S/PV.8989Resumption1 Security Council

The President: I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than four minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Flashing lights on the collar of the microphone will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after four minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Germany.

Mr. Geisler (Germany): I would like to thank the United Arab Emirates for hosting this debate marking International Women’s Day. I also thank the Executive Director of UN-Women, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and civil society briefer Ms. Coulibaly for their important contributions. International Women’s Day should not be about flowers; nor should it be about politicians giving lectures to women in front of television cameras. It should be about fighting for women’s rights, this year more than ever. We are united in solidarity with the women living through war and conflict, and we remember the struggles that women and girls still face around the world. Today, we stand with Ukraine and with its people, who have been exposed to an unprovoked heinous and brutal attack. Suddenly, they find themselves in a war of aggression. Civilians are suffering from indiscriminate shelling. They are running out of food, water and medicine. Millions are fleeing Russia’s onslaught, and women are suffering disproportionately. Last week, 141 States Members of the United Nations condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine. It gives me hope to see so many Member States standing up for the Charter of the United Nations, peace, justice and respect for the international rules-based order. Germany will continue its support for Ukraine and its people. Russia must stop the war and withdraw its troops from Ukraine immediately. Let us remember all other fights for women’s and girls’ rights around the world. We pay tribute to those who bravely protest for peace in Russia. We commend them for their tireless and courageous efforts. Furthermore, we continue to be particularly concerned about the exclusion of women and girls from public life in Afghanistan. They are suffering restrictions in their access to education, employment and health services, as well as their freedom of movement. In many other countries and conflict situations, women and girls continue to struggle and need our strong support. For more than 20 years, the women and peace and security agenda has required the international community to comprehensively implement and ensure women’s rights, participation in all sectors and at all levels, protection, involvement and leadership in conflict prevention and essential contribution to relief and recovery after conflicts. Germany is fully committed to the implementation of all pillars of the women and peace and security agenda. As part of our feminist foreign policy, we will also step up our efforts, in partnership with civil society, to mainstream the agenda and women’s rights across all of our activities. Let us join ranks and hope that next year will give us more reasons to rejoice and less to worry.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Turkey.

Mrs. Inanç Örnekol (Turkey): We thank the United Arab Emirates for organizing this important debate. We also thank the Executive Director of UN-Women and the briefers for sharing their insights. As we mark International Women’s Day, let me first express our full solidarity with all women and girls living in conflict situations and other emergencies. We know that women and girls are particularly impacted by crises. We stand in solidarity with women and girls in Ukraine, who are showing resilience and courage in the face of an unjustified, illegal and illegitimate act of aggression by Russia. Recent events in Ukraine, as well as in Afghanistan and many other places around the world, highlight the critical importance of the women and peace and security agenda. We must ensure that all women and girls in all conflicts and crises are party to resolution efforts, have their basic needs met and recourse to justice where their rights are violated, and continue to have access to essential services. Delivering life-saving and empowering outcomes for peace and security is a collective endeavour. It calls for the concerted efforts of Governments, international and regional organizations, civil society, women’s rights organizations and women peacebuilders. Likewise, the effective implementation of the agenda requires focus on all four of its pillars: participation, prevention, protection and relief and recovery, with a holistic and balanced approach. In this regard, we find the theme of today’s debate to be quite relevant and timely. Economic empowerment is a vital compound of women’s full and effective participation, as well as an enabler to strengthen the overall resilience of society. However, discrimination against women in controlling and accessing economic resources, compounded by the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work, undermines the economic resiliency of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict settings. Acknowledging this challenge, the women and peace and security architecture, with its four pillars, was designed to comprise the promotion of economic inclusion and the empowerment of women and girls. However, 22 years after the adoption of the landmark resolution 1325 (2001), we see that the agenda’s effective implementation continues to face challenges. In order to bridge this gap between commitments and action, we not only need to do more, but also to do things differently. This involves focusing on the root causes of gender inequalities and fragility and considering links between those challenges. We should also recognize women as agents of change, rather than as passive beneficiaries of aid. We must support women peacebuilders, human rights defenders and civil society representatives so that they can fully and meaningfully engage and take part in all aspects of public and political life. Only then can we achieve truly inclusive societies that allow for progress in maintaining peace and security, upholding human rights and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. Advancing women’s inclusion in paid work holds enormous potential for increased productivity, innovation and economic growth. Simply increasing the number of women in paid work could significantly boost countries’ gross domestic product. Violence against women, on the other hand, costs the global economy more than $12 trillion annually, owing to productivity losses from a lack of women’s well-being. On these important fronts, as well as advancing financial inclusion and changing norms in their respective societies, the private sector has a critical role to play. We are pleased to see that, working in partnership with Governments, United Nations agencies and civil society, a growing number of private firms are investing in women’s empowerment. In Turkey, in collaboration with the private sector and the international financial institutions, we have initiated and successfully implemented various projects aimed at women’s economic empowerment and increased participation on corporate boards. Turkey supports the empowerment and well-being of women and girls in various emergency, conflict or post-conflict situations through its comprehensive development assistance programmes. The projects we carry out in Afghanistan and Somalia, especially in the fields of education and health services, are concrete examples of our efforts to this end. Moreover, Turkey has been a safe refuge for close to 4 million Syrians, including women and girls, who had to flee Syria for their lives. We will continue to make every effort to support those women and girls and ensure their social and economic well-being. We sincerely hope that our efforts will enable Syrian women to participate in the rebuilding of post-conflict Syria in the future. Let me conclude by reiterating my country’s commitment and readiness to contribute to the international efforts to take the women and peace and security agenda forward.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Mr. Akram (Pakistan): I wish everyone a happy International Women’s Day. I would like to thank the United Arab Emirates presidency for giving my delegation the opportunity to speak during this debate. In Pakistan, women have played and continue to play an important role in every walk of life. Pakistani women have served as Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition, cabinet ministers, judges, army officers and fighter pilots. Twenty per cent of our diplomats are women and that percentage is increasing. Pakistan has deployed 450 women peacekeepers and their ratio in our contingents is also growing. The women and peace and security agenda remains an important endeavour to promote a comprehensive approach to building peace and security. All four pillars of prevention, participation, protection, and relief and recovery must be built for sustained success in realizing the success of the women and peace and security agenda and the objectives of resolution 1325 (2001). We agree with the need to prioritize key enablers. First, women should be part of all conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding efforts. Secondly, during post-conflict reconstruction, women’s participation should be ensured in all relief and recovery programmes and activities with a view to ensuring their economic empowerment and inclusion. Thirdly, international partners, including international financial institutions and the private sector, should promote sustained gender-responsive, community- driven approaches for women’s economic inclusion and participation. Fourthly, countries affected by conflicts require technical support within a culturally sensitive framework in shaping their judicial, legislative and administrative sectors for the empowerment of women. At the same time, all such efforts should be promoted with full respect for State sovereignty and national ownership of policies and programmes. While the Security Council promotes the holistic approach set out in the women and peace and security agenda and the Secretary-General’s report (S/2021/827), it is imperative to address the immediate challenges in numerous situations of conflict where women and girls are endangered and their fundamental rights violated. These challenges should be addressed in a holistic, effective and non-discriminatory manner. There have been references in this Chamber to the plight of women and girls affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Security Council is also preoccupied with the protection of the rights of women and girls in post-conflict Afghanistan. Less visible in the Council’s debates is the ongoing violence against women and girls in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where there is documented evidence of rape and sexual violence being used as a weapon of war against thousands of women and girls. Their plight should not continue to be ignored. We must overcome double standards in all United Nations processes, including in the Security Council.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Ms. Ershadi (Islamic Republic of Iran): I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this open debate. I also thank the briefers for their briefings. Today, the world is ravaged by miscellaneous humanitarian crises, including but not limited to armed conflicts, climate change and, recently, the coronavirus disease pandemic. At the same time, women play an undeniable role in dealing with such challenges, particularly those related to promoting dialogue and confidence in the peace and security process. It is a well-known fact that encouraging women to engage in the peace process increases the possibility of peace. As a result, their participation and inclusion in the peace process increase the efficiency of humanitarian assistance, improve civilian protection, contribute to the political resolution of disputes and the maintenance of long-term peace, and accelerate economic recovery. Numerous United Nations resolutions have highlighted the importance of women’s empowerment in armed-conflict prevention, resolution and post- conflict situations, as well as their greater efforts to maintain international peace and security. Given their important role, women’s political, social and economic empowerment is critical, as it enhances their resistance in times of crisis and encourages their participation in peace and reconciliation processes, as well as post- conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation initiatives. Promoting women’s rights, dignity and empowerment is among the prerequisites for the development of all societies. With that in mind, the Islamic Republic of Iran, since its establishment, has always considered the promotion of the cultural, social, economic and political status of women and girls as a key element in its policymaking, legislation and national planning. Despite the United States’ illegal and inhumane sanctions, which have negatively affected the financing and execution of the programmes planned by the Government, civil society and private sectors aimed at women’s advancement and empowerment, Iran has remarkable achievements in this area. In our fragile region, we continue to observe the devastation created by armed conflicts, violent extremism and foreign occupation and aggressions, as well as terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians, including women and girls. Palestinian women and girls continue to suffer as a result of the decades-long occupation and human rights violations, as well as the Israeli regime’s colonial and apartheid policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, all of which violate the basic rules of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. In Afghanistan, the current situation has severely affected Afghan women’s rights, including their political and socioeconomic rights, such as the right to education, work and political participation. Afghan women’s rights must be respected. The Taliban should heed the international community’s call to protect human rights, particularly women’s rights. Finally, we restate our principled position that issues concerning women and girls are the responsibility of the General Assembly. The Security Council should address that issue only if it is directly related to the maintenance of international peace and security.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Sweden.

Ms. Eneström (Sweden): I deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries. I would like to start by thanking you, Mr. President, for organizing today’s important meeting on women and peace and security. We also welcome the statements by the briefers. On International Women’s Day, I would like to emphasize our country’s full solidarity with Ukraine and its people, including women and girls. The unprovoked Russian military aggression towards a sovereign State Member of the United Nations is an appalling violation of international law and United Nations principles and must be stopped immediately. We condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms and fully support the accountability preparations that have been initiated at the Human Rights Council. The disproportionate consequences of war on women and girls are well documented, and conflict-related sexual violence is a horrifying part of it. We are extremely concerned about reports of sexual and gender-based violence and call for accountability and the prevention of further incidents. We are also concerned about the fact that large-scale displacement is seriously curtailing the access of women and girls to basic services, which could infringe on their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We commend Ukrainian women for their courage and resilience in their role in the political, military and humanitarian response. Women’s and other civil society organizations are playing a critical role. We, the international community, must ensure that the women and peace and security agenda is at the heart of our response. We urge the Security Council to stay focused on women and peace and security across its agenda, including the deeply concerning situation of women and girls and the protection of their human rights in Afghanistan. The women and peace and security agenda rests on the pillars of prevention, participation, protection, relief and recovery, which are all crucial and interlinked and must be implemented in an integrated manner. The agenda is based on, and cannot be achieved without, ensuring that all women and girls fully enjoy their human rights, which includes civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights. That is why we are committed to the human rights-based approach to the women and peace and security agenda, including women’s economic empowerment. Women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace and political processes is not possible if the effects on women’s economic realities are ignored. Their safety and protection, including from sexual and gender-based violence, are not possible without removing discriminatory legislation and other barriers to women’s economic empowerment. The role women can play in any part of the conflict cycle is also shaped by their disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic and care work and limited access to social protection. Women’s economic conditions have deteriorated as a result of the pandemic. When building back better and greener, we must ensure targeted measures for women’s rights and gender equality in all public policies and budgeting. We must promote transformative measures that address the power structures that sustain and reproduce women’s exclusion and gender inequality. We agree that multi-stakeholder partnerships are critical. We must engage all levels of actors, including within the private sector, in order to holistically and efficiently address implementation gaps in the women and peace and security agenda. The Generation Equality initiative, with its multi-stakeholder approach, provides a positive example. We are pleased to note that the Compact on Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action has several catalytic and board members among the Nordic and Baltic countries. Let me end by reiterating that we all need to step up our efforts to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by women and girls. We must step up support to women human rights defenders and women’s and other civil society organizations at the grass-roots level. When unjust obstacles are removed, women will empower themselves. It is imperative that the Security Council maintain an active discussion on the women and peace and security agenda and all its pillars and that we keep building on the efforts of the trio presidency and subsequent presidencies to place the women and peace and security agenda at the heart of the Council’s work.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Ecuador.

Mr. Montalvo Sosa (Ecuador) (spoke in Spanish): In the light of the Security Council’s programme of work for this month, we welcome the fact that your country, Mr. President, has sought to raise the profile of issues with increasing convening power among members, such as the subject of today’s meeting, which is particularly symbolic in the quest for gender equality and will be discussed tomorrow in Arria Formula format. It also keeps the doors of the Council open. We welcome the presence of representatives of the majority of countries at today’s meeting and their participation in the work of the Security Council. The United Arab Emirates is building on efforts initiated in October 2021, under Kenya’s leadership, when we reverted to the open debate format to address the need to invest in women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding (see S/PV.8886). Those efforts were complemented by the debate convened by Norway in January (see S/PV.8949), during which we discussed the protection of women in peace and security processes. For that reason, I would again like to highlight, first, the key role played by non-permanent members in efforts to move the needle towards methods of inclusive work and, secondly, the need for the women and peace and security agenda to become a standing item on the Council’s agenda, beyond a mere review of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). I underscore the importance of promoting the meaningful participation of women in peace and security. We must therefore continue creating and preserving stable environments. For example, we must continue to build the capacity of peacekeeping missions to protect the women who work in them by strengthening zero-tolerance for impunity, as well as efforts to prevent intimidation and violence. Resolutions 2493 (2019) and 2538 (2020) are key tools in the work conducted under the women and peace and security agenda, although increasing synergies within the United Nations system, in particular among its main organs, is essential. In that regard, it is important to note that the Secretary-General’s report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) is based on a clear link between efficacy and the equal participation of women in peacebuilding activities. That link is also comprehensively addressed in the report entitled “Women and peace and security”, of 27 September 2021, which, as Council members know, is contained in document S/2021/827. In the Ecuador-Colombia border area, we have implemented programmes with the United Nations to build capacity for women and girls, with support from the Peacebuilding Fund. Such funding has proved to be very important but insufficient in the light of existing challenges, in particular with regard to focusing on a preventive approach. To that end, we call for the replenishment of such funding and for promoting and strengthening public-private partnerships. Ecuador hopes to be elected to the Security Council in June for the period 2023-2024 and is particularly interested in developing the women and peace and security agenda. We will seek to contribute with our input and joint efforts with all those countries that are not members of the Security Council but share that objective. I conclude with my country’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the urgent restoration of peace as the only way to pay tribute to all the women and girls who are victims of the armed aggression against Ukraine.

The President: I give the floor to the representative of Guatemala.

Ms. Estrada Girón (Guatemala) (spoke in Spanish): My delegation thanks Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates, as well as Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative, and the team of the United Arab Emirates Mission for having convened this open debate. Likewise, we extend our appreciation to the speakers. Mitigation and recovery constitute the fourth pillar of the women and peace and security agenda and relate to post-conflict peacebuilding. That pillar focuses on incorporating the active participation of women into post-conflict resettlement, reintegration and governance. It also calls for the specific needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations to be addressed and for their active participation in mitigation and recovery efforts to be supported. As the concept note (S/2022/175) clearly indicates, compared with the other three pillars of the agenda, the fourth pillar has received less attention from the international community. The fragility and instability that often characterize post-conflict environments negatively affect the poorest and most vulnerable groups in society, including women and girls. As a result of the unrest and upheaval caused by the conflict, women are frequently affected by displacement, limited access to public services, livelihood insecurity and domestic violence. As those inequalities increase, social relationships become strained and community support mechanisms are weakened. They suffer disproportionately in post- conflict situations, making them more vulnerable to violence and exploitation. When a conflict ends, women remain at higher risk of sexual violence, exploitation and human trafficking, especially if they have been forced to migrate owing to the conflict, which for the vast majority means dealing with lack of access to adequate accommodation, education and health-care facilities. Therefore, adopting a gender perspective that incorporates the specific needs of women and girls at all stages of post-conflict reconstruction efforts is critical to reweaving the social fabric of fractured societies. Socioeconomic development and poverty reduction go hand in hand with higher levels of participation and empowerment of women. We therefore agree that alliances are a key element of efforts to maintain international peace and security. Almost 22 years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), States still have a long way to go to comply with the provisions of this and subsequent resolutions on the global agenda of women and peace and security. On the one hand, the consequences of the coronavirus disease pandemic are creating additional burdens for women and girls in post-conflict situations. Internally displaced, migrant and refugee women are the most affected. In addition, conflicts around the world continue to undermine the scarce efforts that have been made to ensure that women have significant spaces in our societies. The unprovoked, unjustified and disproportionate conflict that Ukraine is experiencing on the part of the Russian Federation is a clear example. The civilian population is being affected, and their rights are being violated. In short, to advance the women and peace and security agenda, what is needed is a comprehensive vision of not only the problems but also the opportunities. The inclusion and economic participation of women is crucial for the development of countries and therefore also for global peace and stability. The benefits of investing in the economic inclusion of women must be optimized with public policies that provide them with options for child care and that improve access to education and public services such as water, electricity and transportation, among others, so that they can free themselves from those tasks and dedicate themselves to economic activities, whose benefits are far-reaching. Likewise, States must continue to apply in a transparent manner the commitments emanating from the Beijing Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the various conventions on gender equality of the International Labour Organization. On this 8 March, International Women’s Day, Guatemala expresses its wish to continue investing in the economic empowerment of women, as that contributes directly to gender equality, the eradication of poverty, inclusive economic growth, sustainable development and, therefore, to the peace and stability of our societies.

The President: I give the floor to the representative of Chile.

Ms. González Carrillo (Chile) (spoke in Spanish): We thank the United Arab Emirates for having convened this important debate. We also thank the speakers for their presentations and the testimonials provided. As we have pointed out on different occasions, the women and peace and security agenda is one of the priority axes of Chile’s multilateral foreign policy. Through various means, we have strengthened our commitment to the implementation and promotion of resolution 1325 (2000). Indeed, our intersectoral table includes three ministries and other institutions. Chile’s strong commitment to the women and peace and security agenda has made us leaders in the region, with the launch of the first national action plan in 2009, updated in 2015 by the second plan, which incorporates measurable and updatable objectives in a fresh context. We believe that it is important to acknowledge the work done by civil society in that area and to focus on the establishment of follow-up mechanisms that enhance and expand the implementation of the agenda. We now have an opportunity to prepare a third document of the same methodological rigour but that incorporates a holistic and intersectoral perspective that will allow us to strengthen our response to emerging challenges such as the current health crisis, the natural disasters to which Chile is so prone, social conflicts and the greater prevalence of gender violence in all those scenarios. In that respect, it should be noted that Chilean foreign policy has defined as standing objectives the maintenance and promotion of lasting peace, in addition to a commitment to actively contributing to the efforts to bring about peace that are promoted by the United Nations. Investing in women to promote peacekeeping and peacebuilding should not focus only on investing in the development of women’s mediation and negotiation skills, the promotion of gender-sensitive policies and programmes and knowledge of international human rights guarantees, but also on ensuring their economic empowerment and autonomy so as to make them into resilient actors in the face of conflicts. The economic empowerment of women is an important factor that must be considered in long-term peacebuilding strategies, not only to contribute to the sustainability of their communities but also because the participation of women in the economy in fragile and conflict-affected countries also makes them less likely to be the victims of the various forms of violence stemming from economic vulnerabilities. Likewise, the participation of women in local economies contributes to reversing the structural causes of conflicts such as poverty, including the feminization of poverty. It is not possible, however, to think about empowering women in the framework of the economy and in decision-making processes in the context of conflicts if the protection of their rights and security is not first guaranteed. For the same reason, it is relevant to promote a peacebuilding approach from the territories according to which we see peace not as an absence of conflict but as the creation of the basic conditions that allow our societies to prosper under a democratic and inclusive rule of law that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflicts at all levels. That is where the role of women, in all aspects of public life, is vital.

The President: I give the floor to the representative of the Czech Republic.

Mr. Kulhánek (Czech Republic): The Czech Republic aligns itself with the statements made on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security. I wish to add a few words on behalf of the Czech Republic. As we are meeting in this Chamber today, on International Women’s Day, Ukrainian women and girls are being killed in an aggressive and senseless war. Women and girls are being disproportionately affected and are facing a higher risk of sexual and gender-based violence. We are horrified by reports of rape of Ukrainian women by Russian soldiers in occupied towns. The Czech Republic is gravely concerned at the impact of Russia’s aggression on the civilian population in Ukraine. Civilians, including women, children and elderly people, are being killed in their hometowns. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 2 million refugees, most of them women and children, have fled Ukraine, uprooted by Russia’s unlawful, unprovoked and unjustified use of force, and the numbers of refugees are rising rapidly. Let me be absolutely clear: all the suffering and misery could easily end if Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, decided to stop its aggression against Ukraine and pull back its troops. We call on the Security Council to act immediately and stop the war. Russia’s blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law must stop now. In a historic Uniting for Peace action at the General Assembly last week, a total of 141 States Members of the United Nations voted in favour of a resolution that demands that Russia immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine (resolution ES-11/1). The collective wish of the international community for the end of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine must not be ignored. The perpetrators of all crimes related to this conflict must be held accountable, including making full use of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Let me take this opportunity to praise all those brave Ukrainian women who have taken up arms to defend their homes and loved ones. We also admire the courage of female journalists and media workers striving to ensure access to reliable information amid Russia’s indiscriminate shelling and massive disinformation campaign. Moreover, we also praise women activists and civil society organizations for providing urgently needed humanitarian assistance for millions affected by war and the forced displacement caused by Russia´s aggression. The Czech Republic strongly supports all four interlinked and mutually reinforcing pillars of the women and peace and security agenda. We believe that sustainable conflict-prevention and peacebuilding measures must be human-rights-based and address the root causes of conflict. This includes addressing gender inequalities, which have been identified as a highly reliable predictor of conflict. While we agree that the economic empowerment of women has proved effective in our efforts to achieve gender equality, such initiatives cannot be separated from the advancement of the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls at all levels and in all sectors of our societies. It applies both in times of war and in times of peace. Partnerships between Governments, international and regional organizations, civil society and the private sector are indispensable for the effective implementation of all four pillars of the women and peace and security agenda. Finally, let me thank the United Arab Emirates for convening today’s meeting.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Liechtenstein.

Ms. Oehri (Liechtenstein): I thank the delegation of the United Arab Emirates for convening this important debate on the occasion of International Women’s Day, gravely overshadowed by the aggression against Ukraine and the terrible reports reaching us regularly from the ground. Armed conflict puts a particular burden on women and girls and is a setback in the achievement of gender equality. The war in Ukraine is no exception. Ukrainian women and girls suffer violence and trauma, discrimination, marginalization and exclusion in various ways. But their resilience is inspiring: they continue to be leaders in the civilian, political, military and humanitarian responses to the aggression and stand up with courage and conviction for peace and the sovereignty of their country. Through the women and peace and security agenda, the international community has recognized the diverse and crucial roles women play as agents of change — in preventing and resolving conflict, countering terrorism and violent extremism, building post-conflict peace and stability, and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. We have seen this all over the world, be it in Afghanistan, Belarus or Myanmar. We stand in support of women and girls around the globe in their roles as politicians, lawyers, mediators, civil society leaders, peaceful protestors, human rights defenders, journalists and media workers. For them to succeed, we need to invest more in enabling environments that are free of discrimination and stigmatization. Ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all stages of decision-making remains as important for gender equality as is investing in areas where they are notoriously discriminated against or neglected. The limited access of women to resources and the exclusion of women in financial and economic areas that we are addressing today is both cause and consequence of gender inequity. Women form a disproportionately large share of the world’s unbanked population. Inequalities in employment and earnings limit them in opening accounts in formal financial institutions. In conflict-affected settings, women’s economic empowerment is even more restricted, and marginalized women, who are the majority of victims and survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking, face further exclusion. Our response in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can be strengthened by leveraging the role played by the financial sector in ending these crimes. This is why we responded directly to calls from the Security Council to partner with the private sector in tackling modern slavery and human trafficking and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Together with other Governments, the private sector and United Nations University, we have created a public-private partnership called the Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST) initiative. FAST aims at engaging the financial sector to tackle trafficking and slavery, including doing more to enhance the financial inclusion of women and girls to prevent vulnerability in the first place. We invite all States, the United Nations system, international financial institutions and financial actors to join our efforts. Together we must protect and empower all women and girls, which is a necessary precondition for a more peaceful, just, inclusive and sustainable world.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer.

Mr. Gonzato (European Union): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania, the country of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. This International Women’s Day is not a time for celebration. As the war in Ukraine rages on, and Ukrainians — including many women — fight bravely for their country, we must take this opportunity to reaffirm our full support for Ukraine and its people. We are particularly concerned at reports of alleged sexual violence and of attacks by Russia on civilian facilities, including hospitals, with the risk of depriving Ukrainians of access to essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health-care services. As underlined by the General Assembly last week (resolution ES-11/1), Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and of international law. We reiterate our demand that Russia immediately cease its military actions and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine. Today, we also speak to the women of Russia. Women around the world are building movements for peace, and in many Russian cities we have seen women leading peace protests at the risk of their own freedom. We stand with them, support them and thank them for their mobilization in a difficult and dangerous context. Since August 2021, the rights of women and girls have experienced a sharp setback in Afghanistan. We welcome the recent launch of the One United Nations transitional engagement framework, which envisages, among other things, immediate funding to sustain social services. On 10 March, the EU will host a forum for Afghan women leaders in Brussels, which will be followed by continued structured dialogues to ensure that Afghan women are included in efforts towards political dialogue, diplomacy and the future of Afghanistan. Those recent developments — and many other situations around the world — underpin the importance of placing the women and peace and security agenda at the centre of all efforts. There should be no cherry- picking in the implementation of the agenda. It is a peace and security matter and the agenda’s four pillars must be addressed together and comprehensively. In that regard, we welcome the decision of several Council members to mainstream women and peace and security in all discussions. We know that the inequalities perpetuated and reinforced by the exclusion of women and girls from decision-making are drivers of conflict and can lead, among other things, to an increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence. We also know that promoting the economic empowerment of all women and girls is a way to strengthen overall societal resilience, which in turn is critical to conflict prevention and long-term peacebuilding. That is why the promotion of women’s economic rights and economic justice is at the centre of the EU’s efforts for gender equality. Ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of all women and girls in all sectors — including, but also beyond the economy — is a key priority for the EU. We highlight the importance of building and respecting partnerships with civil society organizations, including grass-roots movements and women human rights defenders, in that respect. We welcome the important commitments made during the Generation Equality Forum, in partnership with civil society, and call on its participants to ensure the full implementation of the Forum’s five-year action journey. It is unacceptable that women civil society leaders, peacebuilders and human rights defenders, as well as women journalists and media workers, continue to face gender-specific threats, challenges and reprisals, including for simply engaging with the Council. It is high time that the Security Council set up an effective mechanism for the protection of its civil society briefers. Let me conclude by thanking the United Arab Emirates for organizing this debate and reiterating the EU’s full commitment to the implementation of all pillars of the women and peace and security agenda.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of the Dominican Republic.

Mrs. Cedano (Dominican Republic) (spoke in Spanish): We greatly appreciate the convening of this open debate. The economic empowerment of women is crucial to achieving peace. There can be no peace, security or prosperity without conditions conducive to women’s full development in all their capacities. While not exclusive, the constraints faced by women in fragile and conflict-affected countries are often more severe and pervasive. From restrictive and discriminatory laws, a lack of legal protection and a lack of recognition, tax relief and redistribution when it comes to unpaid domestic care to adverse social norms and a lack of access to financial, digital and property assets, women’s economic opportunities in such contexts are constrained on multiple fronts, including due to the absence of mechanisms to claim their rights through legal or informal channels. It is therefore necessary to work from peace agreements themselves to ensure that they are fair for women and include an economic axis, all on the basis of a human rights framework. When women have control of financial accounts, generating income and enjoying economic security, they can increase their savings, invest more quickly in the welfare and education of children, improve food security and rebuild rural economies, thereby contributing greatly to long- term stability. Beyond that, however, women’s empowerment and economic inclusion must be anchored in rights. The root causes of gender inequality must also be addressed and tackled with a preventive approach. Therefore, as stipulated in the women and peace and security agenda’s normative framework, the full, meaningful and equitable participation of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding must be ensured, seeking to involve them more in political and economic decisions at all stages of recovery processes while encouraging their leadership, supporting their organizations and combating negative societal attitudes about women’s ability to participate as equals. We believe that the design, implementation and monitoring of economic recovery programmes and macroeconomic policies should be conducted from a gender perspective, including with an evaluation of the effects of such programmes on women’s economic security and rebuilding vital services for women. That must be undertaken with a vision of the future as regards the transformative role that women can play in the economy. Advancing women’s financial inclusion in fragile and conflict-affected States is an agenda that concerns not only Governments but the private sector, major multilateral agencies and civil society. Finally, women and girls affected by the war in Ukraine now join the millions suffering due to the unrelenting human cost of armed conflict in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and many other places. They are disproportionately affected by the painful conflict, and we therefore reiterate our call on the Russian Federation to uphold a ceasefire and, guided solely by its commitments under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to facilitate humanitarian assistance for all affected civilian populations.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Portugal.

Mr. Duarte Lopes (Portugal): We align ourselves with the statements delivered by the observer of the European Union and by the representative of Canada on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security (see S/PV.8989), as well as with the written advice submitted by the Peacebuilding Commission. Portugal welcomes this timely debate as we celebrate International Women’s Day. On this occasion, we reiterate our full commitment to respect for and the protection and fulfilment of all women and girls’ human rights, as well as women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace negotiations, peacebuilding and peacekeeping. Discriminatory laws and practices continue to be imposed on women and girls in many parts of the world. There is a clear need to fight impunity, to avoid reprisals and to promote prevention and accountability. Our thoughts today are with all women and girls victims of the unprovoked armed aggression in Ukraine, as well as with all women and girl victims of violence and discrimination anywhere in the world — in Yemen, in Afghanistan, in Myanmar and in many other crisis situations. Portugal is implementing its national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000). Gender equality is particularly relevant to the coherence of development policies. Portugal has therefore reinforced gender mainstreaming bilaterally and multilaterally in its partnerships for the full realization of women’s human rights. Women’s economic empowerment is key to realizing women’s rights and gender equality. It gives women more autonomy and more freedom. It boosts productivity and it increases economic diversification and income equality. Ensuring the right of women and girls to education without discrimination is a fundamental precondition for their economic empowerment. Also, women who are economically empowered are more likely to be able to contribute to building peace. Finally, on this International Women’s Day, we should all heed the Secretary-General’s call and the relentless work of the entire United Nations system to put an end to violence against women in all its forms.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Peru.

Mr. Ugarelli (Peru) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, I wish to thank the Emirati presidency of the Security Council, and Her Excellency Ms. Mariam Almheiri, Minister for Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates in particular, as well as today’s briefers, for taking the initiative to convene this debate on the theme of women’s economic inclusion and participation as a key to building peace, which coincides with International Women’s Day. Before I turn to the issue before us at this meeting, my delegation wishes to reiterate its deep concern about what is happening in Ukraine, as well as the humanitarian situation directly affecting women and children and causing their daily suffering. We once again call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the resumption of diplomatic dialogue, in accordance with the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes, and immediate attention to the situation of the hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons, in accordance with the obligation of all States to respect measures under international humanitarian law. Returning to the issue at hand, we believe that it is essential to include women and gender approaches in processes aimed at building tolerant, diverse, cohesive and peaceful societies. To that end, efforts must be redoubled to achieve an effective, full, equal and meaningful participation of women in those processes, taking the dual dimension of women into account: on the one hand, as active agents of peace and, on the other, as beneficiaries of peace. Such empowerment is currently a challenge for the economy and post-conflict areas in transition to development given the ongoing inequalities between men and women. That requires the coordinated work of local governments, the private sector, academia and civil society in order to achieve women’s involvement in the processes of economic recovery and access to resources. Women must be involved in the transformation of their communities and societies and in the markets and economic activities that begin to be generated in the post-conflict phase. They must also participate in the processes and spaces aimed at attaining their labour and productive inclusion, with the support of public-private partnerships and by seeking their active participation in legislation and policy development. The work with public-private partnerships should be geared towards companies promoting the inclusion and economic empowerment of women in their value chain, while encouraging investments in economic activities with greater viability in their communities. Those productive enterprises and strategies must ensure that women have the economic resources to enable them to drive productive projects under their leadership and the implementation of inclusive business models, in which they have access to ownership and financing modalities for those projects. We must be clear and transparent. In order to achieve a new and genuine social contract, women’s active and equal participation in the leadership of such transition processes must be achieved. Their economic inclusion and involvement in decision-making are conducive to building trust in their communities and promoting partnerships with the public and private sectors. Finally, I would also like to highlight the key role of the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Commission in contributing to the economic empowerment of women in transition processes. To achieve that goal, it is crucial to promote partnerships with international financial institutions and relevant regional and subregional organizations, as well as to carry out coordinated work with the public and private sectors and civil society, in order to achieve social cohesion, which entails equal access to opportunities for all, without discrimination or exclusion of women.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa.

Ms. Joyini (South Africa): Allow me to begin by congratulating the United Arab Emirates on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of March. We also thank the Russian Federation for its presidency in February. We take this opportunity to welcome Her Excellency Ms. Mariam Almheiri, Minister for Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates, to the Council. We also thank the briefers for their inputs. In the context of today’s theme and in response to the questions guiding our discussion, allow me to make the following points. In South Africa, March is celebrated as human rights month, a time that we use to amplify that women’s rights are human rights. Today’s discussion is timely as we take stock of women and peace and security as a transformative agenda, with a focus on the importance of investing in women’s participation in all sectors of our society. In our view, such participation should be considered more holistically, as women play a dynamic and essential role in economic activities. At its Assembly of Heads of State and Government convened in February 2020, the African Union (AU) declared the decade 2020-2030 the Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion of African Women, which South Africa fully supports. During our membership of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, we will also advocate for women’s economic inclusion in post- conflict and peacebuilding processes, including at the level of legislative policy frameworks and institutions. It is in that context that South Africa supports partnerships between the United Nations and the AU in promoting the empowerment of women, as well as the women and peace and security agenda in its entirety. South Africa reiterates that the Security Council, through its missions, must remain responsive to the needs of the communities that it serves and protects. When the Council considers a mandate, it is our view that a peacebuilding component of the mission should be strengthened in support of women’s participation and economic empowerment. That should include close cooperation with national actors and key stakeholders at all levels. We believe that that will enhance nationally- led and -owned initiatives, which are more effective for sustainable peace long after the peacekeeping mission has ended. In response to the Secretary-General’s call for more predictable, adequate and sustainable financing for peacebuilding, as a member of the Peacebuilding Commission, South Africa convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue to explore the role of the private sector in peacebuilding. In the context of that initiative by South Africa, it is our view that public-private partnerships, along with regional and international financial institutions, must go beyond corporate social responsibility and implement not only gender-responsive institutional policies, but also gender-responsive and peace-positive private-sector development. We believe that those institutions must invest directly in women’s capacity-building, education, training and development, including in support of women entrepreneurship and financial literacy, access to digital and information technologies and the financing of local actors, as well as women’s organizations. South Africa believes that the United Nations, Member States and private partnerships are critical to attainting the Sustainable Development Goals, which will require increased engagement and the inclusion of perspectives of women at the community level. That will enable women to share their experiences and challenges, as well as explore available opportunities to strengthen their economic empowerment during the peacebuilding process. The Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission must also continue to engage with the various stakeholders and institutions, such as the African Women Leaders Network, co-chaired by South Africa and Germany. Lastly, engagement among United Nations bodies that work on the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda should align their respective objectives to support a more holistic approach to women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace processes and post-conflict reconstruction, as well as prevention efforts. That will allow for greater coherence and avoid duplication in implementing the women and peace and security agenda. As we commemorate International Women’s Day today, let us all recommit to actions that are discernible so as to fully and effectively implement the women and peace and security agenda for all women and girls affected by all new and long-standing conflicts, including women and girls in Ukraine and other conflict situations, such as the Sahel, Palestine and Yemen.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

Mr. Szczerski (Poland): I would like to thank the presidency for organizing this open debate and express our gratitude to the briefers for their insightful remarks. Poland aligns itself with the statements delivered by the observer of the European Union and the representative of Canada on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security. On this International Women’s Day, our thoughts are with Ukrainian women and their families and children. A couple of days ago, Olena Zelenska, the wife of the President of Ukraine, stated, “Our current resistance has a particularly female face. I admire and bow to you, my incredible compatriots — those who fight, heal, save, provide food and continue to do their normal jobs in pharmacies, shops, transportation and utilities so that life continues and prevails”. We also admire the exceptional courage and determination of Ukrainian women and men alike. Such courage is sometimes demonstrated by their paying the ultimate price, as in the case of Maryna Fenina, a national member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, who died last Tuesday in Kharkiv while getting supplies for her family. We are horrified by the mounting reports of civilian casualties and the indiscriminate nature of Russian attacks. As of today, more than 1.5 million persons have been forced to flee the violence perpetrated by Russia, with more than 1 million persons crossing the border with Ukraine into Poland and more on their way every day. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at that rate the situation appears set to become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century. They are mostly women and children. In Poland, they are provided with accommodations and health care and have access to employment and education. The escalating violence and forced displacement deepen the unfolding humanitarian crisis and expose women and children to an increased risk of physical and sexual assault. We are appalled by the reports of rape and other forms of sexual violence committed by soldiers in occupied areas of the country. We recall that conflict-related sexual violence constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity and is a violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. Last year also brought a serious setback for the freedoms of expression, movement and association and political inclusion for Afghan women. Many of them have also been deprived of earned income. We are gravely concerned about the violations of the human rights of women and girls, particularly the severe restrictions on access to education, public life and employment for women and girls. We cannot allow the reversal of the hard-won gains involving women’s recognition and protection, as well as their equal and meaningful participation in all spheres of life. As a member of the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan, Poland stands ready to support any initiative within the United Nations framework aimed at ensuring equal access to education for Afghan women and girls and safeguarding the positive changes achieved over the past two decades. With humanitarian needs growing at an alarming pace in conflict-ridden Ukraine and Afghanistan confronting an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, the economic inclusion and participation of women has become more important than ever. In times of crisis, such barriers impede women’s participation in peace processes and public life in general. Our humanitarian efforts are now particularly important and should take into account the female perspective and women’s specific needs. We agree that strong partnerships with the private sector and civil society, including local women’s organizations, are crucial for advancing the women and peace and security agenda. By working together, we can develop programmes and initiatives that will push for progress towards peace and support women in crises and post-conflict situations. Despite the many persisting challenges, we share the hope that together with public and private partners, genuine progress in advancing the women and peace and security agenda is possible. We would like to reiterate that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace processes and post-conflict reconstruction, in line with the objectives of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent women and peace and security resolutions, is a prerequisite for successful peace processes and consequently for a durable and sustainable peace. Lastly, on this special day — International Women’s Day — we should all unite around the common goal to stop the war brought to Ukraine by Russia, with its devastating consequences for women and children above all. It is also an opportunity to show solidarity and mutual understanding among women in the pursuit of that common goal. In that context, the First Lady of Poland, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, issued a special appeal to women all over the world to encourage them to post a message to women in Russia on this particularly important day, with a picture and the hashtag, “#RussianWomenStopTheWar”, in order to call on all women in Russia to demand an immediate halt to the aggression and that they their sons and husbands are brought home. Together, women can stop the war. We encourage everyone to join that important campaign.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Pieris (Sri Lanka): Permit me the honour to extend Sri Lanka’s good wishes to the United Arab Emirates on being the President of the Security Council for the month of March and extend my appreciation for its convening of this debate, which aims to enhance the focus on the role that women play in advancing peace and security. When the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000), it sent a clear message to the global community that international peace and security would not be genuinely achieved if women and girls were left out of the peace agenda. The women and peace and security agenda confirmed the role of women’s participation in ending the cycle of armed conflict. Today’s topic is very apt, in that it considers how women’s economic empowerment interplays between the participation and prevention pillars of the women and peace and security agenda. Although significant strides have been made in executing the women and peace and security agenda in its 22 years, there remains a missing link — a tangible concrete connection between public and private enterprises, especially those working in conflict and post-conflict environments — to converge with the aims of the women and peace and security agenda with regard to women’s economic inclusion. What we are seeing are siloed business worlds: one world in which businesses increasingly adopt an employment policy that is viewed through a gender lens, thereby committing to corporate social responsibility initiatives of gender equality, and another world in which corporate initiatives like Business for Peace and the United Nations Global Compact — supported by the United Nations and the women and peace and security agenda — aim to drive businesses in conflict zones. Everyone will appreciate that the Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum makes the claim that female-founded businesses deliver revenues that are more than twice as high, per dollar invested, than their corresponding male-led businesses. Secondly, it makes the claim that bridging the gender gap would add upwards of $4.0 trillion to the global gross domestic product (GDP). Conflict-affected economies are the most affected, owing to lack of foreign investment, mass emigration and skill loss, all of which underscores the need for GDP growth. Those numbers support the case for women’s participation in businesses and it is those numbers and data advocating for women’s inclusion in businesses, especially in conflict zones, that need to be highlighted. Although important strides have been made since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), women’s direct participation and representation in formal peace processes continues to be the one area that lags behind in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. Between 1992 and 2019, women served as only 6 per cent of mediators, 6 per cent of signatories and 13 per cent of negotiators globally. The coronavirus disease outbreak has shed even greater light on the full extent of gender inequality. In that context, empowering women leaders to participate in peacebuilding becomes increasingly crucial. Women who participate in peace processes tend to represent broader and more diverse constituencies, ensuring that a range of views and interests are represented and that peace processes are fully democratized. I am compelled to ask the following question, which I have posed before: Is it not surprising that although women are active in community peacebuilding, they are almost completely absent from political negotiating tables? Their exclusion from peace tables is notable. Why is that? First, women are affected by conflict and therefore by the consequences of peace agreements. Secondly, in relation to my first point, women’s inclusion at all stages of peace processes is crucial for inclusive social justice. Thirdly, the presence of women makes a difference with regard to the sorts of issues generally raised in formal peace processes. Again, reiterating my second point, women’s absence from negotiating tables minimizes the possibility of inclusive just politics. Their relative absence from negotiating tables is significant because when they are present or participate in less formal negotiations, they tend to raise different issues and frequently adopt different approaches to conflict resolution. I cannot but conclude by recalling what the authors of the article “Women waging war”, published in Foreign Policy Magazine in May-June 2001, very pithily said, “allowing men who plan wars to plan peace they say is an irrational bad habit”. They suggest that while men come to the negotiating table directly from the war room or the battlefield, women generally come from family care and civilian activism. Now I ask, finally, is that not something to think about?

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

Mr. Koba (Indonesia): I would like to start by wishing all women in the world a happy International Women’s Day. Without their strength, persistence and resilience, where would we be now? I would also like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and your delegation on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this March and to extend my gratitude to all briefers for their presentations, which have laid the foundation for the open debate we are having today. In our wish to pursue achievements, we should be mindful not to allow ourselves to backslide. In reality, many of the milestones that have been set have yet to be completed, which could potentially draw us back from the hard-won achievements on women and peace and security. In that regard, Indonesia encourages and supports the Security Council’s efforts to meet those unmet commitments by first, among other things, supporting the Security Council’s initiative to intensify cross- cutting dialogue and collaborate with relevant United Nations organs. While pertinent, we also acknowledge that the women and peace and security agenda is multidimensional and interdisciplinary in nature. Therefore, we share the view that the Security Council cannot be the only forum in which to pursue the implementation of the agenda. The contributions and views of other relevant United Nations organs are especially needed, based on their mandates, focus, coverage and expertise. It includes issues such as economic inclusion and public- private partnerships. The convening of this open debate is also timely, as it coincides with the sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. With this year’s theme, we can look closer at how climate change, disasters and environmental degradation can exacerbate the crises faced by women in conflict areas. In that way, collaboration with United Nations organs can be explored through, among other things, the strengthening of the capacity of United Nations peace missions to reduce, respond and mitigate the risk of disasters. Secondly, with regard to the strengthening of women’s role in United Nations peacekeeping operations, more efforts are needed to strengthen women’s role and capacity in peacekeeping missions, guided by resolution 2538 (2020), and to emphasize the importance of establishing an institutionalized and sustainable peer-to-peer framework for women peacekeepers and potential women peacekeepers to share their knowledge and experience. Such a framework will equip and prepare future women peacekeepers for their missions. One of the necessary skills, among others, is community engagement. Finally, with regard to engaging regional and national women’s networks, as laid out in the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping initiative, partnership within the United Nations and women’s networks at global and regional levels plays an imperative role. At the regional level, while establishing the Southeast Asian Network of Women Peace Negotiators and Mediators in 2020, Indonesia witnessed the huge capacity of women mediators in the region. In 2019, through Indonesia’s close communication with Afghan women in preparing to establish the Afghanistan- Indonesia Women’s Network, we also saw the same great potential. Those promising capacities of women mediators are a tremendous asset to be utilized by the international community. Against that background, Indonesia calls on the United Nations to intensify partnerships with such networks of women peacekeepers and peacebuilders.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Georgia.

Mr. Imnadze (Georgia): At the outset, let me express appreciation to United Arab Emirates for convening this debate on women and peace and security today, 8 March, International Women’s Day. Today more than ever, women long for peace. We all do, but it is women and children who suffer most as the war continues to rage in Ukraine. Indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure, residential areas, schools, kindergartens and hospitals are mind-boggling. Innocent civilians, many of whom are women and children, continue to die or flee their homes. Two million Ukrainian refugees fled for their lives to Eastern European countries, most of them women and children. Georgia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union (EU) and in my national capacity I would like to add the following. We condemn Russia’s aggression. Violating agreements reached impedes the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow the safe evacuation of civilians and the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid, which reportedly has led to the death of civilians, including children. That is an assault on international human rights law and international humanitarian law and a violation of key principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris. We call for accountability. All international humanitarian and human rights mechanisms must be granted safe, immediate and unimpeded access wherever needed, throughout the entire territory of Ukraine. Unfortunately, Russian aggression and occupation is well known to Georgia. In fact, what we see in Ukraine is a continuation of the same pattern we witnessed in my own country years ago. As of today, in breach of all the international commitments, including, inter alia, the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement, the Russian Federation continues its illegal and provocative actions against the occupied regions of Georgia, conducting the so-called “borderization process”, which in effect is nothing less than a continuous aggression and a creeping annexation. The humanitarian consequences of the actions I have mentioned are appalling, given the unbearable human rights situation and the conditions that the civilian population — above all women and children — have to endure. Ensuring the meaningful engagement of women in the peace process is a high priority for us. In that regard, Georgia tries to maintain the issue of conflict-affected women, including internally displaced persons, on the agenda of the Geneva International Discussions, which is the only format of negotiations between Georgia and Russia on the security and humanitarian issues stemming from the Russian aggression and occupation of two Georgian regions. Yet, despite the Georgian Government’s efforts to empower conflict-affected women, the ongoing occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions by Russia makes them the most vulnerable segments of our society. Women living in Georgia’s occupied regions, as well as in the areas adjacent to the occupation line, continue to suffer from systematic grave violations of their fundamental rights and freedoms, including but not limited violations of their freedom of movement and illegal detentions by Russian occupying forces. In conclusion, let me once again call on the Russian Federation to immediately and without any preconditions cease its military actions in and against Ukraine, as well as to withdraw all its military forces and immediately and unconditionally reverse the illegal decisions related to the status of integral parts of Ukraine, in full respect of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognized borders and territorial waters. We call on Russia to do the same with regard to the occupied Georgian regions.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Malaysia.

Mr. Aidid (Malaysia): At the outset, I wish to congratulate the United Arab Emirates on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month and for convening this open debate as we celebrate International Women’s Day today. I also thank the briefers for their insightful presentations. It is increasingly evident that building and sustaining peace requires ongoing partnerships with various actors, including women. Empowering women and advancing gender equality in fragile, conflict- affected and vulnerable settings can transform vicious cycles into virtuous ones, which will lead to sustainable peace and development. My delegation also remains convinced that efforts to increase women’s economic participation in conflict and their long-term empowerment must be strengthened. The humanitarian and socioeconomic development of every segment of society should go hand in hand in order to help prevent a new spiral of fragility and instability. In addition, Malaysia continues to call for greater efforts and partnerships among Member States, United Nations entities, civil society organizations, youth organizations and the private sector. However, those collaborations and engagements must take into account local and cultural contexts, as well as national priorities and policies. In that respect, Malaysia is committed to building capacity and advancing the women and peace and security agenda at the national, regional and international levels. We continue to provide financial aid to UN-Women annually, in support of the agency’s efforts to boost women’s meaningful participation and the integration of gender perspectives in peace and security processes. At the regional level, recognizing the transformative roles that women play in building, maintaining and fostering peace and security in the region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is currently developing a regional plan of action on women and peace and security, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development and UN-Women. As part of our continued commitment to the women and peace and security agenda and the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), Malaysia is also preparing its national action plan on women and peace and security. My delegation also believes that women’s equal and full active participation is key to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. In support of gender-responsive peacekeeping and peace operations, Malaysia recently deployed its largest number of women peacekeepers to serve in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon — 85 female personnel. We remain convinced that their participation will contribute positively to promoting inclusivity towards sustainable peace and development. Malaysia also calls for greater representation of women in peace negotiations and mainstreaming gender perspectives into peace agreements. In that respect, we encourage the Secretariat to appoint more women as mediators and special envoys for country- and region-specific conflicts. In conclusion, my delegation strongly believes that women’s inclusion and participation are critical for preventing and responding to conflict, as well as building lasting peace. Malaysia remains committed to partnering for peace and advancing the women and peace and security agenda in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post- conflict processes.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Mr. Massari (Italy): Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union (EU) and the statement made by the representative of Canada, on behalf of a number of members of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security (see S/PV.8989). We welcome the initiative of the United Arab Emirates to convene today’s open debate on International Women’s Day and are grateful to the briefers for their interventions. Today, our thoughts and solidarity are with all women and girls who suffer from conflicts and crises around the world, in particular those in Ukraine, many of whom as we speak are forced to flee their homes, often leaving behind their husbands and sons, and face dire humanitarian conditions due to the unprovoked and unjustified Russian aggression that has been widely and strongly condemned by the international community. We would like to use this opportunity to reiterate our call on Russia for an immediate cessation of the attack and return to a peaceful path. Our thoughts and solidarity are also with those women and girls in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen who continue to be exposed to serious violations and abuses of their human rights, including through all forms of discrimination and gender-based violence. Our thoughts and solidarity are also with women and girls in Libya, Ethiopia and other conflict-impacted countries of Africa. The situation of those women and girls constantly reminds us of the importance of placing the women and peace and security agenda, in all its aspects, at the centre of the activity of the Council. We welcome the decision of several Council members to mainstream the women and peace and security agenda in all relevant discussions and look forward to the inclusion of the women and peace and security dimension in the agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women at its upcoming sixty-sixth session. Italy is a strong supporter of resolution 1325 (2000) and the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda remains one of our key priorities. We are currently in the implementation phase of our fourth national action plan on women and peace and security for the period 2020-2024. At the same time, we continue to engage with our EU partners in the implementation of the relevant EU action plan for the 2019-2024 term. Promoting women’s participation in mediation is one of our main long-standing objectives. In 2017, Italy promoted the launch of the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network, which now brings together more than 60 qualified women mediators from 21 countries from the Mediterranean region. We also remain committed to providing our peacekeeping troops with targeted training on gender issues and promoting an increasing presence of women among their ranks, in line with resolution 2558 (2020). Addressing inequalities, multiple intersecting forms of discrimination and gender-based violence, while promoting the full, effective and meaningful inclusion of women in all spheres of society and key decision-making processes, as well as enhancing the economic empowerment of women and girls, are other ways to strengthen the resilience of our societies. Those efforts in turn reinforce peaceful coexistence, help to prevent conflicts and consolidate peace in post- conflict scenarios. For any progress on women’s empowerment to be made, the contribution of civil society and private sector is key. That is why Italy supports the continued engagement of multi-stakeholders with Governments and non-governmental actors, working hand in hand to achieve the same objectives. In that spirit, Italy encourages and supports multi-stakeholder initiatives, including the Generation Equality Forum and its Compact on Women and Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action. Those objectives are to be pursued at all levels in all situations, including in countries that are not directly affected by conflict. The Italian recovery and resilience plan, which aims at a sustainable relaunch of the economy after the coronavirus disease, is also devoted to women’s inclusion in the economy through ad hoc measures to make the labour market more inclusive by promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Those concepts were also at the core of the ministerial event especially dedicated to women, which Italy organized in August 2021 in the framework of its presidency of the Group of 20. Women’s empowerment and the fight against all forms of discrimination and gender-based violence against women are also key priorities of our current presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. In conclusion, rest assured that Italy will remain actively engaged in pursuing the full implementation of the women and peace and security agenda, at both the national and international levels, in full cooperation with the relevant agencies of the United Nations and other international partners.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Viet Nam.

Mr. Dang (Viet Nam): At the outset, allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for convening today’s open debate on this important topic on this very special day — International Women’s Day. Over the past two decades, since the inception of the women and peace and security agenda at the Security Council, we have seen the increased role and participation of women in all areas — from conflict prevention to peacebuilding to reconciliation. Women have also demonstrated their distinctive role in reconstruction and economic recovery efforts. Nonetheless, women continue to face many challenges. They have been among the hardest hit by the consequences of the coronavirus disease pandemic, especially in regions affected by conflicts. Too few gender-sensitive response measures across countries are aimed at women’s economic security. To ensure prosperity, long-term economic stability and growth in all nations, the role of women remains essential, not just as beneficiaries but more importantly as leaders and participants. We believe that for the potential of women to be fully realized, they should fully engage in and own processes at all stages, including economic policymaking and implementation. The international community as a whole must further encourage and support their efforts. In that regard, we call for more programmes and capacity-building for women at the local, national and international levels in order to help ensure sustainable peacebuilding and women’s economic empowerment, in line with resolution 1889 (2009). Such support, especially to conflict-affected women, should be multifaceted, from education, employment and health care to mitigation of the negative consequences of the pandemic. To that end, it is important to ensure that a minimum of 15 per cent of official development assistance is dedicated to advancing gender equality in conflict-affected countries. Furthermore, we need to enhance partnerships in that regard — partnerships among the private and public sectors, partnerships among the United Nations, Member States and non-governmental actors. That will help us explore useful tools for analysis, for sharing experiences and for mobilizing resources and capacity- building for women. Member States should incorporate such measures in their national plans, especially in the context of socioeconomic development. The mandates of the relevant United Nations missions could also be adapted to further support the role of women in peacebuilding and post- conflict reconstruction. The women and peace and security agenda has long been high on Viet Nam’s agenda, including during our two terms serving on the Council. Our commitment stems from the long history of Vietnamese women leading the fight for our country’s freedom, independence and development. In recent years, our women have contributed significantly to the development and implementation of national plans. Vietnamese women have assumed key roles in our national leadership as well as in the business sector. On international issues, our women have also demonstrated their role as active United Nations peacekeepers. In December 2020, in commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the inception of the women and peace and security agenda, Viet Nam hosted the International Conference on Strengthening Women’s Role in Building and Sustaining Peace: from Commitments to Results. The Hanoi Action Commitment, adopted at the Conference, highlighted the critical role of women in contributing to sustainable peace and development. To that end, we will continue to be a proud and committed partner among the international community for women’s economic inclusion and empowerment.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Thailand.

Mr. Chindawongse (Thailand): Thailand wishes to express its appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for having convened this open debate to advance the important women and peace and security agenda. We thank Minister Mariam Almheiri for the initiative. We also wish to thank the heads of UN-Women and the International Monetary Fund, as well as the representative of civil society, for their briefings. I am pleased that we are gathering here today, on International Women’s Day, to reaffirm the importance that we attach to women’s economic participation and empowerment. Those are key elements in promoting lasting peace, sustainable development and inclusive societies. In that regard, I would like to share the following five points. First, Thailand fully supports the women and peace and security agenda and continues to explore ways to strengthen its commitment. We believe that the agenda should cut across the whole conflict cycle to ensure the sustaining of peace. More efforts should also be made in terms of linking the agenda with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 16. Secondly, women are active players in peace processes. They must be included in the decision-making process at all stages to ensure their full and equal participation. Women personnel in United Nations peacekeeping operations have contributed positively to mission success. Their ability to access communities and to build trust has proved to be a valuable skill set. As a troop-contributing country, Thailand is pleased to have achieved a high ratio of women peacekeepers to male peacekeepers and will continue to work to further promote women’s participation at higher levels. Thirdly, women’s economic empowerment is key to achieving the 2030 Agenda and to promoting sustainable peace. Governments and stakeholders should strengthen their efforts in enhancing women’s ability to generate and exercise control over productive resources. There should also be measures to promote access to decent work as well as to ensure that women’s voices are heard and their meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels, from the household to global institutions. We should also work to promote women’s access to education, employment and health-care services as well as to financial tools. Fourthly, partnership is a crucial element in the women and peace and security agenda. We must enhance cooperation and partnership within the United Nations system and with regional organizations and other stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector. We believe that the innovation and resources of the private sector, channelled through vocational training and other support programmes, can be utilized to help women earn income, support their families and lay a stronger foundation for the community. Fifthly and lastly, Thailand believes that national action plans are an important vehicle for the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda and provide a framework for a coordinated, whole-of-Government approach. On our part, we adopted national measures and guidelines on women and peace and security, equivalent to the national action plan, in 2016. They aim to enhance the role of women in addressing conflict and to support their participation in political and social processes, both within the country and at the international level. In closing, Thailand reiterates our commitment to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women at home and abroad, because we believe that women not only contribute significantly to the realization of peace and security but are also pivotal to the attainment of sustainable development.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Costa Rica.

Ms. Chan Valverde (Costa Rica) (spoke in Spanish): Costa Rica thanks the United Arab Emirates for having convened this open debate. The pandemic has exacerbated financial limitations with respect to the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. The private sector can contribute to peacebuilding, especially in terms of investment and the creation of companies run by women and jobs for women and by women. In that context, allow me to make the following points. First, more than two decades and 10 resolutions later, we still have not sufficiently explored the role of the private sector in promoting the women and peace and security agenda. The private sector can play and is playing an important role in peacebuilding and peacekeeping. Public-private partnerships promote the post-conflict recovery of local communities, creating a stable business environment, empowering women and encouraging their political participation. They also provide us with fresh resources, actors and approaches. However, current efforts are scattered and have failed to maximize that potential. Secondly, although the resolutions on women and peace and security do not explicitly mention widows or widowhood, 50 per cent of the female population in post-conflict contexts are widows. Widows bear the burden of social and economic recovery in their communities and are a critical factor in recovery efforts. Their economic inclusion not only prevents growing inequalities but proactively ensures respect for and the protection of their human rights, while challenging gender norms. For that reason, Costa Rica encourages the Council as well as Member States in general to diversify their associations, directing their financial support towards non-governmental organizations that have thematic experience and can have a strong impact owing to their economic and social investment. Thirdly, it is crucial to recognize, reduce and redistribute unpaid and care work and to eradicate the stigmatization of informal work. The reduction and redistribution of care requires investment from both the public and private sectors. Those investments have significant benefits not only for individuals and their families but also for the economy, society and businesses. Costa Rica calls on States, the private sector and civil society to support and recognize informal workers’ organizations, such as cooperatives and voluntary associations, and to improve data collection and analysis on issues of particular importance to the economic empowerment of women, including unpaid work, paid care work, informal work, part-time work and domestic work. Let us not forget that what is unmeasured is unseen. The peacebuilding architecture has broadened our understanding not only of the multiple causes and manifestations of conflict but also of the various actors that have a clear and direct responsibility for the policies and practices that can both silence the guns and ensure the conditions conducive to sustainable peace. Women are agents of change in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding. Only with women and women’s economic and political empowerment will there be peace. I wish everyone a happy International Women’s Day.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Qatar.

Ms. Al-Thani (Qatar): We would like to thank the United Arab Emirates for convening today’s open debate on a subject of great importance. Twenty-two years ago, resolution 1325 (2000), which underscored the strong link between gender equality and international peace and security, was adopted. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the centrality of gender equality and the need to step up our efforts for women’s economic empowerment. Today’s discussion captures the relationship between these two themes; women’s economic empowerment is essential to global stability and prosperity. The State of Qatar’s strategy for implementing resolution 1325 (2000) is aligned with the vision set forth in the Sustainable Development Goals. We believe in the need for strengthening and addressing barriers to the political and economic participation of women and girls in conflict resolution and post- conflict reconstruction, particularly through initiatives that enable their inclusion. Thanks to the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, Qatar safeguards women’s participation in peace and security matters domestically and abroad. The State of Qatar continues working to unlock opportunities to increase women’s economic empowerment and participation in the labour force. When more women work, our economy grows. On 20 and 21 January 2022, the State of Qatar co-hosted with Finland, Colombia and the United Nations, the High-Level Global Conference on Youth- Inclusive Peace Processes. Participants noted that there is a need to invest in the efforts of young women peacebuilders and to ensure they have meaningful opportunities to contribute to the economic and post- conflict-recovery provisions of peace agreements. Partnerships and funding are critical. The State of Qatar provides funding to several United Nations agencies and departments crucial to the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. In addition, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has prioritized the economic empowerment of women and girls in conflict and recovery settings. While collaborating with strategic partners, the QFFD has focused on such programmes as women’s participation in both large- and small-scale economic programmes, addressing structural barriers to their economic participation and control of resources; sustaining and supporting microfinance institutions; improving employment and income-generation opportunities for displaced women; enhancing education and social services in refugee camps; and implementing localized economic models to generate employment and income to stem poverty. For instance, in April 2021, the QFFD and Digital Citizen Fund signed a grant agreement to finance a vocational training project for girls and women in Afghanistan, focusing on business and digital expertise. As a further example, the Qatar-based Silatech Foundation supports young women in conflict and post-conflict situations, with access to job opportunities, vocational training, technological platforms and career guidance. In conclusion, let me assure the Security Council that the State of Qatar is committed to playing its part to fully implement the women and peace and security agenda. Working with international organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector, we are aiming at creating the change that will sustain peace and gender equality.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Iraq.

Ms. Nassrullah (Iraq) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to congratulate our sisterly country, the United Arab Emirates, on its accession to the presidency of the Security Council for March, and to wish it every success. I would also like to thank the Russian Federation for having successfully guided the work of the Council last month. Today, we all celebrate International Women’s Day as we believe in the important pioneering role and efforts of women in development and all other sectors. My country’s delegation appreciates the sacrifices made by women in all countries of the world, especially Iraqi women working to ensure Iraq’s recovery. We stress women’s rights to use their talents to build their communities and strive to make their dreams come true. On this occasion, my delegation would like to lay out the most important efforts and achievements of my country’s Government. First, the efforts of the Iraqi Government have enabled 96 Iraqi women to be elected to the Iraqi Parliament, more than half of whom were elected without using the women’s quota set forth in the Iraqi Constitution. Secondly, the Iraqi Government has launched the second national action plan to implement resolution 1325 (2000). Its programmes and activities are being implemented, with a focus on preparing women to be capable and influential in managing negotiations and peacebuilding. Thirdly, as regards the economic empowerment of women, the Iraqi Government launched a second plan for 2021-2022 that includes six pillars, including the financial inclusion of women and capacity-building. Fourthly, pursuant to article 28 of the General Budget Law for the financial year 2021, ministries received instructions to create programmes to empower women in accordance with their needs. Fifthly, the Central Bank of Iraq requires all banks to allocate 25 per cent of soft loans to women heads of families to support their economic projects. My delegation values the role played by the civil society in building and promoting women’s capabilities through empowering them economically and making them aware of human rights and gender equality. We also value the significant role played by UN-Women in supporting Government efforts to promote economic opportunities for women and facilitating their access to the labour market. In conclusion, Iraq stresses its support for all efforts to achieve the economic inclusion of women and their participation in peacebuilding, taking into consideration differences between societies and the need to respect the national policies and priorities of each country. We emphasize positive interaction with various initiatives, in line with our societal reality and pursuant to the outcomes reached among the States Members and main organs of the United Nations.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Lebanon.

Ms. Mudallali (Lebanon): At the outset, I would like to congratulate the President of the Security Council and the United Arab Emirates on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of March and to thank the delegation of the Russian Federation for its presidency last month. I would like to express to Minister Almheiri and Ambassador Nusseibeh how proud I am as an Arab woman to sit in this Chamber and see them presiding over the Security Council. It is indeed a reason to feel very proud. I would also like to thank the President for organizing this important debate on advancing the women and peace and security agenda through partnerships and thank the briefers for their insightful briefings. We are meeting today at a very difficult and challenging time for our world. Women, peace and security are challenged like never before in our recent history. The terrifying sounds and images of war — and not the peaceful sounds and images of partnership — are what we hear and see today. Unfortunately, in war situations, people, especially women and children, are the ones who bear the brunt of the horror on the ground. While women usually face conflicts with courage and resilience, their voices are not heard when the guns go silent and negotiations over their future and the future of their countries are taken up and decisions that touch their lives are made. According to UN-Women, between 1992 and 2019 women represented, on average, just 13 per cent of negotiators, 6 per cent of mediators and 6 per cent of signatories in major peace processes worldwide. It is important now, as we handle the aftermath of current or future conflicts, that women’s roles reflect the pain and suffering that they endure. The world is witnessing a rollback on two fronts: democracy and women’s empowerment. We are warned every day that women’s political and economic empowerment is stalling or declining around the world and that the assault on women’s rights has coincided with a broad assault on democracy. The linkages between them, according to Foreign Affairs magazine, are stark. The more democracy thrives and the more diversity and inclusivity we have, the more women can play their part as partners in all fields, especially in peace and security. Foreign Affairs magazine put it best when the writers noted that women’s participation in mass movement is like a rising tide that lifts all boats. Although they were talking about participation in mass movements, that applies to women’s participation in the entire peace and security agenda. In its 2021-2022 report Women, Peace and Security Index, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security highlights the interlinkages between women’s rights and other industries, including democracy, and points out that countries in which women are doing well tend to be those with strong and more open democratic institutions. It is true that we have seen some progress in terms of women’s empowerment and gender equality in some fields. Yet, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s latest report on women in parliament in 2021, the global proportion of women parliamentarians has increased by only 0.6 per cent to reach 26.1 per cent. Such progress is slow and is not distributed evenly across the peace and security agenda. In August, the long-delayed Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons will be held. It is crucial that we push not only for a role for women in the negotiations for a good outcome but also for the equal, full and meaningful participation of women in the Conference and the arms control and disarmament processes in general. In the disarmament and non-proliferation processes, women are still underrepresented and do not play an active role in the decision-making process. That historical underrepresentation of women in nuclear- related diplomacy must change. That call is in line with resolution 1325 (2000) and the Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament, which calls for gender parity and for the full and equal participation of women in all decision-making processes related to disarmament and international security. As we celebrate International Women’s Day today, we have to be reminded that the world cannot strive to live in peace and security if women are not empowered, including economically, and if their full, equal and meaningful participation is not guaranteed in all fields and at all levels. In order to achieve that goal, the role of Member States should be complemented with that of other stakeholders. No one can do that alone. If we are to be successful, we have to work on building strong partnerships. Cooperation and coordination between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, in partnership with the various United Nations agencies, are essential for the success of the peace and security agenda. Equally as important are public-private partnerships between the private sector and civil society, including with women peacebuilders and women human rights defenders, in line with resolution 2331 (2016). In conclusion, I would like to wish all the women around this table and all the women around the world who are participating in peace and security a happy International Women’s Day.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

Mrs. Furman (Israel): At the outset, let me congratulate you, Sir, on your presidency of the Council this month and for convening this important debate today. I would like to begin by expressing our support to all women and girls facing the devastating humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Since gaining independence, gender equality has been a central component of Israel’s democracy. That principle is enshrined in our 1948 Declaration of Independence and has been integrated into numerous laws and policies, beginning with the 1951 law on women’s equal rights. With a record number of nine women serving as ministers and nine women serving as directors-general of governmental ministries, women represent one third of Israel’s Government. The Chief Justice of our Supreme Court is a woman and three of her four predecessors were also women. Although that is not enough, the number of women in pivotal roles in the Israeli Government is constantly rising and we are most certainly heading in the right direction. Here at the United Nations, we have been vocal supporters of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions. In fact, we were the first country in the world to implement parts of resolution 1325 (2000) into our domestic legislation. Last year, following the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of that landmark resolution, we appointed our first-ever special envoy for women and peace and security. Over the past year, she has been working alongside the Israeli authority for gender equality and a broad spectrum of civil society organizations to formulate a comprehensive national action plan for Israel based on resolution 1325 (2000). The idea of fostering positive cooperation to harness women’s economic empowerment and inclusion has been a cornerstone of Israel’s development policies throughout our history. Back in 1961, well before gender equality was brought to the forefront, then- Foreign Minister Golda Meir founded the Mount Carmel Training Center, which focuses on the economic empowerment of women. The Center — which is part of Mashav, Israel’s international development cooperation agency — trains women from throughout the world in key areas such as agriculture, education, health, food security and more. To date, more than 30,000 women from around the world have been trained at the Mount Carmel Center and have gone on to make a positive impact in their local communities. It is particularly apt that the United Arab Emirates lead this important discussion today, as we see our country and our other Abraham Accords partners as the embodiment of countries that have chosen peace and partnerships as a vehicle for both the greater economic inclusion of women and a better, brighter future for the entire region. We see those new partnerships as a way to increase the participation and positive collaboration of women in a variety of fields. In that context, I wish to highlight the landmark joint events that were held last month at the Dubai World Exposition and brought together senior women leaders and entrepreneurs in the field of science, technology and industry from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel. Those trailblazers showed their unique perspective concerning how to encourage young women to enter careers in science and technology and how to empower them to break glass ceilings and become leaders in that domain. Such positive partnerships can serve as a blueprint for best practices and a source of inspiration for the entire international community. In Israel, a country with a long-standing track record of working to create positive partnerships for the economic inclusion of women, we stand committed to share our good practices and create additional partnerships to that end.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Argentina.

Mr. Mainero (Argentina) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, my delegation wishes to express its appreciation for the convening of this open debate on such a special day. International Women’s Day serves as an occasion to take stock of our achievements and see how far we have come in the struggle for equality. The role of women in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts is essential, which is why it is imperative to advance the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. More than 20 years ago, resolution 1325 (2000) reaffirmed the importance of women’s full and equal participation in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security. Despite the wealth of evidence highlighting the benefits of investing in women in terms of conflict prevention and crisis response, the lack of allocation of sufficient resources and funding has been perhaps the most significant obstacle to the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). Women in conflict situations suffer due to restricted access to productive assets and resources, including land, agricultural inputs, finance and credit and technology, which profoundly affects their livelihoods. Furthermore, the significant time burden of women’s unpaid work responsibilities further hampers their ability to benefit from employment opportunities, as well as longer-term social, political and peacebuilding initiatives. Conflict-affected women often face great difficulties in accessing public services, social protection and employment opportunities and are discriminated against during disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. In addition, women are often absent from governance bodies and decision-making processes regarding economic and political reforms, recovery and reconstruction in their respective countries. The 2015 global study on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) highlighted a persistent failure to adequately finance the women, peace and security agenda. The study recommended that States, regional organizations and agencies within the United Nations system allocate at least 15 per cent of all peace and security-related funding to programmes that address women’s specific needs and promote gender equality. Peace and reconstruction processes that include gender-specific provisions must translate into targeted assistance and tangible reforms to ensure a sustainable and gender-inclusive peace. However, in some cases, post-conflict gender inclusion in political and economic reconstruction does not appear to benefit from substantial funding. Few donor States have committed to the United Nations target of 15 per cent of peacebuilding funding to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. In that context, monitoring funding is critical to achieving gender equality goals and the effective implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. International commitments to supporting peace processes must be translated into gender-inclusive investments in post-conflict reconstruction. Without funding commitments, gender provisions will remain good intentions rather than transformative actions.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Nepal.

Mr. Rai (Nepal): At the outset, as we celebrate International Women’s Day today, let me pay profound tribute to all the outstanding women around the world who have contributed to making this world a better place through their indomitable courage, voice and leadership. This day constantly reminds us that there remains a great deal to be done to achieve equality, freedom and opportunities for women in all walks of life. I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important open debate. Women are subject to disproportionate suffering when conflicts undermine social stability, interrupt livelihoods and erode economic systems. Despite that fact, there is systemic exclusion and underrepresentation of women in conflict prevention and post-conflict rebuilding processes. The economic empowerment of women and their participation in the political process are prerequisites for sustainable peace and development. In the spirit of resolution 1325 (2000), we must continue our effort to ensure the systematic inclusion of women in peace negotiations, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction processes to achieve enduring peace. As a post-conflict country, in the years subsequent to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2006, Nepal has made a historic transformation in terms of ensuring women’s participation in the governance architecture and their economic empowerment through constitutional and the relevant legal provisions. The Constitution of Nepal guarantees 33 per cent of seats in the federal and provincial parliaments and 40 per cent of seats in local government to women representatives. We have also implemented targeted incentives for women, including tax exemption in property ownership and free or low-interest loans for women entrepreneurs, to empower them economically. In 2011, Nepal was the first country in South Asia and the second in Asia to adopt a national action plan for the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). Women’s participation in decision-making, political leadership, peace and security, access to resources and employment generation are among our topmost priorities in the national action plan. We also prepared a second national action plan, which prioritizes addressing the issues of justice for conflict-affected women and girls, the improvement of their livelihoods and the security of women and children. Investment in the education, vocational training, capacity-building and professional growth of women is crucial to ensuring their meaningful participation in building a peaceful and prosperous society. More importantly, equality must be guaranteed by constitutional and legal provisions and must be implemented through strong institutional mechanisms with adequate resources. With their exclusive mandate, the Secretary-General’s special envoys, as well as United Nations systems, can play an important role in promoting women’s meaningful participation through their regular consultation with local women community leaders and civil society actors. Nepal is committed to empowering women politically, economically and socially, with a view to making our society peaceful and prosperous.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

Mrs. Mudrenko (Ukraine): While my delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union, I would like to make this statement in my national capacity. I would like to thank all those delegations who expressed solidarity and support for the women and girls of Ukraine during the most difficult times of war, unprovoked and unjustified, waged by the Russian Federation. Ukraine was a member of the Security Council when resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, was adopted in October 2000. Even against the backdrop of the war, Ukraine remains committed to further promoting the women and peace and security agenda in accordance with its second national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) for the years from 2021 to 2025. In that context, Ukraine has made notable headway in establishing procedures to enhance partnerships between the Government and civil society. Over these years, Ukraine’s Government cultivated supportive relations with a flourishing population of young women entrepreneurs in the private sector and with various vibrant civil society initiatives. The all-out Russian invasion of Ukraine, including from the territory of Belarus, has dramatically changed our lives and women and children are among the most vulnerable. Up to 2 million refugees, mostly women and children, have fled from Ukraine to seek safety. Every day, women and children lose their lives from Russian bullets, shells, bombs and missiles. As of now, at least 41 children have been killed by Russian occupiers. In the towns and villages occupied or besieged by Russian troops, suffering has already reached its height. The critical situation in Mariupol, Volnovakha, Irpin, Bucha, Vorzel and many other places should be the subject of immediate attention and action by world leaders, the United Nations humanitarian branch and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Civilians, mostly women and children, have effectively been taken hostage. They are not allowed to leave, and humanitarian aid is not let in. If they try to leave, Russians open fire and kill them. They are running out of food and water, and they are dying. Yesterday in Mariupol, a six-year-old girl died of dehydration. She was alone in the last moments of her life, as her mother was killed by Russian shelling earlier. In the Mykolaiv region, the Russian occupiers fired at a van with a group of female teachers of the local orphanage. Three of them were killed today. There are cases of sexual violence committed by occupiers. All the arrangements on humanitarian corridors are being undermined by the Russians. For instance, in Mariupol the Ukrainian forces removed mines and roadblocks to ensure evacuation on a previously agreed route. The Russian forces immediately shelled and attempted to attack through that route. All those actions that I have just mentioned constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Justice will be served sooner or later to all who ordered, committed and whitewashed those crimes. The economic inclusion of Ukrainian women who have been forced from their homes is another important task. We are heartened by the fact that countries hosting our refugees are creating a legal framework that will allow refugees access to social benefits and enable them to work and earn money to keep their families. With regard to women’s meaningful participation in decision-making, I must say that the war has once again highlighted the role of Ukrainian women in defending their native soil from the Russian occupiers. Ukrainian women not only bravely cover the rear but also often join ranks with the armed forces of Ukraine and the Territorial Defence Forces. At the beginning of 2021, there were up to 57,000 women in the Ukrainian army, comprising 22.8 per cent of the total, according to the Ministry of Defence. The number of women in Ukraine’s armed forces currently is significantly higher. Today Ukrainian women are showing that they are not afraid to take up arms to defend their children and land. That was not their choice until the Russian murderers decided to deprive their children of their future. It is now the shared task of the entire international community to stop Russians from killing Ukrainian women and children and ensure a safe future for them.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Barbados.

Mr. Jackman (Barbados): As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I have the honour to deliver today’s statement on behalf of the 14 member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). We thank the United Arab Emirates for convening this meeting, which focuses squarely on women’s economic inclusion and the advancement of their full, equal and meaningful participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction. We would also like to thank the briefers for their thoughtful interventions. As a region with a long history of activism for gender equality led by women, the Caribbean Community wishes to reaffirm its support for an integrated and holistic approach to the implementation of all four pillars of resolution 1325 (2000) and all subsequent women and peace and security resolutions. We welcome the critical focus on economic justice for women in conflict settings, as we commemorate International Women’s Day on the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. The existing challenges in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda are most acutely observed in the lack of attention to economic justice for women. Efforts to promote and achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women, including through economic justice, must be central to peacekeeping and peacebuilding actions across all conflict-affected countries and regions. We have seen the transformative power of women in shaping their societies. Every generation can point to the critical role of women working at the front lines in confronting multiple crises. In the Caribbean, women are at the vanguard of addressing ecological, environmental, climate, health and economic insecurity. We are at an inflection point as we witness the erosion of gender-equality gains, particularly in countries that are navigating conflict and climate, ecological and socioeconomic crises. It is more critical than ever to enshrine the principles of the women and peace and security agenda and gender equality, as well as to ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all aspects of development, including economic recovery in conflict settings. We must amplify our efforts to address the disproportionate impact of intersecting crises on women and girls in conflict settings. CARICOM strongly condemns all acts of gender-based violence. The psychosocial impact of gender-based violence prevents the meaningful participation of women and girls in education and economic activity. Perpetrators of conflict-related and sexual and gender-based violence must be held accountable. Moreover, victims and survivors must be provided with psychosocial and financial support to ensure their recovery and promote their resilience. It is our firm belief that women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peacebuilding, conflict response and prevention can be facilitated through effective multilateralism. With growing levels of hostilities against women, including political violence, it is important that we actively endeavour to push for women’s participation in all peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts. A united, coordinated and well-defined framework is required as we work collectively to achieve the global objectives established in the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the women and peace and security agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 5. For that reason, we encourage increased communication and collaboration among international and regional partners, the private sector and women’s civil society to close the gaps in promoting women’s economic inclusion and participation in conflict- affected settings. In that respect, we must consistently promote and protect women’s rights and gender equality through political advocacy, partnership and strategic planning at all levels. CARICOM sincerely believes that peace and security are prerequisites for achieving prosperity and sustainable development. The full implementation of the women and peace and security agenda deserves greater attention from the international community and we remain committed to being a part of the process.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Uruguay.

Mrs. González Hernández (Uruguay) (spoke in Spanish): Uruguay thanks the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates for convening this open debate and providing Member States the opportunity to share their vision and discuss best practices and lessons learned. My delegation associates itself with the statement made earlier by the representative of Canada on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security (see S/PV.8989) and I will make several comments in my national capacity. First, it must be highlighted that although no doubt remains as to the importance of women’s participation in political processes to achieve lasting peace, barriers that prevent their participation persist. Women face persistent barriers to economic empowerment, particularly in times of crisis, such as gender gaps in employment, financial inclusion, reduced access to education and the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus disease pandemic, thereby making it difficult for women in local communities to become involved in political peacebuilding processes. In that regard, all initiatives that promote gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in conflict and post-conflict situations through partnerships supported by civil society and the private sector are essential. From a very early date, Uruguay has supported efforts in the framework of the agenda and continues to do so within the United Nations system, together with other Member States and civil society, to achieve its full and effective implementation. Accordingly, our country will launch in April its first action plan that reflects an inter-agency effort and has concrete goals for the implementation of the agenda, including in the area of women’s participation in peacekeeping operations. The participation of uniformed women in the field remains very uneven and in that regard, Uruguay has been promoting policies to promote women’s access to the armed forces and the national police and increased deployment of female peacekeepers to peacekeeping operations. In line with that commitment and in the framework of the Elsie Initiative, we are conducting an assessment of the opportunities for women in peacekeeping operations, which is being developed by the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, in collaboration with Cornell University. The main objective of the study is to provide an innovative and complete methodology for troop-and police-contributing countries and to identify and assess the barriers to opportunities for meaningful participation by uniformed women in peace operations. The findings and recommendations of the study are already being used as an input to national decisions aimed at overcoming those barriers. We therefore encourage countries to conduct such assessments in order to identify barriers to and opportunities for women’s participation in peacekeeping operations. Uruguay reiterates its commitment to the Action for Peacekeeping initiative and the Action for Peacekeeping Plus implementation strategy with a view to promoting women’s participation in peacekeeping operations and ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation throughout the peacebuilding process, including an integrated gender perspective. You, Mr. President, can count on Uruguay’s commitment to continue working to implement resolution 1325 (2001), strengthen the rights of women and girls, eliminate the structural obstacles that prevent them from equal participation in society and empower women as agents of change. That is essential for development and achieving sustainable peace.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.

Mr. Alrowaiei (Bahrain) (spoke in Arabic): I would like at the outset to sincerely congratulate the delegation of the sisterly United Arab Emirates on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month and I wish it every success. I also welcome Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Minister for Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates, and her presiding over this important open debate on women and peace and security, which coincides with International Women’s Day. I would also like to thank Ms. Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Women, and Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, for their valuable briefings. Women’s economic inclusion and their participation in the development process are extremely important in conflict prevention and recovery from crises. They require concerted efforts and partnerships at all levels to promote peace and support women in conflict- affected areas, since women play a significant role in achieving sustainable development and establishing stability and societal peace. The Kingdom of Bahrain is committed to its international obligations on women’s empowerment, including resolution 1325 (2001), which stresses the importance of the equal participation of both genders at all levels, especially in decision-making, as well as women’s participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacekeeping. The Kingdom of Bahrain remains committed to supporting all efforts aimed at the promotion and advancement of women, especially during these difficult times in our world today. We also support the noble goal of achieving a quantum leap in the level of inclusion of women in peacekeeping operations. Resolution 1325 (2001) highlights the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls and their vital role in conflict prevention and recovery. Even though women leaders have shown their ability to adapt and have demonstrated flexibility and effectiveness in such circumstances, women remain excluded from decision-making in conflict areas across the world. Their roles are sometimes merely symbolic. Therefore, further technical and financial support must be provided to women leaders in order to increase their substantive participation in relevant areas. In that regard, we stress the need for all parties to armed conflict to respect international law, especially those principles related to the rights of women and girls and their protection, including the obligations deriving from the 1949 Geneva Conventions and its 1977 Additional Protocol, as well as the 1977 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. We note in that regard that there is a collective responsibility to put an end to impunity and hold accountable the perpetrators of crimes committed in times of conflict, especially those committed against women and children. The Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, focuses as a national priority on achieving the highest levels of social security and supporting the participation of women in all fields. Our Government, under His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, continues to make every effort to launch projects and programmes for ensuring the inclusion of women as an active element in comprehensive development. Through the participation and cooperation of relevant private and public parties and societal sectors and with the support of the Supreme Council for Women, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, spouse of His Majesty the King, the Kingdom of Bahrain has managed to achieve qualitative effects and sustained progress in gender equality and women’s advancement, replicating our successful national experiences and sharing our best practices at the regional and international levels. In that regard, Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa’s Global Award for Women’s Empowerment, which was launched by UN-Women with the cooperation of the Supreme Council for Women, represents an international forum for demonstrating the efforts and contributions of Governments, corporations, civil society organizations and experts, as well as relevant achievements, with respect to women and girls’ empowerment worldwide. The forum highlights success stories and innovations, while establishing a new approach that aims to bridge the gender gap for the benefit of women of all ages and in various fields. It ensures that such initiatives are sustained during times of peace and stability, as well as during conflicts, disasters and epidemics. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates its support for all international efforts for the promotion and advancement of women that aim to achieve gender parity in development and humanitarian areas and to strengthen women’s contribution as active partners in security and peace at all levels.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Bangladesh.

Mr. Hossain (Bangladesh): Let me begin by wishing all women friends and colleagues happy International Women’s Day. I thank the United Arab Emirates for arranging this important open debate on the women and peace and security agenda and for its excellent leadership of the Council this month. I also thank the Executive Director of UN-Women, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and other briefers for their informative and valuable remarks. Women’s economic inclusion and full, equal and meaningful participation of women in socioeconomic activities is a major prerequisite for sustaining peace. The women of Bangladesh played an exemplary role in our nation-building, which inspired us to lead the efforts for the adoption of landmark resolution 1325 (2001) in the Security Council and to advance the women and peace and security agenda at the United Nations. Since our independence, we have been promoting women’s participation in all spheres of life and society. Women’s empowerment is one of the 10 special initiatives of our Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. In terms of the economic empowerment of women, Bangladesh has consistently been at the top in the region. Bangladesh has prioritized public-private partnerships for women’s empowerment and women’s inclusion in its economic activities. We have taken several initiatives to promote the private sector and women entrepreneurs. All ministries in Bangladesh have introduced gender-responsive budgeting. Based on the experience of Bangladesh and the existing challenges of the contemporary world, we would like to highlight a few points. First, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on women. Many women lost their jobs and income due to the pandemic. That has compounded the existing challenges faced by women in conflict-affected countries and should be factored in while developing and implementing COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery plans. Secondly, public-private partnerships can advance skills development and entrepreneurship for women, including in small and medium-sized enterprises. In Bangladesh, our Government has adopted women- friendly industrial policies, introduced quota provisions for women in the allotment of plots in the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation industrial estates and started the Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme to promote the products and services of women entrepreneurs across the country. Those initiatives can be practised in other settings to promote women’s economic empowerment. Thirdly, as a climate-vulnerable country we would like to emphasize that climate change and natural disasters lead to additional challenges for women. Women’s reliance on agriculture and natural resources have made them more vulnerable to climate change. Women are also disproportionately impacted by climate- and disaster-induced displacement. Partnership with and the empowerment of local government institutions and local non-governmental organizations can help build resilience in women and girls in such situations, including through climate-resilient investments, as well as adaptation and mitigation measures. Fourthly, the economic empowerment of women and sustaining peace are complementary. In that regard, we highlight the role of United Nations peacekeeping missions in promoting women’s empowerment as part of their mandate. The peacebuilding component of peacekeeping missions should be strengthened in a manner that facilitates women’s economic empowerment and resilience. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Bangladesh’s long-standing commitment to the women and peace and security agenda.

The President: The representative of India has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

Ms. Dubey (India): I am constrained to take the floor again only because one delegation chose yet again to misuse this forum to make frivolous remarks against my country, which deserve our collective contempt and sympathy. The entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India, irrespective of what the representative of Pakistan believes or covets. That includes the areas that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. With regard to his other remarks, we will treat them with the contempt they deserve. The meeting rose at 5.45 p.m.