Thank you Madame Chair for dedicating today’s Security Dialogue to the important topic of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Doing so reinforces the importance of gender equality in the achievement of sustainable peace and security. Thanks also to the speakers for their thought-provoking presentations.
Our discussion today follows hot on the heels of last Monday’s excellent event, co-organised by Slovakia, Albania, and Sweden, with the OSCE and UN Women on Reviewing Commitments to the Women, Peace & Security Agenda in the OSCE Region. This highlighted the first-hand experience of panellists, as well as making tangible suggestions for advancing the WPS agenda.
Today’s discussion precedes this afternoon’s event entitled “OSCE enhancing UNSC Resolution 1325: gender equality for a more peaceful world”, co-organised by Finland, Albania and Sweden, and the important UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security on 29 October.
We last had the opportunity to discuss the WPS agenda at the Joint FSC/PC in May. Then, as now, we continue to grapple with the unprecedented crisis brought about by COVID-19. The multiple impacts of the pandemic and the inequalities it lays bare are a stark reminder of the important leading role women play, as actors and decision-makers at all levels in health care, education, political processes and peace processes throughout the OSCE. In addition we have expressed, and express again, concerns around higher rates of domestic violence during COVID-19.
The UK supports a ‘Protection Framework for Women Peacebuilders’, which aims to address a number of the threats women peacebuilders face. We encourage states to endorse this Framework. And we will provide