|
|
Mr. President,
We are grateful to the Secretary General for his insightful briefing and for his strong leadership in advancing the ‘women and peace and security’ agenda.
Mr. President,
The High Level review of Security Council Resolution-1325 last year was an important opportunity not only to reflect on the progress made toward implementation of the resolution, but also to calibrate our collective ambition to promote the shared goal of strengthening the role of women in conflict resolution, peace building, peacekeeping and transitional justice systems.
Resolution-2242 reaffirmed our strong commitment to the normative framework that views women as a pivotal element of the conflict-resolution paradigm. We also welcome Resolution-2250 on youth, peace and security (December 2015), as an important complement and reinforcement of this agenda.
Women across the world, from Columbia to Uganda to Burundi to Tunisia, have emerged as leaders and consensus builders, inspiring hopes of peace and prosperity amidst conflict and violence. Yet, millions of women and girls remain most vulnerable in situations of armed conflict. The perpetrators of these crimes include DAESH and Boko Haram as well as states that use sexual abuse as a weapon of war.
In our region we have witnessed thousands of women falling victim to brutal oppression. Countless others have suffered rape and sexual abuse, the worst and the most traumatic form of violence.
We agree with the Secretary General that despite the momentum for change, it is necessary that support goes beyond words.
Renewed focus on implementation of the ‘common agenda’ is therefore, crucial. That is the key to overcoming operational gaps and challenges and delivering on our promise of peace and security.
As agents of peace, women also have a vital role to play in achieving sustainable development as peace and development are inextricably linked. Empowerment of women is therefore also essential for achieving the SDGs, including on poverty eradication, health, education and inclusive development.
Women's special skills in mediation makes them particularly suited as the Secretary Generals Special Envoys and Special Representatives. Yet they head very few such missions. This needs to change.
Mr. President,
Pakistan fully supports the objectives of the women and peace and security agenda, and has played an important role in advancing these goals as a major troop contributor to UN peacekeeping missions. Pakistani women peacekeepers have served as police officers, doctors and nurses in missions in Asia, Africa and the Balkans.
Gender-sensitization is a mandatory part of training of our peacekeepers. Pakistan stands ready to share our experience by conducting training programmes for women security officers to enhance their capacity to respond to crisis situations.
As host to the largest protracted refugee population in the world, Pakistan has allowed unhindered access to Afghan refugees, including women and girls, to free education, health care, and enabled them to secure employment. It is gratifying to note that the core-skills acquired by our Afghan sisters in Pakistan, are being used for the welfare of their homeland, Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
Pakistan firmly believes that the best way to promote and safeguard the interests of women in conflict situations is to address the root-causes of these conflicts and address cross-cutting issues of governance. This would require synergy of efforts towards conflict prevention and resolution.
We also believe that the Security Council should continue to address the issues of WPS in accordance with its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. Any digression from this mandate or proliferation of new mandates runs the risk of undermining the consensus around this issue.
I thank you.