Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Chair,
I have the honour to deliver this joint statement on behalf of: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkiye, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the European Union.
We wish to underscore the importance of strengthening the integration of gender perspectives in the work of the First Committee and across the entire disarmament machinery.
Twenty-six years ago, the Security Council adopted the landmark Resolution 1325 (2000) establishing the basis for the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. This resolution recognized the particular impact of armed conflict on women and girls, as well as the critical roles women play in conflict prevention, resolution, peacebuilding, and post-conflict recovery. We recognize the differential impacts of weapons on women, men, girls and boys. We reaffirm the fundamental importance of the WPS Agenda and the need to advance women’s full, equal, meaningful, effective and safe participation in these processes.
The importance of mainstreaming gender perspectives in our work is regrettably being regularly challenged, including in disarmament and non-proliferation fora, despite evidence showing that gender equality is a primary predictor of sustainable peace.
Chair,
The systematic mainstreaming of gender perspectives in the disarmament machinery strengthens the diverse, inclusive and meaningful participation for all in all aspects of our work. It also contributes to the implementation of the Pact for the Future, the Sustainable Development Goals, UNSCR 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security and its subsequent resolutions and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The differential gendered impacts of armed conflict, including conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence, are critical considerations in the effective implementation of arms control and disarmament agreements. We therefore underscore the need to further strengthen the collection and use of disaggregated data in disarmament policies.
For example, the use of explosive weapons in populated areas has differentiated impacts on women and girls, including in relation to societal roles, educational opportunities and participation in economies, both during and after armed conflict. Similarly, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and housing, and the resulting forced migration and irregular displacement heightens the risk of gender-based violence.
Chair,
Research by UNIDIR also highlights that women remain underrepresented in arms control and disarmament fora, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles. Diverse perspectives can bring new insights and improve the functioning of the disarmament machinery. We strongly encourage specific, targeted actions so that women are fully, safely, equally and meaningfully represented in our work, including in decision making, to help achieve effective and sustainable solutions towards disarmament and non-proliferation. This includes championing the pivotal work of civil society in gender mainstreaming.
In light of the concerted pushback to the relevance of gender perspectives and equality in disarmament matters, we call on all States to reflect on the ways in which a world unburdened by the scourge of weapons is a safer, more inclusive and equitable world for everyone.
In closing, Chair, we reiterate that collectively incorporating gender perspectives in all efforts related to disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control can only improve the functioning of the disarmament machinery and strengthen international peace and security for all.
Thank you.