Statement delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security: “Women Building Peace in a changing environment”

Madam President Viola Amherd,

I welcome you on this UN day to the Security Council Open debate on a topic that remains integral to the achievement of the WPS agenda and to sustainable peace and security. I thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed, UN Women Executive Director, Ms. Sima Sami Bahous and the Civil Society briefers, Retired Justice Owuor and Ms. Wai Wai Nu, for their briefings.

Almost 25 years after this Council formally recognized the critical role of women in conflict prevention, resolution and recovery in resolution 1325, women remain drastically underrepresented in peace processes. Their human rights and freedoms continue to be trampled upon and their voices sidelined. In several places their lives have changed for the worse.

As Executive Director Bahous reminded, the Secretary-General’s report paints a grim picture. In 2023, the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled compared to the previous year, the number of United Nations verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence was 50 per cent higher than the year before, and the number of girls affected by grave violations in situations of armed conflict increased by 35 per cent.

Millions of women and girls are faced with repeated displacement, sexual and gender-based violence, starvation, lack of access to essential health services and deprivation of basic needs.

For more than 2 years girls in Afghanistan have been denied a secondary education, while in Sudan and Haiti, women and girls are enduring abhorrent abuse and sexual violence. In Gaza, women are experiencing unspeakable violence, and together with children they represent the majority of those killed.  The lifeline provided by UNRWA for decades, to them, and indeed everyone in the occupied territories, is now under grave threat of being taken away.  

All of this is occurring with seeming impunity for perpetrators.

Despite these harsh realities, this Council has, on many occasions, engaged indomitable women from conflict affected countries who refuse to give up and are persevering in their efforts to improve the lives of those in their countries.

In Gaza, for example, despite being forced to live in overcrowded shelters with lack of hygiene and privacy, giving birth in appalling conditions, and facing grave safety and security risks, women are organized in shelter committees established by UNRWA and are part of decision making and providing feedback. These local and grassroot efforts require our collective support but we must do more than that.

I echo the Secretary General’s call for the 25th and 30th milestone anniversaries of resolution 132 and  the Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action, to not just be occasions for renewal of commitments and ‘ambitious rhetoric’ but a time to expend political capital and financial resources to make a tangible difference to women on frontlines of conflict and crises; a time to equip them with the necessary tools and resources; a time to give them a seat at the table; and a time to listen to their views.

Sadly, amid record levels of armed conflict and violence, the transformative potential of women’s leadership and inclusion in the pursuit of peace remains largely unrealized. Peace will never be sustainable without the participation of half of those who should benefit from it - women. When Doha IV is held, women from Afghanistan must not be relegated to the sidelines.  Sudanese women must not be excluded from the diplomatic initiatives. In all situations of conflict, women must not be absent from decision making.

We have repeatedly said at the UN, that when women are part of peace processes, the outcomes are better. We must make good on this understanding.

There must a determined approach to advance the women, peace and security agenda through the combination of political will, an enabling environment with targeted measures, including quotas and parity requirements. Efforts should be made to ensure that their participation is free from violence and harassment by enacting and enforcing appropriate legislation, including for online spaces.

Women must not be seen only as victims and those in need of protection but also active participants and decisionmakers in building peace.

Let us build on the modest progress made thus far, some of which were outlined by Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohamed. Let us learn from the best practices, such as in Colombia where women represent 50% of government’s negotiators in the negotiations.

Let us work to ensure women’s equal and meaningful participation and leadership in peace building processes. This is the path to sustainable peace.

I thank you.