Commission on Status of Women
Excellencies, distinguished delegates.
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Swedish Government. I also would like to align myself with the statement made by my Irish colleague on behalf of the EU.
Madame chair,
As is stated in the Beijing Platform for Action, peace is a prerequisite for the attainment of equality between women and men. Equality between women and men, in turn, is a prerequisite for social progress, democracy and sustainable development. No society that oppresses and discriminates against half its population can be called democratic. You have to work consciously and consistently to attain gender equality, to secure a democratic society and to secure peace and development.
We must be aware of the existence of a gender-based power structure that makes women subordinate to men. The male role must be questioned and the perception on masculinities should be discussed. Men must not be seen as a norm or as generic representatives for all human beings; men are half of the world's population, no more no less!
It is crucial to recognise and deal with the imbalance of power between women and men. Male overrepresentation in political and economic decision-making bodies is an obstacle to democracy and development. Efforts to promote equality between women and men, girls and boys are and must be based on the principle that all persons must be able to enjoy the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities in all areas of society.
During armed conflict women are the ones who maintain the social functions in the society and they perform work that they have previously often been excluded from while it is mostly men who are involved in armed fighting. It is important that women are allowed to continue to take active part in society after the conflict including peace negotiations and the formulation of peace agreements, in constitutional processes or in the rebuilding of the society. The experiences women have from wars must be recognised and catered for as should be the fact that both women's and men's participation in post war reconstruction is essential to ensure a sustainable peace. The landmark resolution 1325 on women peace and security adopted by the Security Council in 2000 needs to be fully implemented.
Having pointed at the constructive role as actors women have and should play in conflict and post conflict situations, we must not forget that women are also victims in armed conflict. One horrifying means of warfare is that women and girls are systematically subjected to physical and mental abuse, including sexual abuse, and other violations of human rights or breaches of international law.
In the UNIFEM report "Women, War, Peace" the authors Elisabeth Rehn and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf write: "Women's bodies become a battleground during conflict over which opposing forces struggle." All such actions and perpetrators - including emergency relief workers and members of peacekeeping forces- must be condemned, investigated and punished. It is crucial to ensure that peacekeeping forces and humanitarian workers have and comply with codes of conduct.
The right to, and control over their own bodies is something men have always taken for granted. Women's bodies have almost always been under the control of someone else - or the object of someone else's actions. In many countries the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls are not respected and they lack access to reproductive health services. These issues must be addressed politically as well as in society at large. Sweden will continue to raise and take actions with respect to these important issues. Our experience is that progress can be made if we take long-term perspective and work together.
Women's human rights are many times neglected - in peace and in wartime alike. This is totally unacceptable and it is high time for decision-makers and organisations at all levels, to realise that this must end.
Equality between women and men, girls and boys demands no less than a fundamental change of society. Our societal, political and cultural institutions, be they public or private, must be changed. In every field of life and whenever women and men are affected by political reforms and decisions, a gender perspective must be the point of departure. All political issues have gender implications and gender equality must therefore be addressed wherever political decisions are taken or resources allocated and wherever norms, rules and values are set.
Thank you!