Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago recognizes the competence of the Council under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter in matters related to the maintenance of international peace and security and wishes to support the efforts made by the Council to integrate a gender perspective into that traditionally male-focused thematic area. It is our view that the seminal character of this resolution cannot be overemphasized, as it was the first to recognize the need for the involvement of both women and men in efforts to attain sustainable peace and security. The significance of the resolution is also observed because of its call for the integration of perspectives on the special needs of women and girls in relation to post-conflict reconstruction and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration initiatives.

Trinidad and Tobago also supports the important role of United Nations specialized agencies and bodies and the role they play in gender-mainstreaming initiatives and the promotion of women. In this regard, we are particularly encouraged by the establishment of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the empowerment of Women (UN Women), and we congratulate Michelle Bachelet on her appointment as Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Entity. Additionally, we have made annual contributions to the United Nations Children's Fund and, in the past, to the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

The vulnerability of women and girls in situations of armed conflict and, in our specific circumstances, armed violence, continue to engage our attention. Consequently, we have implemented and continue to implement measures to eliminate and mitigate the effects of armed violence, particularly against women and girls in our society. As such, and in light of the 15- year review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which, inter alia, calls for the elimination of violence against women, Trinidad and Tobago has developed a procedural manual on domestic violence to guide the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service in addressing this issue. We also offer gender training workshops to members of our armed forces.

In the spirit of advancing the dual agenda of the attainment of international peace and security and the empowerment of women, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago announced during the general debate of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly (20th plenary meeting) our intention to introduce in the First Committee at the present session a draft resolution on women, disarmament, nonproliferation and arms control. It is our view that this draft resolution complements Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) by focusing on the participation of women in processes geared towards the advancement of disarmament and international peace and security. The draft resolution seeks to emphasize the value of women as contributors to the achievement of international peace and security and encourages Member States to promote and support their involvement at the policymaking and other levels. The draft resolution has since been introduced in the First Committee as document A/C.1/65/L.39/Rev.1 and has already attracted support from Member States. Trinidad and Tobago welcomes further support for this initiative and looks forward to the adoption of the draft resolution by consensus.