New York Kuwait asserted that women’s political participation enhance peace and security at the national, regional and international levels.
This came in the speech delivered here on Thursday by Minister of State for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel at the Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on Women, Peace and Security.
She highlighted several key issues, the most important of which was the centrality of women’s participation in political processes in light of the security challenges facing the Sahel region, the steps required to achieve women’s political empowerment and the role of the United Nations and international and regional organizations in promoting women’s participation in peace and security in the Sahel region.
“Studies indicate that the role of women is central to all stages of the conflict,” Al-Aqeel said, adding that success and sustainability of peace processes are increased by the extent of women’s involvement.
She noted the security challenges facing the Sahel region, with the continued deterioration of economic conditions and the consequences of climate change on the countries of the region, there is an escalating of conflict-related violence.
The Kuwaiti official also referred to the people affected by these challenges, especially women and children, citing comprehensive solutions with developmental dimensions, in which women have an essential role in many sectors. These include military, civil, economic and political sectors. She stressed that it is the responsibility of member states to ensure the political participation of women at all stages, affirmed the importance of international and regional cooperation to prevent all forms of violence against women.
In this context, Al-Aqeel welcomed the appointment of 11 women out of 32 in the government of Mali for the first time, saying that the Malian government thus has achieved the goal of representing women by 30 percent in accordance with the 2015 Act on the Promotion of Gender Equality.
The Kuwaiti minister appreciated the regional initiatives taken by regional countries to involve women in the peace process, such as the launching of the G5 Sahel Women’s Platform and the initiatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to empower women. She reiterated her support for the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) and urged to complete and coordinate all ongoing efforts to ensure the successful participation of women in the peace process and development plans.
“The Security Council has succeeded in setting a solid normative framework on women’s issues and peace and security in general in 70 resolutions,” Al-Aqeel confirmed, adding that “We have a common challenge to implement these resolutions adequately, this is the same challenge facing the agenda of women and peace and security in general.
“As next year 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325, we have a responsibility to redouble and join efforts to make progress in the effective implementation of the agenda of women, peace and security in general and in the Sahel in particular,” she said.
Source: International Islamic News Agency