Statement by Australia

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