Ambassadorial-level PBC Meeting on Investing in Women's Participation Throughout the Peace Continuum

Check Against Delivery

Mr. Chair, distinguished briefers, excellencies,

Thank you for convening this important meeting on women, peace and security. It is a commendable decision by this Commission to place gender at the center of its work with its gender strategy and action plan.

Today, I will share three points on women, peace and security in relation to localization, participation and protection.

***

First and foremost, we must emphasize the importance of supporting locally-led peacebuilding initiatives. Peace is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it is inherently contextual. In the work of this Commission, this requires meaningful engagement with local women leaders, activists, human rights defenders, networks and organizations who are on the frontlines of conflict prevention, peacebuilding, crisis response, and reconciliation. By investing in their access to capacity-building, resource mobilization, and decision-making, we can support the transformative potential of women as agents of peace.

***

Secondly, we must prioritize the full, equal and meaningful participation of women peacebuilders at all levels of decision-making. This requires proactive measures to promote gender balance, including targeted recruitment, training, and mentorship programs for women in peace and security roles. Additionally, we must ensure that perspectives of women – including young women – are integrated into the design, implementation, and evaluation of peacebuilding programmes and strategies. Practically, this means that we in the Peacebuilding Commission must do our part to include women peacebuilders meaningfully in our deliberations – we can do better in 2024 than we did in 2023 when it comes to the rate of women briefers. And we must continue to provide gender-responsive advices from this Commission to the Security Council and other UN bodies.

***

Thirdly, we must recognize the intrinsic connection between protection and participation. Too often, women face intersecting forms of violence and discrimination that not only undermine their security but also can hinder their engagement in peacebuilding activities. From sexual and gender-based violence to systemic barriers to education and economic empowerment, these challenges create a vicious cycle of exclusion.

Therefore, any meaningful investment in women’s participation must be accompanied by robust measures to protect their rights, safety, and dignity.

***

In conclusion, advancing women’s full, equal and meaningful participation throughout the peace continuum is not just a moral imperative; it is essential for sustaining peace. Denmark stands ready to work with the members of the Commission and women peacebuilders to prioritize investment in women’s participation and to follow up on the PBC’s action plan on gender.

I thank you.