General Women, Peace and Security

Our continued engagement in women and peace and security rests on our firm belief that the full realization of women’s rights is an indispensable basis for safeguarding basic human rights and achieving lasting peace and security.

Portugal values the fact that the Council continues to give its attention to the women and peace and security agenda, which is an essential tool for preventing conflict and for ensuring more effective responses to today’s complex crises.

Today’s open debate is all the more relevant as it places a sharp focus on concrete strategies and practical implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. Over the years, the African Union has developed strategies to answer the call by operationalizing, monitoring and evaluating reporting systems to better ensure the protection of civilians.

Slovakia considers prevention to be the cornerstone of United Nations efforts aimed at peacebuilding and sustaining peace. The women and peace and security agenda, together with the goals of inclusivity and gender equality, definitely fits into the Secretary-General’s broader prevention agenda.