Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at the briefing on Women and Peace and Security: Sustaining WPS commitments in the context of accelerated drawdown of peace operations

Thank you very much, Madam President and welcome to the Council from our side.

I would like to thank Sierra Leone for organizing today’s briefing. I also want to thank the briefers of today Ms. Bahous, Ms. Pobee and Ms. Khair for their insights and also for their recommendations to the Council.

In recent years, we have seen a drawdown of peacekeeping operations and Special Political Missions in eight country settings. More than any time before there is a need for the Council to focus on post-missions’ period to safeguard the gains achieved during missions’ presence on the ground.

It goes without saying that all withdrawals must be made in a safe, orderly, responsible, gradual and sustainable way. They must serve to uphold stability and security. Many times where UN missions had to withdraw abruptly, without a planned transition in place, we saw a return to many pre-mission period challenges. This needs to be addressed. Seeing decades of international investment evaporating overnight should make us reflect.

Successfully transitioning from conflict to peace-building and sustaining peace is complex and requires inclusive approach. It cannot be achieved without a genuine and strong commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda. To that end, we must guarantee the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in peace negotiations, peacekeeping and peace-building processes. No peace can be sustained if achieved by and for only half the population. It is an essential part of preventing reoccurrence of conflict.

For that we need the following.

First, a comprehensive gender- responsive analysis and expertise integrated into all phases of transition processes. Gender advisors and women protection advisors need to work closely with departing missions and UN Country Teams to ensure that gender dimensions are included throughout transition planning.

Additionally, adequate resources need to be allocated for the UN Country Teams to sustain efforts and gains achieved with regard to gender equality.

Second, local women-led organizations are playing a critical role in building community resilience and peacebuilding. Providing continued support for their work is therefore crucial, including through secure funding. Slovenia will maintain its support for the work of local women-led organizations also through the Women, Peace and Humanitarian Fund, which enables women peacebuilders and human rights defenders to respond to crises and build peace in their communities.

Third, we must invest more in women’s participation and leadership. We should continue encouraging national political actors to include women in their delegations. They should also be encouraged to allocate resources for the implementation of the commitments of the WPS Agenda. If needed, the UN and member states can offer training, capacity building or any other logistical support. We value the expertise of the Peacebuilding Commission as well as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights in this respect.

Madam President,

Women and girls are often the first to suffer the devastating impacts of conflicts and the last to benefit from the peace that follows.

In order to contribute to lasting peace it is essential to ensure their full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in peace and security processes. Their rights need to be protected and accountability for sexual and gender-based violence guaranteed.  

Transitions are an opportunity for positive change. UN Missions should, with UN Country Teams and in close cooperation with the government, jointly prepare gender-responsive benchmarks before mission is withdrawing. We can only achieve inclusive and equitable peace that benefits everyone through upholding our commitments to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

Thank you, Madam President.

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