General Women, Peace and Security

Overview

On Friday November 30th 2012, the Security Council held its annual Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). On account of the Hurricane Sandy affects in greater New York area, the debate was rescheduled from its original date on October 29th 2012. The debate addressed Secretary-General's annual report (S/2012/732) and the presidential statement (S/PRST/2012/23) adopted by the Council on 31st October 2012.

The Security Council held an Open Briefing on Women, Peace and Security on April 27, 2010 during which they considered a report on women, peace and security indicators (as requested in SCR 1889, OP17), and were briefed by Margot Wallström, the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence.

United Nations Headquarters, New York

Overview

On October 28 2011, the Security Council held its annual open debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

The seventh Open Debate, held under the presidency of Ghana, the Security Council reaffirmed “the importance of the equal role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, and stressed the need for their full and equal participation in peace processes at all levels.” The Council noted the “low number of women appointed as Special Representatives or Special Envoys of the Secretary-General to pea

In the second Presidential Statement, adopted in October of 2002, the Security Council welcomed the Secretary-General's report on women, peace and security and committed to study its recommendations. It also called on the Secretary-General to prepare a follow-up report on the full implementation of 1325 by October 2004.

The sixth Open Debate, held under the presidency of Japan, the Security Council recognized the vital roles of, and contributions by women in consolidating peace.

On October 24, 2000 the Security Council held an Open Debate on “Women, Peace and Security”, passing landmark Resolution 1325. An overwhelming number of speakers advocated for the urgent need to include women in all aspects of peacebuilding initiatives and all stages of peace processes.

The first Presidential Statement, adopted at the end of the 2001 Open Debate, reaffirmed the Security Council's commitment to increasing women's decision-making role on issues of peace and security, and called on Member States to include women in the negotiation and implementation of peace accords.

The Permanent Mission of China, which held the Security Council Presidency during the month of October, organized an open debate on Women, Peace and Security on 29 October 2008 in recognition of the 8th anniversary of the adoption of SCR 1325. All 15 members of the Security Council, 35 Non-Security Council Member States, 3 UN Entities and 1 Civil Society representatives made interventions.