女性・平和・安全保障に関する安保理公開討論における石兼大使 ステートメント
令和4年1月18日
(As delivered)
Madame President,I would like to express my appreciation to Norway for convening this important debate on women, peace and security (WPS) with a focus on creating a safe and enabling environment for women. I thank Madame High Commissioner for Human Rights and the civil society representatives for their briefings.
First of all, Japan shares deep concerns over attacks against women human rights defenders, journalists and others, as alerted in the 2021 SG report on WPS. We are also deeply impressed by the analysis in the report on “the goal of reversing the rise in global military spending and greater investment in human security.” As the report says, “greater investment in the social infrastructure and services that buttress human security” is what we really need for conflict prevention, peacebuilding and sustaining peace. And this is particularly true in the context of WPS.
UN agencies and local NGOs would play a key role for sure in supporting and protecting women engaging in peace and security processes. Japan has been actively supporting the capacity-building of local women peacebuilders through a number of UN Women projects. To cope with ongoing threats and violence against Afghan women, including human rights defenders, Japan decided to fund a new UN Women project that supports local civil society organizations operating shelters and community based centers for survivors of violence.
In the long-term, however, there is no magic solution to create a lasting safe, enabling environment for women but to build effective, accountable, inclusive institutions owned by the country that can protect and empower people and foster trust in the society.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront online violence as a new form of threat targeting women human rights defenders. Japan supports the ongoing study by UN Women in 21 Arab countries with a specific focus on online violence against women, including women activists and human rights defenders. It aims to clarify the gaps in the legal systems to prevent online violence, and identify challenges in reporting and accessing services. The project will also facilitate mapping of existing laws. We hope the findings of this project will contribute to strengthening institutional capacity in the region to cope with this new threat.
To conclude, full, equal and meaningful participation of women human rights defenders and peacebuilders requires long-term, collective efforts. Japan is committed to play its part in this endeavour.
Thank you very much.