ECOSOC
The Security Council's consideration of the subject of women, peace and secur...
The Security Council's consideration of the subject of women, peace and security 11 years ago, which resulted in the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), was a landmark event in the recognition of importance of women's equal participation and full involvement in the maintenance of peace and security, including in conflict management, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding. The engagement of the Security Council on this issue built on the work done by the Economic and Social Council on gender equality and women's empowerment. I wish to believe that the Economic and Social Council was catalytic in that regard by virtue of its historic adoption of agreed conclusions on gender mainstreaming at its substantive session in 1997 and of the annual follow-up that it has carried out on the matter since then.
Those of us from the continent, which has suffered so many conflicts, know an...
Those of us from the continent, which has suffered so many conflicts, know and understand the terrible impact of war. We also know that women and girls suffer disproportionately — indirectly and directly — as victims of violent conflict. We also know that unless women are key players in rebuilding their societies, including by playing key roles in negotiating peace agreements, national reconciliation and in re-launching economic recovery, such efforts will not succeed. We also know that gender equality and the empowerment of women are crosscutting issues for all development policies and, indeed, should be a cornerstone for all policies, including for peacemaking and peacebuilding.
The Economic and Social Council devoted its 2010 annual ministerial review la...
The Economic and Social Council devoted its 2010 annual ministerial review last year to the internationally agreed development goals and commitments in regard to gender equality and the empowerment of women. The ministerial declaration adopted by the Council broke new ground in that, for the first time, an intergovernmental body highlighted a number of crosscutting issues where action was expected to positively enhance gender-related goals. These cross-cutting issues are also relevant with regard to the role of women in contributing to peacemaking and peacebuilding. I wish briefly to highlight some of these crosscutting issues, which are of particular relevance to this debate and call for a common approach by the United Nations system at the normative, programmatic and operational levels.
First, discriminatory attitudes and gender stereotypes, including in the educ...
First, discriminatory attitudes and gender stereotypes, including in the education sector, must be ended. This implies a strong advocacy role by the United Nations for women's human rights and the elaboration of media strategies and tools for outreach, in particular when these rights are violated or threatened to be violated. Secondly, all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls must be ended. The United Nations system is called upon to develop a more coherent response to this phenomenon, including through the Secretary-General's campaign on violence against women. Special attention should also be paid to the recognition that sexual violence can be both a cause and a consequence of HIV/AIDS, as shown in conflict settings where both are endemic.
Fifthly, promoting the full integration of women into the formal economy is a...
Fifthly, promoting the full integration of women into the formal economy is also particularly relevant in post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding contexts, where new opportunities should be offered to women as part of the dividends of peace and as a way to consolidate social peace. The development and security pillars of the Organization are strongly interconnected in this respect. Sixthly, ensuring that women and girls with disabilities are not subject to multiple and aggravated forms of discrimination. Women with war-related disabilities deserve particular attention and support. The coordinated involvement of humanitarian, development, health and protection actors should be promoted by our intergovernmental bodies in order to target this category of women and girls.
By highlighting these cross-cutting issues, I have tried to propose a method ...
By highlighting these cross-cutting issues, I have tried to propose a method for action through which the United Nations can act more coherently and our work can have increased impact. If we — the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and its Commission on the Status of Women, as well as the Peacebuilding Commission — act in concert and in an integrated way, we can help to ensure progress in the many areas highlighted by the indicators to track the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) highlighted in the Secretary-General's report (S/2011/598*) that is before us today.
As my predecessor suggested last year at the tenth-anniversary celebration of...
As my predecessor suggested last year at the tenth-anniversary celebration of the adoption of that important resolution, the Economic and Social Council could do its part by ensuring follow-up and monitoring of the indicators developed by its Statistical Commission on violence against women. Given its strong experience in reviewing the achievement of development objectives, particularly the Millennium Development Goals, the Council could engage in this task with real know-how and institutional backup from the United Nations system at large and by its subsidiary bodies.
The members of the Economic and Social Council also commit to providing the r...
The members of the Economic and Social Council also commit to providing the requisite guidance to the agencies, funds and programmes on implementing the actions required to implement resolution 1325 (2000), particularly those linked to the coordination of humanitarian action, the transition from relief to development and the promotion of the active role and participation of women in sustainable development