General Women, Peace and Security

“I also want to commend the Secretary General for his tireless efforts to advance dialogue and cooperation, and his firm commitment to the core values and principles of the United Nations.

“We reiterate our total support for the African initiative of introducing to the current session a resolution aiming to eliminate female genital mutilations at the global level. We have the wish that it receives the adhesion of the entire international community.”

“Burkina Faso attaches particular importance to all the questions linked to the thriving of women and to this effect, has carefully handed efforts to improve the social and juridical status of Burkina Faso women.”

“Today, however, the sound most strongly resonating in this hall is the desperate scream of women and children in Syria. To them, we convey our solidarity."

"Efforts are underway by our government to protect and promote the rights of vulnerable groups (namely women, children and minorities) through social protection policies.”

“The UN Commission on Information and Accountability for Women's and Children's Health, co-chaired by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania, is the type of initiative that Canada would like to see more of in the future, and its recommendations need to be integrated into a post-2015 framework.”

“A testament to the success of this measure is that more girls are enrolling in primary and upper levels of education with an increasing high retention level. More women are also increasingly employed, recognized and given higher responsibilities in our public and private sectors.

“Additionally, reports of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women in 2012 and the Special Rapporteur on Torture, and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 2010 are being considered by the Government.”

“Such a rights-based approach is about placing people – men and women – at the center and in charge of their own development. And let me add – for a woman also the right to decide over her own body.”