Joint statement urges full implementation of United Nations Resolution 1325 and more funding for women's participation in peace processes

Representatives of Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, Colombia and a group of other states delivered a joint statement urging the United Nations and its member states to fully implement Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions and to take "concrete and verifiable action" to ensure womens full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in peace processes, the representative said.

The statement said sustainable political solutions depend on womens inclusion. "Sustainable political solutions can only be achieved with the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women and girls," the representative said, arguing that inclusion strengthens the legitimacy and effectiveness of decisions in political, humanitarian and security responses.

The delegation called specifically for policymakers to establish frameworks for the prevention of, and accountability for, all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence. "Establishing frameworks for the prevention and accountability of all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence," the representative said, and added that states must provide "sustained and adequate funding for women's organizations" and protections against reprisals for human rights defenders.

Noting a rise in armed conflicts and an erosion of consensus, the speaker warned that the consequences of conflict are not gender neutral and that women, adolescents and girls face distinct risks and forms of exclusion and vulnerability. The statement said these patterns of exclusion are compounded by womens underrepresentation in spaces where political, humanitarian and security responses are defined, which "weakens the legitimacy of our decisions and limits the effectiveness of our actions."

The joint statement urged the council, member states and the United Nations to translate commitments into policy and resourcing by incorporating the women, peace and security agenda into mandates, budgets and monitoring mechanisms. "We call on this council, member states, and the UN to translate its commitments into concrete action by incorporating this agenda into mandates, budgets, monitoring mechanisms, and any other relevant decision," the representative said.

The statement concluded that peace initiatives will be sustainable only when women are regarded as "indispensable leaders, negotiators, and decision-makers whose equal and inclusive representation is key to lasting peace," and the representative thanked the assembly.