General Women, Peace and Security

Women often bear a disproportionate burden in all stages of conflict. We know that they play a critical part in helping a country to draw back from recent conflict, ensure sustainable peace, and heal wounds in societies torn apart by war. In that role, they surely hold up more than half the sky. We must ensure that together we support the rights, protection and empowerment of women.

The Chinese have a powerful proverb that ‘women hold up half the sky'. Twelve years after this Council first made landmark commitments in Resolution 1325, we must all stand united behind efforts to confront those who seek to exclude, harm or marginalise half their populations.

Nationally we have recruited a specialist team of experts available to work in support of the United Nations and civil society to investigate allegations of sexual violence, gather evidence and help countries build their own capacity to do so. The United Kingdom has also contributed $1.5 million to the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict to support her team's work.

Since the adoption of the landmark resolution 1325 (2000), thanks to the efforts of the international community, including non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, progress has been made across a broad range of issues concerning the protection and promotion of women's and girl's rights in conflict-affected situations. However, as today's debate has shown, many obstacles remain.

I wish to conclude by underlining my country's commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the four subsequent resolutions on women and peace and security, namely, resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), and1960 (2010).

We are compelled to acknowledge that, despite the progress achieved, much remains to be done to achieve all the goals set out in resolution 1325 (2000). It is critical that the Council remain seized of the issue and take further dynamic steps to enhance the protection of women in armed conflict.

Tunisia's interest in the issue is based on its renewed commitment to promoting the rights of women and on its conviction that peace, development and democracy will not be achieved without women acting as active partners in the processes of preventing, mediating and resolving conflict.

In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that my country remains at the disposal of the United Nations for any undertaking geared towards the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and of other international instruments aimed at strengthening women's full and broad participation in the decision-making process and in establishing a culture of respect for women's rights.

Trinidad and Tobago is fully committed to the achievement of the goal of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Notwithstanding the importance of the implementation of the provisions of important legal instruments and agreements on peace and security, Trinidad and Tobago is also of the view that the prosecution of those accused of committing crimes against women and girls during armed conflict is a critical factor in achieving lasting peace.