Middle East (S/PV.7220)

On 18 July 2014, the Security Council convened to debate the issue of the Middle East, particularly the security situation in the Gaza strip. Prior

to the debate, Mr. Jeffrey Feltman, Under SG for Political Affairs, briefed the Council on the developments occurring in the region. Member

States who issued statements consisted of the Israel, Jordan, U.S., China, France, Australia, Lithuania, Chile, Chad, Russia, Luxembourg,

Argentina, RoK, and the President of the SC (Rwanda). Included in the discussion, was the Permanent Observer of the Observer State of

Palestine. Largely, statements focused on the international humanitarian law violations committed during this conflict.

The Under SG for Political Affairs and the PO of Palestine provided the Council data on the number of female victims during the conflict.

Beyond this, women were only mentioned in blanket statements regarding women and children as victims. Neither the Security Council, the

Under SG for Political Affairs, nor the PO of the Observer State of Palestine referenced any other women, peace and security concerns.

All bodies apart of the discussion missed many opportunities to speak on the protection and inclusion concerns of women. Examples of possible

references in include the prevention of SGBV, humanitarian provisions of gender specific services, and women’s promotion in humanitarian and

security processes.

The Security Council met to discussion the agenda item, The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Council heard

statements from the Secretary-General; the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations; Chairman of the Committee

on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; Israel; member states and numerous other countries spoke at the meeting.

Violence against civilians, including women is referenced and condemned numerous times by the majority of speakers present at the meeting.

The meeting fails to reference sex-disaggregated and does not incorporate a gender lens in relation to any discussion of humanitarian assistance;

the gender-specific needs of female refugees and IDPs; and finally there is no discussion of women’s participation political processes to resolve

the conflict.

The President of the Security Council issued S/PRST/2014/13 on the situation in the Middle East on 28 July 2014. In the statement, the Council

expresses strong support for the call by both international partners and the SG for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire in

Gaza. Furthermore, the Council calls on all engaged parties to respect the Egyptian initiative and to respect international humanitarian law. The

Council also stresses the need for immediate humanitarian provisions for the Palestinian civil population. In the statement, the President of the

Security Council also reaffirms the Council’s call for all parties involved to achieve a comprehensive peace in which Israel and Palestine live side

by side.

Women, peace and security concerns are not addressed in this presidential statement.

The Council misses opportunities to reference women’s promotion, protection, and empowerment concerns regarding peace-building,

civilian-targeted violence, and humanitarian assistance. In its call that all parties actively engage in efforts to achieve a ceasefire, the Council

should also request the involvement of women-led civil society groups. Only by including these groups, can the Council ensure that the ceasefire

agreement respects and promotes the concerns of both Israeli and Palestinian women. Regarding the Council’s request that international

humanitarian law be respected and civilian populations receive protection, the Council fails to address women’s protection concerns. No request

is made for the cessation of women and girl specific violence nor for the reporting of gender-specific violence. While it is commendable that the

Council called for the immediate provision of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population, the Council should reference women’s

protection and empowerment concerns regarding the delivery and access to humanitarian aid. Furthermore, the Council should request the

provision of a gendered analysis of the humanitarian assistance provided via sex-disaggregated data.

The February 2014 MAP recommendations calls on the Council to address women’s promotion and protection concerns regarding

peace-building efforts and the humanitarian conflict.[1] In this presidential statement, the Council does call for the general protection of civilian

populations, the engagement of all parties towards a ceasefire, and provision of humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civil populations.

However, S/PRST/20214/13 fails to incorporate women’s promotion, protection, or empowerment concerns in regards to the cessation of

civilian-targeted violence, peace-building efforts, and humanitarian assistance.

Similar to the S/PRST/2012/20, this presidential statement fails to address any women, peace and security concerns.

The Security Council met to discussion the agenda item, ​The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian

question. The Council heard statements from the Secretary-General; the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to

the United Nations; Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; Israel;

and member states.

There is only one reference, regarding the plight of pregnant women broadly given the humanitarian crisis.

Both women’s protection and participation concerns are devoid from the meeting. Explicit calls for women’s protection,

including against sexual and gender-based violence; as refugees and IDPs; a gender lens in the access and delivery of

humanitarian aid, as well as explicit calls for women’s participation in any political processes to resolve the conflict are

absent from the meeting.