On UN day, I want to start by recalling that last month my Prime Minister gave a clear recommitment to the United Nations, to the rule of law, and to the need to work together for peace, progress and equality.
And empowering women and girls is a vital part of this. Addressing structural gender inequality is a vital part of this, tackling misogyny is a vital part of this, and ending impunity for conflict related sexual violence is a vital part of this.
We are approaching the 25-year anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and I’m proud of the role the UK has played.
There is much to celebrate. Yet the overall implementation is lagging. Not one of the peace agreements reached in 2023 included a women’s representative or women’s representative group as signatory. The proportion of women killed in conflict has doubled compared to 2022.
Building on her excellency Thomas-Greenfield’s essential three I’s. May I propose three areas for our collective action?
First, conflict prevention.
Conflict is at a post-WWII high. Women and children are disproportionately impacted. And we need to reinvigorate conflict prevention efforts, taking a gender-responsive approach.
Through our ‘Resourcing Change’ project, the UK is supporting women’s participation in formal and informal mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of conflict, including in Nigeria and in South Sudan.
Second, we must stand together to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and end impunity.
The UK remains committed to the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and our work with the International Alliance to build a stronger international response. PSVI programmes have contributed to vital legislative changes around the world.
We have sanctioned perpetrators for CRSV crimes in seven countries. And I call upon all states to redouble efforts to seek justice and accountability and support the survivors.
Third, I call upon member states to support women’s right’s organisations as the driving force behind the WPS agenda.
I am proud of the UK’s £33 million partnership with the Equality Fund who have supported over 1000 women’s right’s organisations, including in conflict settings, since 2019.
In Sudan, the UK has supported the establishment of the anti-war, pro-democracy coalition, working with 200 women.
In Myanmar, the UK is contributing over $1.3 million over three years in long-term support to grassroots women and LGBTQ+ led organisations to build capacity and support inclusive and strategic cooperation amongst local-level women leaders and community representatives.
Women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation is crucial to achieving lasting peace, and we condemn the shocking levels of reprisals against women peacebuilders.
But we must also recognise this, that the long-term solution to gender based violence in conflicts requires all societies to address its root causes. It requires addressing gender inequality systemically, not just in criminal courts or in peace negotiations halls, but in how girls and boys, men and women relate to each other in classrooms, in playgrounds, workplaces, public life and online.
The link between gender inequality and gender-based violence in conflict must be systematically addressed.
So as we approach the 25th anniversary, we must celebrate women’s rights organisations and peacebuilders who have championed this agenda. We welcome the Secretary General’s Common Pledge to prioritise women’s participation in peace processes to address this gap.
But we must go further and faster to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful future for all.
