the involvement and empowerment of women in every aspect of peace, security and development. That finds a robust reflection in the fact that democratic South Africa has one of the largest contingents of women peacekeepers deployed throughout the African continent. Women’s participation in peacekeeping and peacemaking efforts is recognized as a contributing factor to the effectiveness and long-term success of United Nations deployments. The recognition of the importance of the role of women in the context of peace operations is a strong incentive to building women’s capacities within the peacekeeping landscape. It also contributes to the accessibility and credibility of United Nations deployments in local communities.

In that regard, South Africa has been developing the training programmes needed to equip our peacekeepers to deal with the unique circumstances that may develop during peace operations. In 2015, the South African Government, in partnership with UN-Women, launched a training course tailored for female military officers stationed at the South African Army School’s Peace Mission Training Centre in Pretoria. A second training course, co-facilitated by South Africa and Kenya, will take place in Kenya in November.

We also encourage the ongoing efforts to increase the number of women among military and police personnel deployed to United Nations peacekeeping operations. The increased participation of women in the field, coupled with more gender advisers deployed to support related Secretariat efforts, will further promote a gender- responsive environment in peacekeeping.

Secondly, we will gradually increase the number of women deployed in peacekeeping missions. It is important to recall that as of 1999, women can ascend to all positions of the armed forces and that we give women priority so that they can participate in peacekeeping missions. I see the Colombian Ambassador here today. She knows full well that we have surpassed the 20 per cent quota in the contingent of women that will be deployed to that marvellous country. Additionally, we believe that as the number of women that participate in peacekeeping missions increases, the unfortunate instances of sexual abuse and exploitation that are, regrettably, still ongoing, will be more effectively addressed.

The earlier that is accomplished, the better. Early conflict settlement spares and saves a great many lives. When such an agreement is concluded, all parties, domestic and foreign, must refrain from undermining it. The United Nations must adopt that principle and tolerate no exceptions in that regard, in the context of peacekeeping operations. We condemn all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse carried out by United Nations peacekeepers, and support the Secretary- General’s zero-tolerance policy. We also condemn the intolerance and violent extremism that are a source of concern for the whole world today, especially given the increase in the number and power of extremist groups that are attacking the principles of peace, justice, human dignity, in complete contravention to the basic tenets of the United Nations, as well as development efforts and human rights principles. The United Nations must confront those threats and take all necessary measures to protect women and children. We are gratified to learn of the Secretary-General’s contribution in that field.

ASEAN recognizes the constructive role and valuable contributions of female peacekeepers, and we therefore support the call for an increase in their number. Several ASEAN members have already provided, and will continue to provide, well- trained female peacekeepers in response to that call. We strongly hope that ASEAN’s holistic approach to addressing women-related issues will be complementary to global endeavours to implement resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on women and peace and security.

The question of sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations must be seriously addressed and those who commit such crimes should be held to account for their actions. Uganda is exemplary in that respect. Not long ago, some Uganda People’s Defence Force members serving in the African Union Military Observer Mission in Somalia were identified for transgressions and were duly tried before a court of law, both in the Mission area and at home. Those found culpable were severely punished for their actions.

We must also reiterate our categorical condemnation of all incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation committed by foreign armed forces, police or civilians deployed by the Organization in peacekeeping operations and special political missions. That includes those staff who have not been formally deployed on such missions. In accordance with the provisions of resolution 2272 (2016), we support the zero- tolerance policy regarding any sexual violence that is committed by members of peacekeeping operations or military missions under the mandate of and supported by the Security Council. The United Nations should serve as an example of coherence regarding the importance of preventing such acts, particularly regarding the accountability of all personnel of the Organization and international armed forces who have been authorized by this body and who commit such crimes.

For its part, Viet Nam fully recognizes the crucial role of women in conflict prevention and settlement, State-building, sustaining peace and socioeconomic development. For centuries, Vietnamese women not only fought valiantly for the country’s freedom and independence but also worked hard and contributed significantly to the recovery and development of the country towards stability, sustainable development and international integration. Today, as part of our commitment to United Nations peacekeeping, Vietnamese women officers are taking part in training and making the necessary preparations to be deployed in the near future in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The consequences of armed conflict and violence, as well as the erosion of respect for international humanitarian and international human rights law, continue to have a devastating impact on millions of women and girls across the globe. We are deeply alarmed by the current displacement crisis and the wide range of violations that displaced people are facing. Effective protection measures in situations of displacement are required. In that context, the importance of gender-responsive approaches to refugee and migrant movements, as advocated by the SecretaryGeneral in his report (S/2016/822), cannot be overemphasized.

The Group expresses its profound concern regarding the impact of the unprecedented wave of forced displacement on women and girls. In this regard, it calls for the more systematic engagement of women and girls in the design and implementation of humanitarian assistance and early recovery programmes. In line with humanitarian principles, the Group further calls for the promotion of access to medical, legal, psychosocial and livelihood services to displaced persons, including sexual and reproductive health services, without discrimination

The Czech Republic seeks to strengthen the position of women in society through development cooperation and humanitarian aid. That goal is enshrined, inter alia, in our multilateral foreign development cooperation strategy for the period 2013-2017. In order to fulfil those priorities, the Czech Republic cooperates with relevant United Nations agencies, particularly the United Nations Population Fund, UN-Women, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS. In the field of humanitarian aid, the Czech Republic pays special attention to victims of gender- based violence. The gender perspective also continues to be taken into account a cross-cutting target within projects in countries like Iraq, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Syria and Ukraine.

Last month, we adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (General Assembly resolution 71/1). It confirms that our response to refugee and migrant flows must go beyond border security, camps and asylum processes. It highlights the particular risks faced by women migrants and women refugees, including sexual violence and trafficking. Moreover, it recognizes the role of women in peace and reconciliation processes and in developing solutions. Those are intrinsic elements of the women and peace and security agenda. Their inclusion in the Declaration is a major achievement. We urge Member States and other partners, including the Security Council, to maintain momentum by ensuring that women and peace and security priorities are now mainstreamed through our collective response to this global phenomenon.

Jordan continues to suffer from an unprecedented flow of refugees, including Syrian refugees, but despite the social, economic and security burden that this places on us and the chronic lack of water and electricity, Jordan is committed to sparing no effort to provide protection and basic services to Syrian refugees, including female refugees, who constitute 51 per cent of refugees in the Kingdom. This is in keeping with the priorities for women and peace and security and the relevant Security Council resolutions.

A great many projects managed by women deployed in refugee camps and communities hosting refugees also enjoy our support. Jordan is working alongside the international community to counter extremism by all means and to fight against the exploitation of women and girls by Da’esh and other similar organizations.

In conclusion, Jordan will continue to work at all levels to strengthen the United Nations programme on women and peace and security in order to provide a better future to refugee women and girls.

The massive displacement of people in different conflict areas in the past year has once more shown that, when conflicts arise, women and children are among the first victims to suffer, not only in the conflict zone but also when fleeing it.

As host to the largest protracted refugee population in the world, Pakistan has allowed unhindered access by Afghan refugees, including women and girls, to free education and health care and has enabled them to secure employment. It is gratifying to note that the core skills acquired by our Afghan sisters in Pakistan are being used for the welfare of their homeland, Afghanistan.

The Network expresses its profound concern regarding the impact of the unprecedented wave of forced displacement on women and girls. In that regard, it calls for the engagement of women in the design and implementation of humanitarian action and early recovery, while taking into account the increasing needs for sustained donor support to host countries and communities to appropriately support women’s self-reliance and resilience, ensure a strengthened humanitarian-developed nexus and improve coordination with peacebuilding and human rights efforts.

Turkey actively promotes the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in international platforms such as the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO. Furthermore, we support the empowerment and well-being of women and girls in various emergency, conflict or post-conflict situations through our comprehensive development assistance programme. The projects we carry out in Afghanistan and Somalia, particularly in the fields of education and health care, are concrete examples of our efforts to that end.

Turkey also exerts every effort to provide security and safety to Syrian women and girls who have fled the conflict in Syria. Today, Turkey hosts more than 2.7 million Syrians. We have provided Syrians with temporary protection status and enabled their access to the Turkish health system. So far, more than 170,000 Syrian babies have been born in medical facilities inside the temporary protection centres in Turkey. In those centres, we have taken steps to enable a gender- sensitive sheltering mechanism.

Resolution 2242 (2015) makes the critical link between the women and peace and security agenda and humanitarian action, recognizing the impact of forced displacement on women and girls, while emphasizing their roles as first-line responders and the necessity of engaging women in the design, delivery and implementation of humanitarian responses. The United Arab Emirates is doing its part to address the global humanitarian crisis, in which women, children and adolescents are often hit the first and hardest, and helped last, and 50 per cent of preventable maternal, under-five, and newborn deaths occur in humanitarian settings.

The United Arab Emirates continues to be a steadfast advocate of the Every Woman Every Child Everywhere platform. That platform recognizes the disproportionate impact that humanitarian and fragile settings have on women, children and adolescents, and the role that women and young people play as front- line responders. They are not only key for the survival and well-being of children, families and communities, but also to build resilience and facilitate the transition from crises to development.

In many cases, the violation of women’s human rights and the assaults against the sexual integrity of women and girls in situations of conflict, as well as the abduction of women and girls, with the goal of exploiting them for work, sexual slavery and trafficking, are committed by members of rebel or terrorist groups, as well as by members of armed forces or security forces. In some cases, such crimes are even committed by members of participating peacekeeping operations.

We need to work in favour of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and to strengthen measures aimed at preventing cases of sexual abuse and exploitation in peacekeeping operations, in line with the Organization’s zero-tolerance policy. We should also implement the resolution with regard to its military, police and civilian components, so as to move from a culture of impunity to a culture of prevention. Such measures would have a real impact on peacebuilding in various parts of the world.

 Human rights violations against women and girls have continued unabated. The international community must do everything it can to stop that trend. That is why Australia has provided $6 million to the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women and is researching the role women play in combatting extremism so that we can better understand how to tap into the valuable experiences of women to strengthen our approaches.

Access to education in crisis situations is vital not only in addressing the gender gap in school enrolment, but also for the empowerment of women and girls. We are encouraged by the commitment set out in the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (General Assembly resolution 70/1) to provide all children with education within a few months of their arrival.

The suffering of millions of women and girls cannot be alleviated without putting an end to armed conflicts. That is a reality that we are facing in Azerbaijan every day. As it is well-documented by the United Nations and the Security Council, Armenia has unleashed a war and used force against Azerbaijan, occupied almost one fifth of its territory, carried out ethnic cleansing and committed other serious crimes during the conflict.

Member States with women having suffered from violence must be given the right support for their basic needs so that women and their dependent children can be reintegrated into the society, with consideration for increased investment in the educational needs of girls and women. Health-wise, specific physical, mental and psychological health services should be provided to violence-stricken women so as to restore their dignity and establish a collective memory.

In order to enhance our efforts to end gender-based discrimination, stronger national and regional legal instruments should be strengthened so as to provide a greater number of high-level posts for women. Empowering and protection are not only in the interests of women themselves, but also in the interests of the common good.

The Group expresses its profound concern regarding the impact of the unprecedented wave of forced displacement on women and girls. In this regard, it calls for the more systematic engagement of women and girls in the design and implementation of humanitarian assistance and early recovery programmes. In line with humanitarian principles, the Group further calls for the promotion of access to medical, legal, psychosocial and livelihood services to displaced persons, including sexual and reproductive health services, without discrimination

We agree with a statement in the global study that in an era when armed extremist groups place the subordination of women at the top of their agenda, our response should be unwavering support for empowering girls and women.

I also wish to underscore the importance of education in our quest to further peace and security. Our experience in the Gambia is that when given opportunities, women constitute a formidable force capable of transforming a nation. That is why we in the Gambia regard women as agents of change and progress. The world will benefit from the vast knowledge and experience of women if we empower them in the context of the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations. As pillars of our societies and natural pacifiers, women, along with men, can be valuable agents that can change the world. We have made some progress, but much remains to be done. There is a need to work on breaking down the barriers of age-old prejudices against women. Traditional society’s entrenched notions about women must be eradicated through education and persuasion. We call on all national Governments and the United Nations to adopt a policy of affirmative action that will bring women into the mainstream of activities. What is at stake is crucial, because the continued exclusion of women from the peace and security processes will render our efforts invalid.

Women in conflict situations lack protection, live in fear, are at risk of being raped on a daily basis, have almost no access to justice, are economically disadvantaged and live with limited freedoms. I therefore believe that women have to transition from being victims to establishing themselves as active agents for peace and security. We, together with the United Nations system, must help them to that end.

The systematic violations of the legitimate human rights of the Palestinian people, including Palestinian women, under the brutal occupation of the Israeli regime and the atrocious illegal blockade on the Gaza Strip constitute a massive deprivation of the rights of Palestinian civilians and women and are certainly the most blatant form of terrorism against a whole nation imposed by a regime. It is also very unfortunate that women and girls have also fallen victim to air strikes in Yemen. As confirmed reports indicate, the unjustified invasion of Yemen by a Saudi-led coalition has led to the death of almost 10,000 people and the injury of more than 17,000 civilians, including at least 1,677 women and 2,260 children.

Iraq is witnessing the most violent terrorist attacks in the world perpetrated by lethal terrorist groups. The people in the areas under the control of such gangs have experienced the most savage and horrendous criminal practices committed against, in particular, women and children. Such gangs and groups have kidnapped a huge number of Yazidi women and people from other ethnicities of all ages in Iraq, whohave been sold as chattel in the areas between Iraq and Syria. Their dignities have been humiliated. They have been raped, enslaved and tortured psychologically, physically and sexually. We therefore call on the international community to make further efforts to support Iraq, free these women, return them to their families and reintegrate them into society.

The international community must also mitigate the suffering of women and girls under Israeli occupation, including those detained in Israeli prisons. Their rights must be upheld. We must also work hand in hand to build peace in post-conflict situations and to eradicate the causes of conflict. Women play a very important role in that regard. 

Official bodies, civil society and international organizations all provide various forms of assistance in Jordan with the objective of eliminating the violence and discrimination aimed at marginalized and discriminated populations.

Based on our national experience, I would like to underscore the important role that education, capacity- building and communication can play in combatting violence against women and girls. Kenya therefore urges all stakeholders, Member State and the United Nations to prioritize education and the creation of awareness of the critical role of women in peacebuilding, peace and security.

However, according to the Global Media Monitoring Project 2015, women are the central focus of just 10 per cent of news stories, mostly as victims. Only 4 per cent of media stories clearly challenge gender stereotypes. Improving women’s chances to have their side of the story told as media protagonists and media makers, through better education and access to information, media, literacy, social, organizational and communication skills should be part and parcel of all United Nations-led operations and programmes on the ground. This would, inter alia, allow us to better challenge constraining inhibitions, inspire courage, affirm the right of women to take the lead and

offer inspiring real-life role models to other women and girls who are still struggling to have their rights and human dignity taken into account.

Female journalists may offer particular insights into the plight of women in conflict zones by accessing women where access may not be possible to their male counterparts due to prevailing restrictions and social norms. Female journalists also produce more stories centered on women than their male counterparts. As such, they become important conduits for the women and peace and security agenda. But women journalists themselves often face serious risks as they seek to tell the stories of conflict and transformation. A shocking 70 per cent of women journalists killed worldwide are murdered. Resolution 2222 (2015), adopted under Lithuanian presidency in May 2015, points to the specific risks faced by women journalists. These need to be adequately addressed, including through a much stronger focus on tackling impunity.

We also call for greater efforts to promote and respect the human rights of women and girls as, well as to strengthen all efforts to effectively address gender- based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. For too long, sexual violence against women and girls has been committed on a systematic and widespread scale as a crime against humanity, or even a weapon of war. We stress the importance of fighting impunity and ensuring accountability under national or international jurisdictions. The perpetrators of such crimes must be brought to justice.

Multiple initiatives and programmes have been established to ensure prevention, participation, protection and education for women and girls. As an example, between 2013 and 2015 Turkey’s humanitarian aid programme on eliminating and responding to gender-based violence for Syrian women and girls was conducted by the Ministry of Family and Social Policies, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund. Similar programmes regarding Syrian women and girls in Turkey will continue in the coming period. We believe that women and girls will have an important role to play in rebuilding Syria’s future.

Terrorism and extremism are real threats, and violations of women’s rights, as well as sexual violence against women, are intrinsically linked with the strategic objectives and ideologies of extremist groups. United Nations-led investigations have uncovered the use of sexual and gender-based crimes by Da’esh and Boko Haram as tactics of those terrorist and extremist groups. We have all seen the widespread targeting of women and girls in conflict zones, which represents a fundamental push-back against women’s rights.

The United Arab Emirates is also committed to combating extremism through the Sawab Centre, an online messaging and engagement programme, developed in partnership with the United States, in support of the Global Coalition against Da’esh. Sawab uses direct online engagement to counter terrorist propaganda rapidly and effectively, including the messages used to recruit foreign fighters, raise funds for illicit activities and intimidate and terrorize local populations. In November 2015, Sawab launched a campaign entitled “Da’esh denies her dignity” to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The campaign told the stories of five women who escaped Da’esh through video testimonials and visual depictions of their treatment. Two of those women are Yazidi and describe how they were treated as less than human, beaten, and sold in slave markets over and over again.

In order to address the question of gender balance and gender mainstreaming in a holistic manner, Uganda has made tremendous strides in empowering women and girls through not only the provision of universal primary and secondary education, but also the introduction of affirmative action in admissions to tertiary institutions in the country. That has greatly enabled more women to acquire the necessary education that empowers them with the required skills and knowledge to compete with men in various aspects of life, both internally and globally.

The victims of Russian military aggressions since the spring of 2014 have been millions of Ukrainian women, and the Russian Federation is fully responsible for violating human rights, both in occupied Crimea and Donbas. This was recognized by two recent resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Women and children are the most vulnerable during these conflicts. Allow me to provide a few harrowing figures. According to recent data, in Ukraine today there are 1.7 million internally displaced persons. Of those, about 900,000 are women and more than 236,000 are children. Over the past two years in Donbas, 495 women have died in the civilian population.

In this particularly difficult situation regarding violations of the rights of women and children in the occupied territories, the Russian occupying army has taken Ukrainian women as hostages. According to the Security Service of Ukraine, there are 238 Ukrainian women in prison at the moment. At the moment, 233 women have been found they either have been released, or their bodies have been identified, although five were left in prison. The most well-known Kremlin prisoner, Nadiya Savchenko, spent almost 2 years in a Russian prison. Another Ukrainian woman — a journalist, Maria Varfolomeyeva — was imprisoned for more than a year in Luhansk. She was freed in March of this year.

We believe that it is a priority to address the underlying causes that lead to the feminization of poverty and the lack of opportunities regarding access to health care, jobs, and political and economic participation. We must therefore prevent exclusionary paradigms and stereotypes that ignore the cultural and ethical diversity and richness of our world. Women cannot continue be the object of manipulation; they must not be treated as objects used to advance commercial, military or political goals. We are convinced that the participation and contribution of women at all levels and stages and in areas related to conflict resolution are vital to preventing such conflicts and to achieving lasting peace. There can be no international peace and security if the half of the population that is represented by women and girls is not included and taken into consideration.

Let me conclude by quoting the Secretary General: “Justice for women takes more than new laws and new funding. Ultimately, we need new mindsets.” Having said that, let me express our readiness to promote and support the full implementation of the agenda on women and peace and security domestically as well as abroad.

Guatemala is striving to combat impunity and to bring the perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice. In that regard, early this year we brought to justice two soldiers who were responsible for the sexual enslavement of 15 Quechi women in the military base of Sepur Zarco. Although it took 32 years to bring this case to trial, we believe that it is worth mentioning because access to justice should be guaranteed for all Guatemalans. However, we must improve access to justice and strengthen the participation of women in the process of drafting national legislation.

The Rome Statute, which is the international legal framework on gender-based crimes, is the most progressive to date. It is important to incorporate it into national legislation so that States have a comprehensive framework for investigations into international crimes of sexual and gender-based violence, targeted proccedings to support victims and witnesses, programmes to inform women of the laws that concern them, resources to monitor the implementation of laws that take the gender perspective into account, and provisions for the compensation of victims. All of those components are essential to ensuring that women have access to justice.

The Kenyan Constitution, promulgated in 2010, now addresses structural discrimination challenges and protects and guarantees fundamental freedoms and the civic and socioeconomic rights of men and women equally.

Morocco has adopted a voluntary, proactive policy to entrench the principles of gender equality, which is now enshrined in my country’s Constitution. In addition to legislative texts, Morocco has committed itself to significant legal and institutional reforms to promote a culture of gender equality and the gender perspective.

That brings me to my second point, that is, the integration of resolution 1325 (2000) in our foreign and security policies. This is a key aim in the Netherlands. I will provide an example. In the joint Spanish-Dutch Gender in Operations training initiatives, we tried to teach diplomats and military personnel about gender and human rights issues. In that way, we tried to contribute to the effectiveness of peace missions and crisis management operations. Another example relates to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. There, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has made senior gender experts available in an effort to address the high numbers of sexual violence cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mali.

That also means deploying more women in United Nations missions. And it means ensuring that those deployed — male and female — have the knowledge and training required to respond to challenges related to a lack of gender equality or women’s empowerment. That requires making greater effort within our national military and police forces. New Zealand is actively increasing the recruitment, promotion and retention of senior women within the police and the defence force. We are determined to deploy women at all levels of decision-making in conflict-resolution processes.

Portugal also reiterates its pledge to continue conducting training programmes for national personnel and members of the armed and security forces assigned to international peacekeeping missions on gender equality and violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings.

Women are now deployed in all areas of peacekeeping and special political missions as part of the missions’ police, military and civilian personnel. More security personnel have been trained to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

 The Romanian Ministry of Defence has adopted a national plan applicable until 2024, aimed at implementing the women and peace and security agenda. It promotes fair and balanced access for men and women, whether military or civilian personnel, to operational, executive and leadership posts at all hierarchical levels. The selection of candidates is a process evaluating professional skills, with no gender specification. A focal point on gender is appointed within all Romanian military units. As a result, we have women who have reached the rank of General, and there is an increased number of military female staff participating in international missions. Gender equality, tolerance, non-discrimination and interdiction of sexual harassment and gender violence are reflected in all military education programmes in Romania. Romania continues to deploy mixed-gender teams, especially within the civil and military cooperation units in Afghanistan. Currently, 15 per cent of Romanian police officers deployed in United Nations missions are women.

Slovakia underlines the importance of the effective implementation of resolution 2151 (2014), on security sector reform. That landmark resolution underscores the importance of the equal and effective participation and full involvement of women in all stages of security sector reform. It underlines the vital role of women in preventing conflict and in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, as well as in strengthening civilian protection measures in security services during the reconstruction process. It suggests including more women in training for security personnel and calls for effective vetting processes in order to exclude perpetrators of sexual violence from the security sector.

We also call for greater efforts to promote and respect the human rights of women and girls as, well as to strengthen all efforts to effectively address gender- based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. For too long, sexual violence against women and girls has been committed on a systematic and widespread scale as a crime against humanity, or even a weapon of war. We stress the importance of fighting impunity and ensuring accountability under national or international jurisdictions. The perpetrators of such crimes must be brought to justice.

Slovenia pays particular attention to awareness- raising and training on women and peace and security, including within our national armed forces. It is important that everyone involved in peace and security processes be aware of the roles women play and the advantages they bring to peace-related activites. The experience of the Slovenian armed gorces is that higher numbers of women in crisis management processes and peacekeeping missions ensure better quality mediation, in particular in the context of local communities and especially among socially underprivileged groups in crisis areas, including local women. Raising awareness and education on the comprehensive implementation of the women and peace and security agenda has been integrated into different educational programmes and has become an important component of training systems in the Slovenian armed forces.

Fourthly, we have welcomed the interesting Canadian initiative to create a network of military and police advisers with regard to women and peace and security. We also attended a ministerial conference of defence ministers in London last month, where we fully committed to uphold the London communiqué adopted there.

But the war has also meant greater involvement by women in the armed forces. Many Ukrainian women voluntarily signed enlistment contracts in order to protect their country against the aggression. We now have 19,892 women in the armed forces of Ukraine, of whom 2,458 are officers and 17,000 are non-commissioned officers or soldiers. Of that group, 266 women were mobilized directly into the ranks of the armed forces. Women also play an important role in providing medical help at the front, and very often they have been active in saving both civilians and our soldiers during the conflict. This year we took a number of special steps to include the gender component in the area of security-sector reform. Although those measures are just at their initial stage — to speak frankly — they have already brought initial results: they have brought about a transformation in the military structures and the military culture.

This past summer we expanded the list of specialities in which women can serve in the armed forces, including in military functions. We need to bring gender advisers into the military. We hope that will be done soon and that the Ukrainian Government will adopt such a measure. We plan to enact broader legal changes so as to eliminate barriers, ensure the equal representation of women in the military and enhance parliamentary oversight of national security and defence.

Women represent a strong link in the chain that supports the most vulnerable members of society. Women’s perseverance and kind virtues take their role beyond the home as they play an important role in peacebuilding processes. It is unfortunate that women and girls have been recent targets in many areas of conflict. The more we lack key female participation, the more our chances to sustain peace are diminished. Therefore, it is mandatory for the United Nations to look into the overall aspects of peacebuilding, including female key players. The significance of these criteria mean that their adoption should be a prerequisite for the implementation of the common agenda on women and peace and security.

In recognizing women as the backbone of the country, it is important to build and strengthen international norms conducive to giving women equal rights in order to encourage their full participation in all spheres of activities, including political, economic, social and cultural pursuits through the integration of international legal instruments by the respective Member States.

Cambodia has therefore ensured a greater number of women are employed in positions of influence, particularly in the civil service and State institutions, with a shift from 20 to 50 per cent in female employment in those areas in 2016. Cambodia has also pursued ways to increase its female recruits, as we recognize that their professional skills and talents can benefit peace processes in the world, and we are increasing their participation, thereby advocating equal participation, in international forums. Since 2006 we have deployed 142 women out of our 3,800 Cambodian United Nations peacekeepers. In conclusion, Cambodia strongly commits to increasing momentum in the area of gender equality, empowering women and realizing their rights. We are continuing to work closely with the relevant ministries, civil society organizations and the private sector, as well as with our development partners.

We must continue to prioritize the participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution and peacebuilding, and States must fully assume the responsibility of safeguarding and guaranteeing women’s rights in a safe and suitable environment. In Colombia, as we close a difficult chapter of the hemisphere’s most protracted conflict, we understand that women and girls play a fundamental and proactive role in the building of the peace we so desire. We can say that the process has been a new, almost unprecedented experience. It is the first time that a gender focus is expressly included, not only through the participation of women as fully empowered members of both the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia guerillas and the Government, but also through the creation and work of a gender subcommission — that the Secretary-General and many of delegations recognized this morning — which, through often difficult but respectful dialogue, bore fruit as all resulting chapters of the final peace agreement provide concrete gender- specific provisions. As the Secretary-General’s report (S/2016/822) on women and peace and security indicates, women accounted for up to a third of the participants at the table, approximately half of those participating in the consultations and over 60 per cent of the victims and the experts that visited the negotiation table in Havana.

The commitment to gender equity and peace was strengthened on 21 October when President Santos and 109 women’s organizations reaffirmed their support for the peace agreement and welcomed the fact that victims’ rights were at the heart of the agreement and that the fundamental role of women and girls in peacebuilding was recognized. The President of Colombia will continue to strive for peace until the very end of his mandate.

We welcome the fact that the women and peace and security agenda is being addressed in a cross-cutting fashion, in coordination with the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office and the Peacebuilding Fund.

In conclusion, we urge all Member States represented here to take this unique opportunity to move towards a much stronger and substantive commitment to gender equality so as to ensure that the empowerment of women and girls becomes one of the cornerstones of peacebuilding.

Fifthly, we need to strengthen the contribution of Member States in peacekeeping missions. Indonesian military and police forces are currently in 10 United Nations operations with close to 3,000 personnel in total, many of whom are female peacekeepers, who have expertise in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Indonesia’s Peacekeeping Training Centre has also incorporated gender perspectives into its programme so as to equip them in the field. The participation of women and girls in peacebuilding is a must and a prerequisite for sustainable peace. We need to address the problem of ensuring predictable and sustainable funding for women and peace and security. Setting specific numerical targets, such as allocating 15 per cent of peacebuilding funds to projects whose principal objective is to address women’s specific needs and advance gender equality, is a step in the right direction.

The women and peace and security agenda, however, provides us with a tool for implementation. We have plainly seen that when women participate in society and their voices are heard, there is a higher chance of achieving and sustaining peace or preventing the outbreak of conflict in the first instance.
The Peacebuilding Fund has met the Secretary- General’s gender target of 15 per cent and is pioneering the mainstreaming of the women and peace and security agenda in peacebuilding. Last month, Ireland pledged more than $3 million to the Peacebuilding Fund over three years. We urge the States Members of the United Nations and the Security Council to support the work of the Fund and the Peacebuilding Commission as part of a wider move to harness the women and peace and security agenda as a driver of conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

As the current Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Kenya has been at the forefront of efforts to operationalize the United Nations women and peace and security agenda. On 7 September, the Commission adopted a gender strategy to promote gender-sensitive peacebuilding. The strategy acknowledges the vital role of women’s leadership and participation in conflict prevention and sustaining peace. Kenya urges all Member States to address issues relating to existing gaps. I am convinced that only thus can we meet our collective commitments to women, peace and security. We therefore welcome the cogent remarks made by the representative of the penholder, the United Kingdom, advocating for champions and leaders, and we were happy to note that the representative of Sweden is a good candidate for such a champion.

Peace can be sustained only if conflicts can be prevented and addressed at their roots. Viet Nam welcomes a sharper focus on conflict prevention, including peaceful dispute settlement and preventive diplomacy. Efforts should also focus on the socioeconomic development and post-conflict peacebuilding, recovery and reconstruction, as affirmed in resolution 1889 (2009), introduced by Viet Nam and unanimously adopted by the Security Council in 2009.

The Secretary-General’s report (S/2016/822) provides key information on progress made following the high-level review, highlighting some headway made in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). More women are involved in peace talks, more peace agreements include provisions related to the special needs of women and girls in support of their rights, additional personnel are being trained to prevent and respond to sexual and other forms of violence against women, and more countries are implementing national action plans or related strategies. The establishment of national focal point networks for women and peace and security is step forward in strengthening the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda and in assisting Member States and regional organizations through the exchange of best practices and by improving coordination, funding and assistance programmes.

Since the holding more than a year ago of the open debate celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, and the high-level review, this is an occasion to assess the progress achieved so far. The global study on the resolution’s implementation highlighted the critical contribution of women to peace and security. We join the Executive Director of UN-Women in her call on Member States, regional organizations and the United Nations to do more to take forward the study’s recommendations and turn commitments into concrete action.

The merit of resolution 1325 (2000) has been to acknowledge the important role that women play as key actors in peace processes. The international community should join forces to make this role possible. One of the greatest challenges still is the implementation on the ground by all stakeholders of the commitments made in the framework of the United Nations.

For Argentina, the gender perspective in the design and implementation of public policies is a priority. That is why the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions is fully embedded in the firm commitment assumed by the Government of my country to achieve gender equality, the empowerment of women and the defence and protection of women’s rights.

Argentina welcomes the establishment of the informal national focal points tetwork for the agenda on women and peace and security. I congratulate the Kingdom of Spain for that initiative. The establishment of that network multiplies the efforts for the full achievement of the human rights of women in countries in conflict, which contributes to the implementation by States of their obligations and commitments.

After the adoption of Argentina’s national plan and its launch in 2016, Argentina offered to cooperate with Columbia on gender topics in order to contribute to the country’s peace process. We are convinced that working towards the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) will have a real impact on peacebuilding in various parts of the world, which is why my country has promoted its policies regarding women’s access to justice and the fight against impunity. It has done that, to give just one example, by participating in the Justice Rapid Response initiative; my country is a member of the initiative’s governing body and has nominated experts to be included in its roster.

In many cases, the violation of women’s human rights and the assaults against the sexual integrity of women and girls in situations of conflict, as well as the abduction of women and girls, with the goal of exploiting them for work, sexual slavery and trafficking, are committed by members of rebel or terrorist groups, as well as by members of armed forces or security forces. In some cases, such crimes are even committed by members of participating peacekeeping operations.

We need to work in favour of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and to strengthen measures aimed at preventing cases of sexual abuse and exploitation in peacekeeping operations, in line with the Organization’s zero-tolerance policy. We should also implement the resolution with regard to its military, police and civilian components, so as to move from a culture of impunity to a culture of prevention. Such measures would have a real impact on peacebuilding in various parts of the world.

Sustaining peace will be achieved only if we increase the participation of women as actors in all stages of the peace process, including in particular in peacekeeping operations. We wish to underscore that 15 per cent of Argentine personnel participating in peacekeeping operations or in special political missions are women, according to the latest data. That is higher than the general average of 4.22 per cent. We will continue to work on deepening that commitment.

Argentina fully agrees with the importance that the United Nations attaches to the role of women in preventive diplomacy, at the negotiating table and in post-conflict reconstruction. That perspective is naturally linked with the new concept of sustaining peace, which recognizes the important role to be performed by women

Argentina is committed to the meaningful participation of women in decision-making and in all peace processes. That is why we adopted our national plan of action for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions as an instrument that integrates all national agencies working in the area of women and peace and security. One of the goals of the national action plan is to increase the participation of women from various spheres — political, social, economic and security — to contribute to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacemaking.

My country strongly believes that more equitable and egalitarian societies that respect the rights of women are more peaceful societies. With that in mind, strengthening the meaningful role of women in all the phases of peace processes and mainstreaming a gender perspective in peace agreements and in public policies are priorities of our foreign policy in that area. Argentina also encourages the incorporation of a gender perspective into all peace processes involving the United Nations. We consider it fundamental to work with civil society organizations, which should continue to participate in designing and implementing policies related to the topic.

At last year’s high-level review (see S/PV.7533), Australia reaffirmed its commitment and set out its actions to progress the agenda on women and peace and security. In that vein, Australia last week announced further humanitarian and stabilization assistance for Iraq following commencement of the operation to retake the city of Mosul. That assistance includes particular support to the women and girls of Mosul for reproductive and sexual health. In addition, Australia recently committed $220 million in response to the Syria crisis, including dedicated components to address the unique needs of women and girls.

Having played a catalytic role in the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) during Bangladesh’s membership in the Security Council in 2000-2001, it has been particularly encouraging for us to see the unprecedented level of interest generated in the global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) last year. In the aftermath of the adoption of resolution 2242 (2015), the issue of developing a national action plan has once again featured prominently in our policy discourse. Following preliminary discussions with UN-Women and other international partners, our Government is now exploring the opportunity to convene dialogues with a cross section of women and their representative organizations. We have agreed to join the Spanish initiative to establish the network of national focal points.

The inherent resilience of our women gives us the conviction that women themselves have the capacity to act as agents of change in the face of the humanitarian consequences from which they disproportionately suffer in different situations. We feel encouraged to see that notion gaining traction in the humanitarian discourse. The mandate of the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action has the potential to support a further demonstration to that effect in response to specific needs in conflict and post-conflict settings.

To conclude, Bangladesh underscores the importance of the increased, sustained and coordinated mobilization of finances, including through earmarking, for giving real effect to the women and peace and security agenda in its various dimensions.

It is indeed a matter that concerns us all. Our priority can now be summed up in three words: implementation, implementation, implementation. Today’s debate focuses quite rightly on progress achieved in implementing the commitments undertaken by Member States, regional organizations and the United Nations in the high-level review of women and peace and security in October 2015. Since the outset, Belgium has strongly endorsed the women and peace and security agenda. Currently, at the national level, all Belgian stakeholders are focusing their efforts on implementing our second national plan of action for the agenda. We are also in the process of drafting our third plan, in which we will give particular attention to women’s key role in preventing violent extremism. We are ready to share our experience in this field and welcome with interest all the experiences and best practices that our partners are willing to share.

At the international level, Belgium works closely with multilateral organizations, such as UN-Women, to strengthen national capacities for the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. In our current National Action Plan, we have identified three priority partner countries — Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali — to which we provide financial assistance for the financing of specific projects. In Mali, together with UN-Women, Belgium co-chairs the donor group devoted to the issue of gender equality and has contributed €1.5 million to the programme to support the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in the peace process. In Afghanistan, Belgium has supported the UN-Women country programme with a contribution of €3 million. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Belgium has contributed €2 million for the implementation of the UN-Women programme entitled “Support for the law and the participation of Congolese women in the context of resolution 1325 (2000)”.

 At the invitation of Spain, Belgium became a founding member of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network. We thank that country for its initiative in that regard. We also wish to salute Spain and the United Kingdom as co-chairs of the

Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security for their invaluable contributions, and we are pleased to see that group of experts pursue its work on a consolidated basis.

Thirdly and finally, the women and peace and security agenda should be integrated into the thematic work of the Security Council on counter-terrorism, even when it comes to countries where groups such as Boko Haram or the so-called Islamic State are active, and into country strategies in line with commitments made in resolution 2242 (2015).

In conclusion, I would like to invite all participants to attend an event tomorrow morning entitled “From Local Action to Global Change — Bottom-up Approaches on Resolution 1325 (2000) from Iraq, Libya and Kenya”, co-chaired by Costa Rica and my country, Belgium, and organized by the WO=MEN, Women Peacemakers Programme, PAX and Cordaid associations, It will provide an important opportunity to illustrate the important role of civil society in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda

 Botswana welcomes the annual open debate on women and peace and security, as convened by this body since 2000. Through these debates, Member States and civil society organizations have been given the opportunity to discuss various themes aimed at enhancing women’s participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and decision-making in matters related to international peace and security.

We consider today’s open debate to be of the utmost importance to assessing the progress made following the 2015 global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), the 2015 report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security (S/2015/716), and the adoption of the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action. In that regard, Botswana welcomes the adoption of the Global Acceleration Instrument, which aims at accelerating the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda by building capacity and increasing funding for women’s participation, leadership and empowerment, as well as humanitarian action.

We are pleased that although the Global Acceleration Instrument is still in its infancy, women mediators in some conflict-affected countries have been involved in conflict prevention and resolution efforts. The outcomes of such efforts have been encouraging. Given the positive outcomes of the Global Acceleration Instrument, we appeal to Member States and civil society organizations to support that noble initiative.

 Botswana supports the global efforts aimed at addressing challenges to the women and peace and security agenda, including increasing women’s representation, leadership and empowerment in all facets of peacebuilding, security and humanitarian action. We also recognize the critical importance of gender equality and mainstreaming in national development plans and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In conclusion, we applaud the efforts made by the Security Council since 2000 to regularly convene these open debates, which place women and peace and security matters at the top of the global agenda. We therefore call for the rigorous implementation and monitoring of the commitments made during the open debates.

Many positive steps have been taken to implement the resolutions on women and peace and security. However, despite those efforts, women are still a minority in peace and security negotiations and in peacekeeping operations. Our challenge remains to fully implement the eight Council resolutions on women and peace and security, including the landmark resolution 1325 (2000). Women are proven agents of change and should be able to do even more.

Brazil was honoured to participate in the foundational meeting of the women and peace and security national focal points network that took place at the margins of the General Assembly recent general debate. As discussed at that meeting and underlined in the global study for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), Member States and regional organizations remain the most influential actors regarding the women and peace and security agenda. We commend Spain for its leadership in the creation of the network.

We are confident that our national efforts will positively influence all of our activities in the international arena. We are also finalizing our national action plan on women and peace and security. It will comprise measures, such as fostering the participation of women in peace missions, that will further enhance the relationship between troops and civilians, particularly women and girls, in peace operations and provide humanitarian assistance and technical cooperation to post-conflict countries concerning gender issues. That initiative will strengthen and build upon the provisions of our national policy plan on women, which already embraces several recommendations contained in resolution 1325 (2000).

Protection and empowerment are inseparable aspects of the women and peace and security agenda. At the international level, that includes formulating and implementing the mandates of peacekeeping operations and special political missions, conducting peace negotiations and handling peacebuilding, recovery and humanitarian initiatives. At the domestic level, Governments should be ready to redesign and improve gender-sensitive policies.

The Group welcomes the establishment of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security as an outcome of resolution 2242 (2015) to facilitate a more systematic approach to the agenda in the Council and enable greater oversight and coordination of implementation efforts. We strongly encourage the Informal Expert Group to include in its work the regular participation of civil society and to share its conclusions with all Member States.

Recognizing that Member States and regional organizations are influential actors in the implementation of all women and peace and security resolutions, the Group emphasizes the importance of national action plans, with appropriate resourcing, monitoring and civil-society consultation. The Group welcomes the establishment, led by Spain, of the women and peace and security national focal point network, which will periodically share and exchange lessons learned and best practices. The Group also welcomes the establishment of the Global Acceleration Instrument as one avenue to attract resources, coordinate responses and accelerate implementation.

Canada is implementing this agenda domestically by renewing our action plan on women and peace and security; ensuring the meaningful participation of women in our peace operations; incorporating a gender-based approach into military operations; and providing support to survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones.

The women and peace and security agenda is a priority of Chile’s multilateral foreign policy. We therefore promote strengthening cooperation at regional and global levels and establishing public policies at country level. In the global context, we would like to point out our co-sponsorship of Spain’s initiative to create a network of national focal points on women and peace and security. As a founding member of the network, Chile reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting and developing women’s participation in decision-making in all spheres. Accordingly, Chile is currently implementing its second national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000) under the coordination of a tripartite inter-ministerial network to promote gender mainstreaming in all predeployment training for peacekeeping personnel from our country. The inter-ministerial bureau will soon be joined by citizen observer, whose task will be to monitor the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in Chile, with the participation of various stakeholders including civil society. 

At the regional level we highlight Chile and Argentina’s bilateral plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) through the Joint Peace Force of the Southern Cross.

We recognize that civil society, especially women’s organizations, have spurred that rebuilding and the future adherence to the agenda for women’s rights. That is why they are now strategic State partners in the search for that shared goal. Although challenges remain, the Government’s resolve to overcoming them is underpinned by its commitment to offering women reparations for the injuries they have suffered, guarantees that the abuses will not recur and preventive measures. My country will continue to promote a culture free of all forms of discrimination and violence. To that end, we have signed on to the recently created Women, Peace and Security National Focal Points Network, an initiative led by Spain and other regional countries.

Nearly 16 years since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the international community has undertaken substantial efforts to implement it, and undeniable progress has been made, including action plans, guidelines, programmes and training. Awareness has been raised of the need to include women in conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding and decision-making. However, the high-level review of resolution 1325 (2000) mandated under resolution 2122 (2013), which took place in October 2015, has shown that the protection of women in armed conflict, parallel to the enhancement of their contribution to peace processes and in rebuilding their communities, continues to be a crucial challenge.

Member States have the primary responsibility to ensure that global commitments and obligations concerning women and peace and security are integrated into domestic policies and laws. In that regard, more cooperation between Member States would certainly advance the women and peace and security agenda and improve its implementation. That is why Croatia strongly supports the establishment of the InterAgency Network on Women and Gender Equality under the aegis of the Office of the Focal Point for Women in the United Nations. We are convinced that the Network can greatly assist Member States and regional organizations in improving and strengthening the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda, thereby complementing other existing regional and United Nations initiatives, such as those of the Group of Friends of Women and Peace and Security in New York and Geneva, different regional task forces and civil society.

The Czech Republic seeks to strengthen the position of women in society through development cooperation and humanitarian aid. That goal is enshrined, inter alia, in our multilateral foreign development cooperation strategy for the period 2013-2017. In order to fulfil those priorities, the Czech Republic cooperates with relevant United Nations agencies, particularly the United Nations Population Fund, UN-Women, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS. In the field of humanitarian aid, the Czech Republic pays special attention to victims of gender- based violence. The gender perspective also continues to be taken into account a cross-cutting target within projects in countries like Iraq, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Syria and Ukraine.

Sixteen years ago, resolution 1325 (2000) reaffirmed the importance of the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security. We agree with a statement in the global study that in an era when armed extremist groups place the subordination of women at the top of their agenda, our response should be unwavering support for empowering girls and women.

At Jordan’s request, the Czech Republic became the lead nation of a partner cooperation and implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) programme, focused on training female Jordanian soldiers in explosive ordnance disposal. Gender mainstreaming is part and parcel of the cross-cutting principles of the Czech Republic’s transition promotion programme. In 2016, projects were launched in Serbia, Zimbabwe and Palestine.

In June 2015, the Czech Ministry of Defence adopted its own action plan to implement resolution 1325 (2000). By the end of 2016, the Czech Republic will adopt a national action plan on women and peace and security for the years 2017-20.

Let me conclude by quoting the Secretary General: “Justice for women takes more than new laws and new funding. Ultimately, we need new mindsets.” Having said that, let me express our readiness to promote and support the full implementation of the agenda on women and peace and security domestically as well as abroad.

Nevertheless, we recognize the existing implementation gaps in the women and peace and security normative architecture identified in the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations and through the global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Without any doubt, more needs to be done to advance the women and peace and security agenda. In that regard, we note with great concern the heightened risk of violence or threats to the physical safety of women and their exposure to sexual abuse or harassment in conflict and post-conflict situations. We believe that the sustained engagement of the Council, without encroaching on the mandate of other United Nations bodies, including the General Assembly, is critical in pushing forward the women and peace and security agenda. In that regard, the efforts of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security, established pursuant to the 2015 high-level review, aimed at ensuring the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and other subsequent resolutions, continue to be very important. Most important, mainstreaming the women and peace and security agenda requires effective coordination and consistent engagement among the relevant stakeholders, including among UN-Women, Special representatives of the SecretaryGeneral, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and troop- and police contributing countries, among many others. In that vein, a coordinated reporting mechanism could also be envisaged to monitor the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda and highlight the protection challenges, with a view to providing the necessary assistance to conflict- affected countries.

Estonia invests both domestically and globally in achieving gender equality. At home, we have adopted national action plans and development strategies aimed at tackling issues such as stereotyping, violence and inaccessible victim-support services. Mrs. Kaljulaid, our newly elected President, is hopefully a testament to the fact that Estonians can reach the highest ranks regardless of their gender. However, we continue to encourage women’s participation in all spheres of society, governance and industry. In the military, for example, where the majority of participants are male, we hope to triple the number of females in the next two years. Internationally, we remain committed to promoting the potential of information and communications technologies (ICT) and innovation for helping to protect women’s and girls’ rights. ICT can give access to voting and education, detect and collect data, offer victim-support services, and function as a platform for free speech and global communication. The list goes on. We must establish more ICT mechanisms with that goal in mind. In that regard, I would like to commend UN-Women for collaborating with us in the area of ICT, as well as for incorporating technology into their own programmes and supporting a number of related measures. That brings me to the subject of collaboration. While intergovernmental cooperation is extremely significant, everyone should be heard from, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society have the ability to provide new insights and data that might otherwise be missed. There can be no doubt that that helps our joint efforts to ensure that every detail is accounted for and that no one is left behind. I would therefore like to stress that representatives of civil society and NGOs should be given larger platforms and more access to United Nations meetings and conferences.

One of my country’s persistent concerns relates to the implementation of this resolution in conflict- affected territories. We all know that 20 per cent of my country’s territory remains under illegal foreign military occupation and that hundreds of thousands of Georgian internally displaced persons and refugees who are victims of ethnic cleansing are denied the right to return to their homes, while the fundamental rights of women and girls inside the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions in South Ossetia continue to be neglected. My Government spares no effort to develop and implement higher standards for the full protection of women’s rights. We fully recognize the benefits of enhancing women’s leadership and participation in decision-making in conflict resolution, prevention and management processes. Our strong commitment is well reflected our the national action plan on women and peace and security, and Georgia was one of the first countries to adopt a separate policy document on this very important topic.

Having condemned any violence against local civilian populations, the Georgian Government created an ad hoc inter-agency investigation team, involving not only the representative of the Office of the Prosecutor and the Minister of Defence, but also experts on human rights and child protection services, as well as psychologists. The team established direct communication and worked closely with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Legal Affairs, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the Executive Director of UNICEF, the European Union Military Committee, as well as the Legal Director of Médecins sans frontières. Georgia officially requested the engagement of all the relevant parties in the investigation process by assigning respective points of contact on the ground. In June 2016, the team travelled to Bangui for the on site phase of the investigation, conducting inquiries and interviews with alleged victims in close cooperation with the EU, MINUSCA and UNICEF. United Nations agencies acknowledged that the team was highly professional and exemplary. Materials collected during the visit to the Central African Republic are being carefully studied. So far, preliminary investigation data reveal no sign of Georgian soldiers’ involvement in the crimes committed. Should the results of the investigation prove them innocent, Georgia would appreciate acknowledgement by the relevant United Nations bodies. We hope that the measures undertaken by my Government that I mentioned will serve as an example of best practice when it comes to a prompt and effective response to cases of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. We also encourage other countries to do the same as, we believe that only through such an approach can we produce a sustained change in dealing with the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse in conflict situations.

About a year ago, we met in this Chamber for the high-level review on women and peace and security (see S/PV.7533). On that occasion, a record number of speakers in the history of the Council voiced their support for the agenda built on resolution 1325 (2000). However, despite some progress, huge implementation gaps remain, as today’s briefings have clearly demonstrated. I would like to particularly thank Rita Lopidia from EVE, who spoke about the difficult situation of women in South Sudan in a very impressive manner. I will keep my remarks short and operational. After all, the shortcomings in the implementation of the women and peace and security framework are due not to a lack of words, but to a lack of action. How can we do better here in New York? A year ago, the adoption of resolution 2242 (2015) gave the Council a clear mandate to be more inclusive and to involve civil society in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. The Council needs to live up to that commitment and should open its country-specific considerations for briefings by civil society whenever possible. Germany sees the establishment of the Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security as a major institutional milestone. Within less than a year of its existence, the Expert Group has already assessed four country situations, in close collaboration with United Nations field missions on the ground. We now need to ensure that the excellent outcomes of the Group reach the Council more frequently and directly. How can we improve the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) at the regional level? The Council has rightly called upon regional organizations to partake in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. As part of our Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) chairmanship, Germany has heeded that call and has appointed a Special Representative of the OSCE Chairpersonship-in-Office on Gender Issues. Next month we will host a meeting in Berlin on women and peace and security that will discuss ways to accelerate the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) both within the OSCE framework and beyond. Where do we stand on the implementation on the national level? Germany is currently revising its national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000). We look forward to exchanging our lessons learned with partners, not just here in New York, but also at the capital level. Germany has also taken an active role in the setup of the focal points network founded by Spain. We are proud to host the 2018 meeting of the network in Berlin. We are currently working with UN-Women, the African Union (AU) and the AU Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, Bineta Diop, to explore ways to facilitate the exchange of experiences between African women leaders. We encourage the next Secretary-General to continue to treat the women and peace and security agenda as a high priority. The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) remains a cross-cutting task for the entire United Nations system, not just the Security Council. We see the women and peace and security agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as interlinked. That means that we need to approach their implementation in tandem. Those present can count on Germany’s support in taking practical and specific steps to transform the women and peace and security framework into action.

A year ago the Security Council adopted resolution 2242 (2015). As Guatemala was one of the 72 sponsors of the resolution, we are happy to inform the Council that pursuant to the resolution, the Government of Guatemala has established an interagency panel on women, peace and security in order to improve governmental coordination for the establishment of a national plan of action, which is expected to be completed this year. The appropriate implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) requires the unwavering political will of all competent Government authorities, requiring the allocation of clearly earmarked resources both in national budgets and in the contributions of international donors. Governments and civil society should work together and complement each other’s efforts.

It is also worth noting the establishment of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security and of the national focal point network for women and peace and security on 23 September under the leadership of Spain. Moreover, we acknowledge the contribution of mechanisms, such as the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action, together with additional existing mechanisms, as a way not only to raise resources, but to coordinate responses and accelerate implementation. The participation of women is essential to ensuring operational effectiveness and ensure sustainable peace. The concept of sustainable peace is very important, as Ambassador Rosenthal mentions in his report (S/2015/490).

I would like to concentrate today on the need for cooperation. The issues that form part of the women and peace and security agenda are interrelated and interconnected, and must be addressed as such. For effective implementation of the women and peace and security framework at the national and international levels, close and comprehensive cooperation is needed among institutions and Governments. Hungary welcomes the launching of the women, peace and security national focal points network, and we hope that it will effectively assist Member States to implement the women and peace and security agenda. Moreover, Hungary has already engaged in an interministerial cooperation process to review how its national contribution could be improved and has established a women and peace and security national focal point within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In order to successfully implement a holistic approach, we need to use all the tools available within the United Nations system. We need actionable recommendations on women and peace and security matters, not only from the Security Council but also from all treaty bodies. In addition, we should find ways to use the Universal Periodic Review to accelerate its further implementation.

Thirdly, it is important to acknowledge the role of women, mothers and family in the prevention of radicalism and extremism and we need to work together to empower them. Fourthly, it is important to ensure that the work of the Security Council in women and peace and security complement the work of other relevant bodies and agencies within the United Nations system. We need to strengthen interaction and information flows across the entire system. Coordination among United Nations bodies should respect and make full use of their respective mandates and competencies, particularly those whose work is relevant in promoting women’s empowerment and gender equalities in all sectors, including the prevention of gender-based violence in conflict situations. Sexual

Iraq is one of the earliest countries to being implementing resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security. Notwithstanding the challenges and difficulties that the country faces and the terrorist attacks of Da’esh, Iraq is developing an effective national action plan to implement the resolution. A special operations room has been established in the Prime Minister’s Office to implement resolution-related plans, as well as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Iraq is working to ensure women’s participation in public life and raises awareness among the population about women’s social, economic and political rights, promotes gender equality through an equal opportunities policy and encourages women to take up posts and participate in decision-making processes. Women taking up high-ranking positions has increased since 2003. We now have 83 women parliamentarians, three women ambassadors and 86 judges and Iraqi women are now the presidents and deans of 75 universities and colleges and cabinet ministers in an Iraqi State inhabited by 7 million people. Sustainable development can be achieved only when there is an environment of peace and security.

Iraq is witnessing the most violent terrorist attacks in the world perpetrated by lethal terrorist groups. The people in the areas under the control of such gangs have experienced the most savage and horrendous criminal practices committed against, in particular, women and children. Such gangs and groups have kidnapped a huge number of Yazidi women and people from other ethnicities of all ages in Iraq, whohave been sold as chattel in the areas between Iraq and Syria. Their dignities have been humiliated. They have been raped, enslaved and tortured psychologically, physically and sexually. We therefore call on the international community to make further efforts to support Iraq, free these women, return them to their families and reintegrate them into society.

The women and peace and security agenda, however, provides us with a tool for implementation. We have plainly seen that when women participate in society and their voices are heard, there is a higher chance of achieving and sustaining peace or preventing the outbreak of conflict in the first instance.
The Peacebuilding Fund has met the Secretary- General’s gender target of 15 per cent and is pioneering the mainstreaming of the women and peace and security agenda in peacebuilding. Last month, Ireland pledged more than $3 million to the Peacebuilding Fund over three years. We urge the States Members of the United Nations and the Security Council to support the work of the Fund and the Peacebuilding Commission as part of a wider move to harness the women and peace and security agenda as a driver of conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Those are only four areas in which the women and peace and security agenda has catalysed change and can continue to do so. There are many more, including disarmament, international criminal justice and the prevention and countering of violent extremism. It would be remiss not to focus lastly and briefly on those of us charged with living the changes that we have made.
First, with regard to the United Nations system — more work is needed to advance the Global Study’s recommendation that a gender perspective should be mainstreamed throughout the United Nations response to conflict emergencies. The recent adoption by the Peacebuilding Commission of a gender strategy is an example of a best practice that we can all learn from.
Secondly, with regard to regional and subregional organizations, in May, Ireland was pleased to host the inaugural workshop on the regional acceleration of resolution 1325 (2000). It brought together regional organizations working on peacekeeping. Such work must form part of a larger effort to support and learn from women and peace and security initiatives at the regional level.
Thirdly, with regard to Member States, 63 national action plans mean 63 opportunities to identify lessons learned, which could serve to spark new initiatives. We look forward to participating actively in the national women and peace and security focal points network launched by Spain in September.
Finally and crucially, with regard to civil society organizations, those on the front lines of the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda are often those most in need of support. Ireland has contributed almost $500,000 to the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action since its launch last February, and we encourage other donors to support this civil society organization-driven fund. When we speak at next year’s debate, we hope to be able to point to even greater progress within the frameworks of peace and security, all with the women and peace and security agenda at the core.

Security Council members must stand united in promoting the agenda. Such a demonstration of unity would carry greater political weight and convey a stronger message to the world. During its tenure as a member of the Council, Japan will continue to work with other Council members and with the United Nations as a whole to promote the important agenda.

Those developments show that norms and commitments are already on the table. I believe that Council members should now implement their commitments to advance the agenda. Japan has been steadfast in implementing its own commitments announced last October. To that end, Japan began monitoring the implementation of its national action plan this year. Moreover, we have expressed readiness to support other countries in creating their own action plans.

First, Japan and UN-Women co-hosted an Asia- Pacific regional symposium in Bangkok in July, with the aim of sharing our experiences in the draftin and implementation of our national action plans. Similarly, Japan supported the UN- Women project for League of Arab State countries. By funding projects of UN- Women and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, led by Ms. Bangura, Japan aims to protect and empower displaced and migrant women in the Middle East and Africa. That issue requires immediate and constant attention from the Security Council in the world of today, as eloquently illustrated by our briefers.

The year 2015 was a landmark year for the women and peace and security agenda. The Security Council adopted resolution 2242 (2015), which was the eighth resolution on this agenda and which represents a steady accumulation of norms on the issue. We welcome the steady implementation of the resolution. Close to 70 countries have already announced their national commitments to implement it. We also welcome the establishment of the Informal Expert Group in accordance with the resolution. We appreciate the efforts that go beyond the resolution, such as the establishment of national focal points in approximately 50 countries to exchange best practices on the issue. Furthermore, the United Nations peacekeeping defence ministerial meeting that Japan co-hosted in London last month provided further momentum to women’s participation in peacekeeping operations.

As members know, the Security Council recently adopted resolution 2250 (2015), on youth, peace and security, following the call of his Royal Highness Prince Al- Hussein bin Abdullah II in favour of a strengthening of the participation of youth in peace efforts. Youth are drivers of peace and they contribute to the fight against violent extremism and their participation in decision-making must be strengthened.

The Government of Jordan has committed itself to drafting a national plan for women and peace and security and to accelerating its adoption. Indeed, we firmly believe that the main victims of conflict are women and girls. Women play an essential role in forging peace, and peace cannot be established in societies without the serious and concrete participation of women. Similarly, we cannot implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development without empowering women and girls, achieving gender equality and, of course, eradicating all forms of discrimination.

Resolution 1325 (2000) was adopted a year after Kenya’s tenure on the Security Council came to an end. Kenya commends the Security Council for its sustained, committed engagement to the agenda on women and peace and security over the past 16 years. Kenya’s commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, is unequivocal. It is further underlined by our full support at the regional level of the African Union Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa. I am pleased to inform the Council that our Government has undertaken a number of far-reaching measures to that end.

In 2016, Kenya launched a national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), aptly entitled “Kuhusisha Wanawake ni Kudumisha Amani’ — which in Kiswahili means “To Involve Women is to Sustain Peace” — that encompasses the changing nature of insecurity by incorporating women’s human security.

Secondly, the action plan will continue to mainstream resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) into Kenya’s national development framework. The national plan also takes into account progress made by Kenya in advancing the promotion and protection of women and girls, in accordance with the Kenyan Constitution and intergovernmental and regional policies related to security, peacebuilding and conflict resolution; in improving the quality of women’s participation in their contribution to security at the national level by increasing their numbers through well- targeted recruitment; and in developing programmes at the National Defence College that integrate gender training for troops prior to deployment in peacekeeping operations undertaken in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

It is therefore necessary that we provide predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding, target more funds towards gender equality, and support special funds, such as the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women and the United Nations Fund for Gender Equality.

Finally, Kenya believes that if the issue of the diversion of resources from development to waging war is not urgently addressed, our efforts to meet our commitments to women and girls will continue to lag behind.

We would like to commend the Security Council for the establishment of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security, thereby implementing one important aspect of resolution 2242 (2015). We hope that the Council will keep the broader membership informed of the work of the Expert Group and that its work will lead to a stronger presence by women and further peace and security debates and draft resolutions on conflict situations before the Council.

We see the Secretary-General’s Human Rights Up Front Initiative as an important tool for doing so. We also see a strong need for the United Nations to become more effective in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) with regard to peacekeeping missions. Therefore, we support the call for proper resources for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations/ Department of Field Support gender advisers.

We also need to further strengthen the fight against human trafficking. For that reason, we will jointly organize a side event, together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, on countering human trafficking and achieving the universal ratification of the Palermo Protocol, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, on Thursday, 27 October at 11.15 a.m. in Conference Room 9. We call on all States that have not yet done so to ratify and effectively implement the Palermo Protocol.

Let me conclude by emphasizing once more our full commitment to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and all follow-up resolutions. We continue to be committed to the pledges that we issued last year during the fifteenth anniversary of the women and peace and security agenda, and we hope that the impressive amount of pledges issued by other States will also be implemented in due time.

First, women’s networks play an important early warning and preventive role. These include women’s situation rooms in Africa, which the African Union (AU) has declared a best practice to prevent conflict; the Au initiative to build a dedicated roster of women mediators; and the creation of the Nordic Women’s Mediators’ Network. Existing good practices should be emulated and encouraged. We call on the United Nations to consider developing a dedicated roster of women mediators to reinforce inclusive, multi-track prevention and mediation processes, and on countries to submit more women mediator candidacies to United Nations rosters.

Finally, let me reiterate Lithuania’s strong commitment to furthering the women and peace and security agenda through concrete action. We are currently renewing our resolution 1325 (2000) national action plan and enhancing relevant cooperation with our eastern partnership neighbours, including Ukraine, where Russia-sponsored war in the east of the country has severely affected women’s personal safety and their human rights. Lithuania is taking steps to increase the involvement of women in peace operations in the civilian and military fields. Last year, a third of our personnel deployed to civilian missions abroad were women.

As a founding member of the women and peace and security national focal point network, Lithuania will continue to engage actively in its work as well as on the broader women and peace and security agenda.

Fourthly, communication can be a powerful tool for promoting the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. The ways in which women are depicted in the media can have a profound effect on societal attitudes, perceptions of gender roles, and the effective tackling of stereotypes that constrain and limit women’s role and opportunities in all spheres of life.

The high-level review and its accompanying global study of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) successfully renewed international momentum towards fully actualizing the involvement of women and leveraged their influence on matters of peace and security. Similarly, the adoption of resolution 2242 (2015) provided additional impetus for the Security Council to explore issues of women and peace and security more deeply, including in country-specific contexts through the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security. I take this opportunity to acknowledge and commend Spain and the United Kingdom for their able leadership of the Informal Expert Group, which has enriched broader Council discussions. We commend the steps taken by Member States to adopt or review national action plans on women and peace and security and encourage their continued implementation. The establishment of a women and peace and security national focal point network is another useful platform for sharing information and experiences among Member States, including on national action plans.

While there has been some progress, we stress that much more can and must be done to fully utilize the women and peace and security agenda to resolve and prevent armed conflict. In our assessment, three key areas require more focus and attention, namely, peace processes, peacekeeping and policymaking.

Additionally, in implementing pledges on capacity- building made during the 2015 peacekeeping summit, the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre conducted three training courses in the first half of this year on the issues of gender, cultural diversity and the protection of civilians, the latter with the cooperation of the Government of Japan. The courses benefitted more than 40 military and civilian personnel. We hope to maintain and expand such training in the coming years.

Resolution 1325 (2000) recognized the need for gender perspective to be taken into account in political, security and humanitarian action. While there has been some progress in mainstreaming gender considerations in the work of the United Nations, notably the recent adoption of the Peacebuilding Commission’s gender strategy, there is still a long way to go in fully implementing such policies.

The report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (see S/2015/446), the report of the Advisory Group of Experts on the Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture (see S/2015/490) and the Global Study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) mandated under resolution 2122 (2013) can only give new momentum to the role played by women in conflict situations, the inclusion of a gender perspective in all phases of peace processes and the importance of increasing women’s participation in the prevention of, and response to, conflict and in post- conflict reconstruction.

Although we acknowledge that progress has been made in implementing the agenda, it has not been widespread, owing to geographical and political limitations. It is therefore important that we take this opportunity to review the peace agenda to renew the commitment of the membership and advocate for women and the gender perspective as core aspects in international peacekeeping and security, and, above all, the role of women and development in peacebuilding and sustainable peace.

Finally, I reiterate Mexico’s commitment to the full implementation of the sustainable peace agenda, while comprehensively promoting programmes that meet the specific needs of women in connection with prevention and conflict in all of its phases.

It is in that context that in 2012 Morocco launched, in partnership with Spain, an initiative on the promotion of the role women in the mediation process in the Mediterranean. That initiative has enabled us to give mediation training to a number of Mediterranean women so as to ensure that they are available to the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations.

In addition, on 7 September Morocco organized an international conference on the topic of women and peace and security. The conference contributed to the international debate on the role of women in peace processes and the implementation of national plans of action to promote collective action on implementing resolution 1325 (2000). It was an occasion to reaffirm the international community’s consensus on the need to strengthen the participation of women in negotiations and agreements concerning the settlement of conflicts and peacebuilding, as well as to renew the commitment of the United Nations to the question of the inclusion of women and

gender equality in all strategies aimed at restoring peace and preventing conflict. A number of questions were debated at the conference, including the role of women in mediation and conflict-prevention processes, the role of women in deradicalization, lessons learned and best practices in the prevention of sexual violence in conflict.

At the conference, my country announced the creation in Rabat of an independent regional centre dedicated to studying the role of women in peacekeeping operations and their contribution to the achievement of sustainable development. The centre could serve as a space for reflection, a reservoir of ideas and a source of independent thought regarding the role and place of women in peacekeeping operations, as well as peacebuilding in conflict zones. It is in keeping with the priorities of the Security Council. in terms of the promotion and empowerment of women, gender equality, the building of peace and international security, the dissemination of the culture of peace, ensuring access to justice and the protection of civil rights.

We are a strong supporter of the entire women and peace and security agenda. As the global study has shown us, our focus should be on putting the normative framework we have built together over the past 15 years into practice — into daily reality.

Our third point focuses on the implementation of our national action plan and on our support for the national action plans of other countries. We published our third national action plan last March. We drafted it in partnership with more than 50 Dutch civil society organizations and knowledge institutions. By trying to coordinate our activities with those of civil society, we aim to make each other stronger and to achieve better, more sustainable results. The Kingdom of the Netherlands encourages other countries to develop their own national action plans, and we will try to support them in doing so. Currently, in our third national action plan we focus on eight countries in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa region.

At the global level, we acknowledge that the Security Council has provided the leadership necessary to give impetus to the women and peace and security agenda, beginning with resolution 1325 (2000), which set up the framework for subsequent Council resolutions upon which the women and peace and security agenda was built. In Africa, the African Union has been a useful platform for the advancement of the women and peace and security agenda.

It is to be noted that the African Union Agenda 2063, which was adopted by African Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa in January, places particular emphasis on the engagement of women and youth in the continent’s development. At the subregional level in West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been a major driver of the women and peace and security agenda. In collaboration with the United Nations Office for West Africa, in September 2010 ECOWAS developed an integrated plan of action for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

The plan of action emphasizes the importance of the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution, mediation and peacebuilding efforts, as well as the rebuilding of post-conflict societies. Consistent with the subregional efforts, in August 2013 Nigeria launched a national action plan to fully implement the relevant provisions of resolution 1325 (2000). The plan reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the security of women and girls during armed conflict and enhancing their active and direct participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Nigeria is also committed to the provisions of resolution 1820 (2008), on ending acts of sexual violence against women in conflict situations.

We are collaborating with our neighbours Chad, Cameroon, the Niger and Benin, within the framework of the Multinational Joint Task Force , to fight the Boko Haram insurgency, which is targeting women and girls. Our experience today is evidence that with determined international collaboration, terrorism can be defeated. The sustained efforts of Nigeria and its international partners have culminated in the liberation of territories previously occupied by Boko Haram.

The eighth resolution, resolution 2242 (2015), on women and peace and security was adopted at last year’s open debate (see S/PV.7533). Never before had so many countries sponsored a Security Council resolution. Never before had so many statements been made. We made commitments; we created expectations and we were right to do so, because by then we knew what we used to just believe.

We welcome the new Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security that briefs the Security Council, and we welcome the national focal points network that has been formed to ensure greater accountability. We welcome UN-Women’s new flagship on women and peace and security. And on the ground, in spite of the challenges ahead, the Colombia process has raised the bar.

Inspired by a South African initiative, a Nordic network of women mediators was launched in November last year in Oslo. This means that Nordic women now form a part of a global network of women mediators, whose experience and competence we should draw on in future peace and security operations. To refer to the lack of competent women is no longer a viable excuse.

Finland and Norway are also cooperating with the Department of Political Affairs on the training of senior United Nations mediators. As sustaining peace is coming to the forefront of the United Nations peace and security efforts, the Nordic countries are working to ensure that the women and peace and security agenda is at the heart of this effort. Importantly, as we work to prevent and counter violent extremism, we support women’s organizations and youth networks, because we believe that they are key players. We listen to them in our policy development and support them through concrete programmes. The Norwegian Prime Minister recently launched a new dialogue forum for women peacemakers on the front lines of violent extremism and policymakers at the highest level. Training is crucial to raise awareness and improve implementation of the gender aspects of peacekeeping missions. That is why the Nordic countries established the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations. In September, the Swedish Armed Forces issued a handbook for gender mainstreaming in operations, the very first of its kind.

In this context, we would also like to express our strong support for the proposal by Spain and the United Kingdom regarding a framework for a strengthened Gender Advisory/Women, Peace and Security Unit in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support. This would enhance the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda in both the short- and the long-term perspectives.

The 2015 high-level review on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), mandated under resolution 2122 (2013), provided an important opportunity not only to reflect on the progress made towards the implementation of the resolution, but also to calibrate our collective ambition to promote our shared goal of strengthening the role of women in conflict resolution,

Resolution 2242 (2015) reaffirmed our strong commitment to the normative framework that views women as a pivotal element of the conflict-resolution paradigm. We also welcome resolution 2250 (2015), on youth and peace and security, as an important complement and reinforcement of the women and peace and security agenda.

We agree with the Secretary-General that, despite the momentum for change, support must go beyond words. Renewed focus on the implementation of the common agenda is therefore crucial. That is key to overcoming operational gaps and challenges and to delivering on our promise of peace and security.

The empowerment of women is therefore also essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including those on poverty eradication, health care, education and inclusive development.

My country stands ready to share our experience by conducting training programmes for women security officers so as to enhance their capacity to respond to crisis situations.

The increasing role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in United Nations peacekeeping operations was enshrined in resolution 2242 (2015), which further encouraged women to take on greater leadership roles and promote their rights and called for efforts to turn plans made on paper into action, as we have heard this morning from the Executive Director of UN-Women.

We welcome the recommendations contained in the September report (A/71/398) of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and the Secretary-General’s call for the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy in response to instances of misconduct, in particular comprehensive proposals on prevention, enforcement and remedial measures to promote greater accountability, including his commitment to make public misconduct by United Nations staff.

That is why we attach particular interest to the initiatives of UN-Women, of which my country is a member of the Executive Board, and to the Justice Rapid Response mechanism and the alliance of women seeking accountability for sexual and gender- based violence. The 2015 global review of the women and peace and security agenda highlighted the need to incorporate a more significant role of women in the fight against terrorism and radicalization, in which gender equality is assuming greater prominence for the fight against that scourge.

As the first country in Asia to develop a national action plan, in 2010, the Philippines has been steadily implementing the provisions of its plan on a national scale. Our six- year national action plan has four interrelated and complementary purposes, with corresponding outcomes, indicators, time frames and key implementers. The Philippines national action plan rests on four pillars; first, protection and prevention to ensure the protection of women’s human rights; secondly, empowerment and participation to empower women and ensure their active and meaningful participation in the areas of peacebuilding, peacekeeping, conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction; thirdly, promotion and mainstreaming to promote and mainstream gender perspectives in all aspects of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding; and, fourthly, capacity development and monitoring and reporting to institutionalize a system to monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation of the national action plan in order to enhance accountability for the successful implementation and achievement of its goals.

Since the Philippines formulated the national action plan it has focused on the localization of the four pillars of the plan. There are now 41 provinces within conflict zones that have developed their own local action plans. Identifying their own specific concerns and prioritizing them has made the national action plan relevant to such local areas. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the co-Chair of the steering committee of the national action plan, is committed to engaging more local Government units to formulate their own local action plans. The Philippines believes that States can benefit from each other’s national experiences in enriching their own programmes. It is in that context that the Philippines was happy to sign up to the women and peace and security focal points network, which was launched here in New York last September. We thank the Government of Spain for that initiative. We discovered that some States found our experience in the partnership between Government and civil society particularly useful. We believe that the focal point network will make this sharing of experiences more efficient and timely, and we look forward to taking advantage of this tool.

I am also proud to announce that the Philippines is represented in the roster of Justice Rapid Response by three Filipino professionals, who can be requested by the international community to investigate, analyse and report on situations where serious human rights and international criminal violations have been reported. The Philippines is happy for the opportunity to contribute its talents to the work of the women and peace and security agenda through Justice Rapid Response.

As we now go forward in the process of negotiating a peace agreement with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its Front and armed group and in implementing the peace agreement signed with two Moro Liberation Fronts, the Philippines is committed, more than ever, to working towards the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Our Government recognizes that that landmark international instrument is there for Governments like ours to adhere to. Certainly, there is a need for women to be protected as the victims of violence and war but, as stated in resolution 1325 (2000), we further recognize that women’s leadership is critical to finding enduring solutions to destructive and dehumanizing conflicts.

In the year after the comprehensive reviews of United Nations peace operations, the peacebuilding architecture and the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), concrete commitments were made to advance women’s rights, in particular in terms of their political participation and leadership in conflict and post- conflict situations. Yet there is still a lot to be done to strengthen women’s roles in conflict prevention, peace negotiations and peacemaking processes.

As far as political engagement is concerned, Poland has been participating in Security Council open debates on women and peace and security and we have co- sponsored many of the resolutions related to the issue, including the most recent resolution 2242 (2015), which provides a clear road map for the implementation of the women and peace and security framework. We commend the work of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security and we are convinced that its establishment will contribute to further enhance coordination for gender mainstreaming in peacebuilding and peacekeeping missions.

In terms of our institutional involvement, we have appointed a focal point on women and peace and security. Poland participated in the founding meeting of the women and peace and security focal points network, which took place here in New York. We commend Spain, Canada, Chile, Japan, Namibia and the United Arab Emirates for their timely initiative. We look forward to upcoming meetings of the network, which we are sure will provide a platform for the exchange of good practices in the area of women and peace and security. We are also working on our national action plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), which will enable us to better comply with our obligations under the women and peace and security agenda.

Last but not least, we have also decided to earmark a minimum of 15 per cent of all our future funding for the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund for gender responsive policies, including those addressing the special needs of women in post-conflict situations. We believe that a predictable funding mechanism is vital for the effective implementation of the women and peace and security agenda.

The women and peace and security agenda is a critical, yet underutilized, tool for preventing conflict and shaping more effective responses to today’s complex crises. That is why it is now more than ever essential to sustain and develop the progress already achieved and maintain the commitment to the agenda by Member States, regional organizations and the entire United Nations system. In that regard, Portugal welcomes the settomg up of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security, established pursuant to the 2015 high-level review, as a key step in the implementation of resolution 2242 (2015) with a view to strengthen oversight and coordination on the women and peace and security agenda. We would also like to commend Spain for its initiative in the establishment of the national focal point network for women and peace and security, which constitutes an important platform for sharing good practices, and with which Portugal is pleased to be associated.

Portugal has been a firm and consistent supporter of the women and peace and security agenda. We adopted our first national action plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in 2009, and a second one in 2014, which is in force until 2018.

I would also like to point out the important role of civil society organizations in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. They are often essential elements in preventing and reporting crimes committed against women, young women and girls and in alerting the international community to such crimes. Working in close collaboration with civil society organizations therefore becomes indispensable to enhance the results.

We will continue to promote the women and peace and security agenda and to raise awareness on the importance of establishing national actions plans on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in all the relevant international forums we belong to, including the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO.

Last year, resolution 2242 (2015) recognized the need for greater integration of the agenda of resolution 1325 (2000) into the Council’s work. In that regard, Romania welcomes the creation of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security.

Resolution 1325 (2000) contributed to adapting the United Nations peacebuilding architecture to new challenges. Consequently, at the end of an extensive intergovernmental process, a new concept — that of sustaining peace — was endorsed by the States Members of the United Nations and formalized by two identical resolutions adopted on 27 April 2016: Security Council resolution 2282 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 70/262.

Slovakia welcomes the establishment in September of the women and peace and security national focal point network, which will periodically share and exchange lessons learned and best practices.

As pointed out by speakers before me, the challenge we face in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is not a lack of a normative framework, but rather the significant gaps that exist when it comes to its implementation. That is a fact despite the overwhelming evidence of the contributions women bring to prevention and peacebuilding efforts as agents of change. Resolution 2242 (2015) provides a critical tool for the international community to make tangible progress towards gender equality and peace.

The Network calls upon Member States, United Nations entities and regional and subregional organizations to support Member States in their efforts to implement resolution 1325 (2000) and all subsequent resolutions, including resolution 2242 (2015).

As was reiterated many times after last year’s review, it is high time to begin showing tangible results and bring the women and peace and security agenda closer to women who can make a difference. All stakeholders have to cooperate and harmonize their efforts in order to avoid duplication, on the one hand, and gaps, on the other. In that regard, Slovenia welcomes the establishment of the women and peace and security focal points network and the Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security.

South Africa reaffirms its strong commitment to the full and effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the subsequent related resolutions, as ground-breaking commitments to the advancement of the agenda on women and peace and security.

My delegation would like to emphasize its appreciation for the active role and full participation in monitoring the implementation of those resolutions by the Executive Director for UN- Women and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Resolution 2242 (2015) gives further impetus to the mandate established by resolution 1325 (2000). Over the past year, we have seen greater engagement on the part of the Council on matters relating to women and peace and security, including through the work of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security. But we believe that more can be done to implement the recommendations of resolution 2242 (2015), including by interacting with women on the ground who are directly affected by conflict. The meeting, co-hosted by UN-Women and Norway and held on the margins of the general debate of the General Assembly at its seventy-first session, which explored the impact of violent extremism on women and children, was notable in that regard.

In conclusion, South Africa looks forward to further cooperation and to sharing experiences with Member States, as well as with the Department of Political Affairs, UN-Women and other partners. That will enable us to improve our incorporation of gender perspectives and the concerns of women and girls into our efforts, with the goal of enhancing sustainable peace and security in all conflict situations.

At the same time, it is also noteworthy that the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) met the target of allocating at least 15 per cent of its resources to projects designed to advance gender equality and the empower women.

Thirdly, we would like to emphasize the indispensable role of national Governments in upholding the women and peace and security agenda. We welcome the fact that more countries are implementing national action plans, which contribute to strengthening national ability to implement the women and peace and security agenda by enhancing societal awareness of the issue. We must pay more attention to building the capacity and awareness of national Governments in conflict and post- conflict settings in order to pursue women’s equality and active participation through an enhanced partnership with all stakeholders.

At the high-level review of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), which my country had the honour of presiding over last year, it was made clear that each and every one of us have unavoidable responsibilities in that regard, and that it is up to us all to achieve results. Power and responsibility must be two faces of the same coin. I am proud to say that in the two years that Spain has been a member of the Security Council, one great and long-standing daily priority has been resolution 1325 (2000). I would like to take this opportunity to share two fundamental aspects with this forum. I shall note first what, in our view, has been accomplished in the past two years, and secondly, some improvements that my country has made in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). The Security Council has made some very important accomplishments in the course of the last two years.

First, the creation of the Security Council Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security, under the joint chairmanship of Spain and the United Kingdom, is a very innovative mechanism with regard to working methods. It provides Security Council members with the concrete information that we need regarding leadership at the United Nations. It also helps support efforts to broadly integrate gender perspective within peacekeeping missions. The experts have held meetings on Mali, Iraq, whose Ambassador I see here and with whom we have done exceptional work, the Central African Republic and Afghanistan.

Secondly, we have managed to help national administrations to make greater headway in the peace and security agenda. That is why the President of Spain announced the creation of a network of national points of contact for the resolution 1325 (2000). On September 23, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs presided over the launching of the network. The first conference of the network of national points of contact will be held in Spain in the first trimester of 2017. We thank Germany, which will hold a similar conference the following year. Over 50 States and regional organizations are founding members of the focal points network. Moreover, as I have explained previously and in line with resolution 2242 (2015), my country is committed to a series of obligations that have truly helped advance resolution 1325 (2000) in Spain.

Fifthly, we must all make greater efforts in financing. We have earmarked €1 million of the 2016 budget to support exceptional instruments, such as the Global Acceleration Instrument for Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action, and to strengthen certain capabilities, particularly the gender units within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations or the Department of Political Affairs.

Lastly, in the humanitarian sphere, Spain has allocated €1.7 million to specific projects that will be part of the agenda, notably in Palestine, Syria and Jordan. Additionally, during the World Humanitarian Summit, my country committed, among other goals, to set up a gender marker for 100 per cent of humanitarian financing in 2018.

The agenda requires real commitment. We have the tools and we have the resolutions. Now we need to show that there is genuine political will to implement them.

The Sudan continues to abide by its commitments in that area. Indeed, we have adopted a strategy for women covering close to a quarter of a century, from 2003 to 2027. We have adopted a national strategy to combat violence against women, a national policy to empower women, a national demographic policy, a national plan for Sudanese women, and a national law against human trafficking, including of women and girls. In the framework of lessons learned, I refer to two provisions of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, which guarantees the rights of women in all executive, legislative and judicial bodies and incorporates all provisions of resolution 1325 (2000), concerning women and peace and security. The resolution calls for the strengthening of women’s participation in peacekeeping operations and all efforts aimed at establishing and building peace.

In keeping with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, we call for the adoption of a comprehensive approach that takes the women and peace and security agenda into account in the resolution and settlement of conflicts, the need for capacity- building and the strengthening of technical assistance and cooperation with countries, given the fact that gaps and inequalities in development efforts are among the main causes of conflict. We call for the lifting of constraints on national efforts, including unilateral sanctions, and of foreign debt and sanctions imposed on countries affected by conflict.

Switzerland continues to be one of the major donors to UN-Women and has increased its contribution to CHF48 million Swiss for the period from 2015 to 2017. Earlier this month, we also inaugurated the new UN- Women Liaison Office at Geneva. As the Secretary- General stated, Member States continue to shoulder the primary responsibility for implementing the agenda for women and peace and security. Switzerland is ready to embrace that role and renews its commitment to the women and peace and security agenda.

Switzerland’s national action plan is a Government instrument that contemplates a participative mechanism designed specifically for civil society. This year will see the third review of that plan. In that regard, civil society organizations have drafted an alternative implementation report. Switzerland will consider its conclusions when it updates the national action plan in 2017. Reports on the implementation of the national action plan are regularly submitted for parliamentary oversight. As for the fulfilment of the commitments undertaken last year, we would like to highlight three points.

It is encouraging to witness the growing awareness around the world of the indispensable role of women and their perspectives in the areas of peace and security. Nevertheless, as rightly pointed out in the Secretary-General’s report, the subject of women and peace and security is not being sufficiently utilized to prevent conflict, and much remains to be done at all levels. In that regard, ASEAN would like to update Security Council members on the progress made in our region as a result of resolution 1325 (2000), confirming its validity.

As ASEAN implements the early stages of its post-2015 Community, it continues to underscore the increasing role and participation of women in all three ASEAN pillars: the ASEAN Political-Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Women-related issues and the gender perspective are addressed through several key ASEAN mechanisms and frameworks. Among others, allow me to mention the ASEAN Committee on Women and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children. The ASEAN Declaration on the Advancement of Women was adopted to promote the equitable and effective participation of women, wherever possible, in all fields, as well as to integrate the specific concerns of women and their roles as active agents in peace, security and development into member States’ national plans. The adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Children provides another concrete example that reaffirms ASEAN’s commitment to tackle violence against women in all forms. During the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane in September, ASEAN leaders tasked the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children to continue its efforts in implementing the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on that issue.

At the second ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women, held in Manila on 23 October 2015, all ASEAN sectoral bodies and member States were encouraged to promote gender responsiveness and integrate gender mainstreaming into their respective activities and initiatives. The Meeting also adopted the 2016-2020 Work Plan of the ASEAN Committee on Women, which focuses on six key priority areas: the promotion of women in leadership, non-gender stereotyping and social norm change, gender mainstreaming across the three pillars, the elimination of violence against women, the economic empowerment of women and the protection and empowerment of women in vulnerable situations. Those priorities are comprehensive and very much in line with the key aspects of resolution 1325 (2000).

Important steps have been taken to further implement the women and peace and security agenda since the last debate on this issue (see S/PV.7704), including increased gender provisions in signed peace agreements. While we are encouraged by these good practices, including those that were part of the process leading to the Colombia peace accord, and commend the Secretary-General and the United Nations system on the important steps taken to press for, facilitate and support the inclusion of women in peace negotiations, we cannot be complacent with respect to the progress made but must continue in our resolve towards the full implementation of the agenda.

Timor-Leste’s national action plan is the product of a comprehensive and inclusive process and sets out the actions to be taken with respect to four key pillars, namely, participation, prevention, protection and peacebuilding. The plan promotes and guarantees women’s participation in all decision-making positions and processes, including in the defence and security sectors, peacebuilding and development. It proposes concrete actions to review and change laws, policies and programmes aimed at the promotion of women and girls’ right to a life in peace and security, and at ensuring their equal and active participation and leadership in peacebuilding, State- building and development.

The implementation of the plan will involve a whole-of-Government approach as well as civil-society organizations, and accountability will be ensured through a monitoring committee that will be made up of Members of Parliament and non- governmental organizations. We are grateful to UN-Women for all of its support in the process to date.

We have today, through our national action plans on resolution 1325 (2000); the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and its general recommendation No. 30, on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations; and the recommendations of the three reviews that took place last year, a comprehensive framework on furthering the women and peace and security agenda.

We are confident that with political will, we all can continue to strive to move forward.

Turkey actively promotes the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in international platforms such as the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO. Furthermore, we support the empowerment and well-being of women and girls in various emergency, conflict or post-conflict situations through our comprehensive development assistance programme. The projects we carry out in Afghanistan and Somalia, particularly in the fields of education and health care, are concrete examples of our efforts to that end.

Turkey also exerts every effort to provide security and safety to Syrian women and girls who have fled the conflict in Syria. Today, Turkey hosts more than 2.7 million Syrians. We have provided Syrians with temporary protection status and enabled their access to the Turkish health system. So far, more than 170,000 Syrian babies have been born in medical facilities inside the temporary protection centres in Turkey. In those centres, we have taken steps to enable a gender- sensitive sheltering mechanism.

We know that the global landscape is challenging, but the international community has made tangible gains in the past year, in partnership with United Nations. First, the women and peace and security national focal point network, spearheaded by Spain, will drive the coordination and implementation of the women and peace and security agenda at the national level. As a founding member of that network, the United Arab Emirates is committed to translating the women and peace and security agenda domestically.

Secondly, the League of Arab States and UN- Women hosted a ministerial conference in Cairo last month on women achieving peace and security in the Arab Region. That conference facilitated the implementation of the regional strategy and action plan on resolution 1325 (2000) and adopted a number of resolutions on financing and monitoring mechanisms in order to enhance accountability and ensure serious commitment to achieving the goals of the women and peace and security agenda.

Thirdly, the Security Council now hosts the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security, led by the United Kingdom and Spain, which focuses on country-specific situations in order to mainstream gender considerations. But it is not enough to merely turn the tide. As an international community, and particularly at the United Nations, we are attempting to shift how the system operates in order to place greater focus on conflict prevention and sustaining peace at the policy level. That is something that we will continue to strive to achieve as an international player committed to the full realization of the women and peace and security agenda.

Uganda joins other Member States in reiterating the concerns the international community continues to have in the effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Women continue to face numerous challenges, but most specifically their plight is even more debilitating during conflicts and wars. More often than not, they are not the causes but mere victims and bear the greatest brunt of the excesses of such conflicts.

We therefore call for the full and effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We note with appreciation the recognition of the Secretary-General in his report (S/2016/822) of Uganda as an outstanding example of a country that has demonstrated that women are making a remarkable difference as agents of change.

Last but not least is the question of gender budgeting that must take into account the special needs of women in the domain of peacekeeping and support operations. Working together through and within the United Nations system, we should continue to promote the equal and effective participation of women in all efforts aimed at the promotion of peace and security

The report presented this year (S/2016/822) illustrates the fact that there has been some progress in specific aspects of the agenda on women and peace and security. An example is the increase in the number of peace agreements that have specific provisions relating to gender. We have also seen an increase in the participation and presence of women in the mediation processes that have been co-led by the United Nations. There has also been significant progress with regard to women and peace and security over the past 15 years in legislative terms. However, there are still major challenges

The bolstering of efforts aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of resolutions dealing with women and peace and security demands effective coordination on the part of the States concerned, the various relevant offices of the United Nations under their respective mandates, and the various regional and subregional mechanisms that deal with the issue. In advancing those efforts and initiatives we should take into account the participation of women in each of the national contexts and conflicts. We should consider the prevailing political models and the social, cultural and religious models of each society in order to find the most.

appropriate way to address the issue. We ought to consider specific contexts and build models that can be fine-tuned to each of those contexts.

It has been shown that, with respect to peace and security, the percentage of aid given to promoting gender equality and equity is very low. It is much less than what we need in order to meet our commitments in that area. A fundamental aspect of meeting those commitments is the provision of sufficient resources to create resilience in zones of conflict and post-conflict — in particular, training and increasing the national institutional capacities regarding gender, justice, health and social welfare, and the empowerment and training needed for the preparation and implementation of national action plans on women and peace and security.

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