Statement by H.E. Mr. Koro Bessho
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the Open Debate of the United Nations Security Council
under the Agenda Item “Women, Peace and Security”
25 October 2016
Mr. President,
At the outset, I would like to join others in thanking the briefers, Ms.Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Ms. Rita Lopidia, for their valuable insights on this important topic.
Let me begin by quoting the words of a Libyan female activist, Ms. Alaa Murabit, who said, and I quote, “I am an arms dealer in Libya, but my weapons reduce violence and last longer than a bullet”.
Needless to say, the arms that Ms. Murabit promotes are not real weapons, but rather, “women’s participation” in the prevention and resolution of conflicts.
I believe her words well illustrate why the Security Council has held annual debates on the issue of "Women, Peace and Security" for more than 15 years.
The issue of women's participation has real and tangible effect on the promotion of international peace and security.
Mr. President,
We continue to witness a large number of conflicts around the world. According to the World Bank, 90% of conflicts from 2000 to 2009 were relapses.
It is under such backdrop, that securing women’s participation in peace processes is vital for them to be successful and sustainable.
For example, in 2014 a peace agreement was reached in Mindanao, Philippines after 17 years of conflict and a peace agreement was recently reached in Colombia after half-century of civil war.
It is noteworthy that in both these recent cases, one third of the negotiators at the negotiating table were women.
Just like the case of Ms. Murabit in Libya, these examples illustrate how many women activists are seeking and succeeding in bringing peace to their country.
Mr. President,
2015 was a landmark year for the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda.
The Security Council adopted resolution 2242 last year. This was the eighth resolution on the agenda and represents a steady accumulation of norms on the issue.
We welcome the steady implementation of the resolution as well. Close to 70 countries have already announced their national commitments to implement the resolution. We also welcome the establishment of an Informal Expert Group as per the said resolution.
We appreciate efforts that go beyond the resolution, such as the establishment of National Focal Points in approximately 50 countries to exchange best practices on the issue.
Furthermore, the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial meeting, of which Japan is one of the co-hosts, held in London last month, provided further momentum to women’s participation in peacekeeping operations.
These developments show that norms and commitments are already on the table. I believe that, to advance this agenda, what the Council members should do now is “to implement their commitments”.
Japan has been steadfast in implementing its own commitments announced last October. To this end, Japan began monitoring the implementation of its National Action Plan this year. Moreover, we have expressed readiness to support other countries in the creation of their Action Plans.
To begin with, Japan and UN-Women co-hosted a regional symposium among Asia-Pacific countries in Bangkok in July, with the aim of sharing our experiences in the creation and implementation of our National Action Plans.
Similarly, Japan supported UN-Women’s project for Arab League countries.
By funding projects of UN-Women and the office of SRSG Bangura, Japan aims to protect and empower displaced and migrant women in the Middle East and Africa.
This is an issue that requires immediate and constant attention of the Security Council in the world of today as eloquently illustrated by our briefers.
Mr. President,
Before concluding, I would like to state that Japan will once again host the World Assembly of Women (WAW!) in Tokyo in December, for the third straight year.
“Women, Peace and Security” will be one of the main discussion points, and I look forward to sharing the outcomes with you.
The Security Council members must stand united in promoting this agenda. Such demonstration of unity would carry greater political weight and convey a stronger message to the world.
During its tenure as member of the Council, Japan will continue to work with members of the Council and the United Nations at large to promote this important agenda.
Thank you.
