Joint Nordic Statement at Security Council Open Debate on Women Peace and Security

Check Against Delivery

Mr. President, Excellences, distinguished delegates,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries – Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Denmark.

We thank Brazil for convening this important debate looking back at the origins of the landmark Resolution 1325. A thank you also to our insightful briefers, who are here today sharing their experiences and exemplifying the critical role of women in building and sustaining peace and security.

In a time shaped by the proliferation of armed conflict, and a scourge of violence beyond armed conflict, we must redouble our efforts to implement Resolution 1325. This is necessary if we are to achieve the 2030 Agenda, and succeed in meeting the ambitions of the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace.

Excellences,

The full framework for the Women, Peace and Security agenda is robust and extensive, and there is a strong ecosystem of advocates, researchers, and practitioners. However, progress on implementation is unacceptably slow.

The report by the Secretary-General is clear: a majority of peace processes continue to take place with no women as mediators, negotiators or signatories. Women human rights defenders and peacebuilders continue to be exposed to violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, harassment, reprisals, threats and intimidation, offline as well as online. Women’s rights organizations remain critically underfunded.

Yet, it is evident that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women at all levels in political and peacebuilding processes as well as in peacekeeping is essential to lasting peace and security. In this regard, we draw attention to the open letter of 16 October signed by 617 civil society organizations, and echo its call to support the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation and leadership of women.

History has taught us that inclusive peace processes are more likely to produce sustainable results., Across the globe, women have successfully contributed to more robust democracies and longer-lasting peace. Positive political change and development is in high demand, and women must be in the driving seat.

Excellences,

The Nordic countries are consistent and long-standing advocates for putting women front and centre in peace and security efforts.

Much remains to be done.

Allow us to highlight three lines of effort.

FIRST; Local women-led groups play an indispensable role in preventing conflicts and building peace in communities, fostering dialogue and responding to crises. As put forward in the SG’s report, local mediation can be a key entry point for women’s participation in peacemaking when high-level negotiations are deadlocked. We must do more to ensure that these groups can participate meaningfully in all political processes, incl. track 1, not least by providing flexible funding, for example through mechanisms such as the Women, Peace and Humanitarian Fund, access to capacity building and protection against reprisals. And equally important, to exert political pressure when women are excluded.

SECOND; The UN must take concrete steps towards greater diversity and representation of women, including young women in the mediation teams it leads or co-leads. Concrete steps must be taken to ensure that women are fully, equally and meaningfully represented in every UN led mediation effort from the very beginning. The UN must set and lead by example to achieve a fundamental normative and practical shift. Women’s full, equal and meaningful participation is ultimately about breaking power structures and sustaining peace.

THIRD; It is the responsibility of Members States, with support from the UN, to address all cases of violence, harassment, intimidation and threats, both online and offline, against women peacebuilders and human rights defenders. The Nordic countries emphasize a zero tolerance for such harassments, and the need for strengthened accountability mechanisms in this regard, and reaffirm the Secretary-General’s call to dismantle the patriarchal and oppressive power structures which stand in the way of progress on gender equality or women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in political and public life.

The Nordic countries remain committed to work with partners, including women’s and feminist organizations, to advance the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

I thank you.