Mr President,
the UN system has undertaken commendable efforts in developing a comprehensive action plan to implement SCR 1325. But members states also have a responsibility. This was stressed in the statement made by UK on behalf of the EU. Sweden fully aligns itself with that statement. Let me just touch upon three additional aspects of this responsibility.
First and foremost, we have a responsibility as UN Members. As such, we need to deliver on our commitments and promises. We must both contribute more women to peace operations and reinforce the preparedness and awareness of our contingents, staff and experts. We have to demonstrate in the strongest possible ways that sexual exploitation and abuse is completely unacceptable. And when faced with a report without a gender equality perspective, we should ask for additional information. To meet some of these challenges, the Swedish partnership project GenderForce has been initiated. Bringing together relevant government agencies and organisations, this multiannual project focuses on integrating SCR 1325 in all phases of a peace operation.
Second, we have a responsibility as members of regional organisations. As their roles in peace operations increase, so should their responsibilities. The UK told us what the EU and the OSCE are doing to live up to their responsibilities. We are pleased to have contributed to that. But more action is needed, including more sharing of experiences and good practices among regional organisations.
Third, Mr President, we have a responsibility ourselves to provide ideas and good practices, and not only ask for reports and proposals from others. In the Secretary-General's report a number of gaps are identified. I would like to share a few ideas on how to potentially address some of them.
One: Threats to women’s security prevent women from being actors. In August this year, the Swedish Government together with UNIFEM and ILAC hosted a Gender Justice partners meeting. The report from that meeting has been circulated as a UN document. It contains practical recommendations on how to integrate a gender equality perspective in post-conflict societies and thus to enhance the security and participation of women. We are committed to follow-up this process in co-operation with the Republic of South Africa.
Two: both participation and protection of women would benefit from a Peace-building Commission with a clear and integrated gender perspective. Along with 14 colleagues, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs has presented the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly with specific ideas on how to integrate a gender equality perspective in the design and work of the Commission and its Support Offices. This continues to be a priority, for Sweden, and for the EU.
Three: Based on its own experience in the field and to meet the changing demands of multifunctional peace operations, Sweden has put forward the idea of civilian observers. In a transitional phase of a mission, where, for instance, expertise in areas such as elections and human rights is needed, civilian personnel could be phased in into military observer teams. Additional competences could be incorporated and the mission would thus be genuinely multifunctional also at the field level. This new category of seconded civilian personnel could significantly increase the number of female mission members at the field level, where military observer teams very often constitute the only presence of a peace mission.
Four: Special Representatives, Special Envoys and other emissaries involved in peace negotiations should have firm guidelines from the Secretary General to enhance women’s participation in peace processes and transitional structures. Any reason for not succeeding should be reported on. Such benchmarks could really make a difference. I ask you to compare the impressive level of female participation in the parliament of Afghanistan, with the much poorer results in the DR Congo. This does not reflect local conditions. It is rather the result of a determined policy of the UNAMA mission and its SRSG.
Mr President, to shoulder our responsibilities at a national level, an interministerial working group is now finalising a Swedish Action Plan to intensify our implementation of SCR 1325. Work is – and will be – carried out in co-operation with government agencies, as well as with civil society. We look forward to sharing good practices with states and organisations in the process of developing or implementing their plans, methods and tools. Only by co-operating will we be able to ensure that decisions and ambitions will improve the daily lives of women and men, girls and boys. And we cannot afford to settle for less.
Thank you.