Amherd emphasizes the importance of gender equality in the UN Security Council
Published: Tuesday, Mar 12th 2024, 21:00
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In her speech at the opening of an informal meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UN) in New York on Tuesday afternoon (local time), President Viola Amherd emphasized the importance of gender equality for peace. The debate focused on synergies between the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
The CEDAW Convention and the WPS agenda, together with other human rights treaties and international humanitarian law, form the global framework for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls. Synergies between these legal instruments are intended to increase this protection both in times of peace and in times of conflict.
For Switzerland, there is no doubt: "Peace is closely linked to gender equality and women's rights," the President of the Swiss Confederation told the Security Council. Their participation in peace processes, conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction is of crucial importance. "But less than 15 percent of participants in peace talks are women. That is clearly not enough."
Switzerland is committed to ensuring that the Security Council implements the "Women, Peace and Security" instrument in all contexts and topics on its agenda. In doing so, it is focusing on strengthening the participation of women and promoting their networks and organizations.
Women's rights "subject of relativistic explanations"
"In the last 70 years, progress has been made towards equality, but much remains to be done," said the Federal President. The world is confronted with numerous conflicts. The multilateral institutions were suffering from a major crisis of confidence.
"The fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls are the subject of relativistic statements, both in the halls here and around the world. We must raise our voices loud and clear for the realization of women's rights," said Amherd.
Tuesday's informal meeting is a prelude to the Security Council's annual open debate on the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda, which the President of the Swiss Confederation will chair during Switzerland's presidency of the Security Council in October.
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