Qatar renewed its commitment to continue efforts for strengthening the role of women in peace-building and security promotion, and to support initiatives to provide security and justice for women in all circumstances, especially in areas of armed conflict or post-conflict situations.
This came in the statement on "Women and Peace" delivered by Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN, HE the ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, before the official meeting held yesterday by the UN Security Council to discuss the item: "Women, Peace and Security".
"The adoption of resolution no.1,325 in 2000 was a turning point in addressing the issue of the role of women in peace-building and security," the ambassador said, adding that the international community recognised in this resolution not only the special impact of conflicts on women, but also the need to involve women as stakeholders in conflict prevention and settling as well as in post-conflict mediation efforts.
The ambassador noted that the inclusion of women, peace and security on the agenda of the Security Council on a regular basis underscores the determination of the international community to continue efforts and to take measures to implement the Programme of Women, Peace and Security to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
She said that it is regrettable that women and girls are most affected by the disastrous consequences of violent conflicts in various regions, where women are paying a heavy price for the failure of parties to conflicts to respect their obligations under international law, which indicates the need to focus on preventing conflicts and addressing their root causes in order to avoid the recurrence, escalation and prolongation of crises.
She further stressed the urgent need to adopt long-term development strategies that empower women and girls and prevent human rights abuses that continue to affect them. She underlined the importance of facilitating women's access to and benefit from transitional justice mechanisms, particularly on crimes committed during conflicts and transitional periods.
The ambassador called for paying attention to the important and effective role that women can play in preventing violent extremism that can lead to terrorism and in building the environment and conditions conducive to the education and guidance of children and youth away from extremism and violence, as well as efforts to educate children and young people to keep them away from the specter of recruitment by terrorist groups, pointing out that Qatar is making national and international efforts in the field of education and advancement of women in this direction and thus contribute to the promotion of peace and security in societies.
"Moreover, in line with its policy of supporting all efforts to achieve peace throughout the world, the State of Qatar has contributed to supporting the global study on the implementation of resolution no.1,325 (2006)," she added.
As part of efforts to achieve National Vision 2030 at the national, regional and international levels, Qatar is keen to involve women, peace and security in its development and humanitarian plans and programmes and in mediation efforts to resolve conflicts in many regions of the world, which has been welcomed by the international community, HE Sheikha Alia said.
The participation of women in decision-making processes within the UN system, of which the achievement of peace and global security is a main pillar, is at the heart of the implementation of resolution No.1,325 of 2000, she said explaining that Qatar attaches great importance to this matter through its active membership in the Gender Parity Group of the United Nations and its support for programmes and activities to appoint more women in senior positions in the United Nations.
She also commended the active role of the Secretary-General of the UN in achieving gender parity and the elimination of sexual exploitation and abuse, referred to in his report. She further welcomed his new strategy for gender equality within the United Nations, which he has set as his highest priority.
The ambassador extended thanks to the Security Council, chaired by France, for holding this important debate, director of the office of the UN Secretary-General Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, executive director of the UN Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, coordinator of the Black Societies Foundation Charo Mina-Rojas, and secretary-general of the International Organisation of la Francophonie Michaelle Jean, for their briefing.