Summary: July 25, 2002: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Løj, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN, on behalf of the European Union, on Conflict, Peacekeeping and Women (New York)
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Associated Countries - Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, as well as the EFTA country of the European Economic Area: Iceland, align themselves with this statement.
We appreciate that this important issue is once again on the agenda of the Security Council.
Mr. President,
Resolution 1325 is a landmark resolution very much welcomed by the European Union. It has contributed significantly to gender issues being systematically taken into account in the considerations of conflict and peace efforts by the United Nations system. A solid momentum has been created. But more has to be done to implement the recommendations of the resolution. In this respect we look forward to the action plan on the implementation foreseen by the Secretary-General in his report on
Prevention of Armed Conflict from June 2001.
The European Union shall refrain from reiterating well-known positions on today's theme. We welcome, however, the opportunity to participate in the process of developing this new and important area by offering a few specific recommendations with regard to Conflict, Peacekeeping and Gender.
Mr. President,
The first suggestion I would like to make is a revision of the existing guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures. The Handbook on Multidimensional Peacekeeping should include a chapter on Gender Mainstreaming. In addition, tools and mechanisms to mainstream gender in all aspects of peace operations should be developed. Proper Standard Operating Procedures on Gender should be prepared in order to support a systematic implementation and monitoring of the progress. In addition, it is our view
that all UN-mandated military operations should operate in accordance with the Secretary-General's bulletin on Observance of International Humanitarian Law.
Mr. President,
The second suggestion relates to organization and training. We have noted that gender offices have been established in three field missions and that they have achieved good results. We recommend that gender offices or focal points be established in all missions and that they be provided with the necessary support. In addition, proper training packages for all civilian, police and military personnel at all levels should be developed.
In the opinion of the EU we should spare no effort to increase participation of women at decision making levels in conflict resolution and peace processes The EU is concerned of the exiguous number of women appointed as Special Representatives or Special Envoys of the Secretary-General to peace missions. Member states and the Secretary-General should more efficiently promote appointing female candidates to these positions.
The EU believes that there should be a focal point on gender issues in DPKO to improve mainstreaming of gender issues in the entire work of the department and to back-stop the gender offices or focal points in the field missions. In addition, we believe that an increase of women at the decision-making levels in DPKO and DPA would be supportive to the advancement of gender issues in relation to peace processes.
Mr. President,
Women are not just victims in armed conflicts. They can be combatants, prisoners, leaders, negotiators, peacemakers and peacekeepers as well as activists. Women have the potential to play a more important role in the peacemaking and peace building processes. There should, however, be a more systematic approach to gender mainstreaming with regard to peacemaking and peace building.
We would therefore recommend a gender perspective to be integrated into any mandate and peace plan as this will enhance the possibility of success. In this respect allow me, Mr President, to refer to the very constructive ideas on the UNAMSIL mandate forwarded to the council by Ms Carolyn McAskie, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, during last weeks open meeting on the Mano River. It is obvious that inclusion of such elements in the mandates requires that gender experts contribute to all
stages of the planning of peace operations, including mission planning and staffing.
Furthermore, it would indeed also be important to develop some practical guidelines based on lessons learned on how to include the community level and NGOs in peacemaking, especially women groups. These guidelines should also address how a full and active participation of women in the reconstruction of society and in the institution building could take place in practical terms.
Mr. President,
Allow me to inform the Council that the EU and LAC regions right now are in the process of planning a conference on Women in Peace Operations. The conference is to take place in Chile this coming fall and aims at raising general awareness on gender dimensions in peace processes in the EU and the LAC and support the exchange of knowledge and experiences on national and regional capacity building with regard to international peace operations
The European Union puts great emphasis on the issue of Conflict, Peacekeeping and Gender, and we will continue to pursue our supporting policies in this regard. I hope this statement contributed with some practical proposals that will help to develop the Secretary-Generals study in a way that will allow it to provide concrete recommendations on the way forward.
Mr. President, thank you.
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