女性・平和・安全保障（WPS）共同コミットメントに関する会合における山中大使ステートメント

Minister Hasani, Ambassador Hoxha, distinguished briefers and colleagues,
 
I would like to thank Albania for convening this meeting and for their valuable leadership in coordinating the group in 2023.
 
Japan commends the efforts and achievements of the Commitment signatories, which have realized various positive results.
 
It is important that we continue to pursue upholding and implementing the Council’s commitments.
 
Japan particularly welcomes that Shared Commitment holders have promoted gender balance among briefers to the Council and have sought to ensure the meaningful representation of diverse women civil society stakeholders in Council meetings. At the same time, today’s meeting has reacknowledged that there is still a long way to go for us to achieve our commitments.
 
The Commitment holders have also raised awareness through joint statements about the unique challenges faced by women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. We need to continue our efforts to protect women and girls against sexual and gender-based violence, ensure access to justice, and support necessary services in different regional contexts. 

On our part, Japan carried out the commitments during its Presidency in January by mainstreaming the WPS agenda throughout the month.
 
In particular, we highlighted the agenda in the signature open debate on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace and invited Ms. Diago Diagne Ndiaye, Regional President of the Network of Peace and Security for Women in the ECOWAS Member States.
 
Ms. Ndiaye underscored the necessity of addressing emerging threats and risk multipliers against women and girls such as social inequalities and poor governance. Her recommendations included building resilient and effective institutions, investing in people including women and girls, and keeping the WPS agenda at the center of these measures.
 
Japan also delivered a joint statement on WPS before a private Council meeting on Afghanistan, keeping the agenda at the forefront.
 
To conclude, Japan would like to once again express our deep appreciation for Albania’s excellent leadership for 2023 and looks forward to working closely with Malta, the next coordinator, and with the existing and incoming members to further accelerate the WPS agenda in the Council.
 
Thank you.