At the open debate of the UN Security Council on “Women and Peace and Security” on 30 November, Lithuania urged to put an end to violence against women and girls, and to the impunity of the perpetrators of those crimes, also to keep up the efforts aimed at facilitating and supporting women’s equal participation and full involvement in peace negotiation, post-conflict reconstruction, and to provide effective protection for women human rights defenders.
At the open debate of the UN Security Council on “Women and Peace and Security” on 30 November, Lithuania urged to put an end to violence against women and girls, and to the impunity of the perpetrators of those crimes, also to keep up the efforts aimed at facilitating and supporting women’s equal participation and full involvement in peace negotiation, post-conflict reconstruction, and to provide effective protection for women human rights defenders.
Lithuanian Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stressed the need to tackle impunity for such crimes and to more consistently implement the resolutions on strengthening the role of women in peace-building and post-conflict recovery processes.
Murmokaitė said, “We must step up our efforts to provide protection for women human rights defenders, who are often subjected to violence and abuse, and must tackle impunity with all due severity and determination.
This year the debate focused special attention on the role of women’s organisations in preventing conflict and restoring peace.
Lithuania called on the UN representatives, peacekeeping and political missions to regularly consult with women’s organizations and keep up their efforts aimed at facilitating and supporting women’s equal participation and full involvement in peace negotiation, post-conflict reconstruction, electoral processes.
Lithuania adopted its national action plan for the implementation of the resolution on women, peace and security - Security Council Resolution 1325 (SCR1325) - in December 2011. When drafting the plan, Lithuania turned to women’s non-governmental organisations for their input.
It sets out the objectives, goals and measures for the implementation of the specific resolution aimed at developing gender awareness and gender advisor training programmes meant for future peace keeping and civilian police mission participants, and promoting greater cooperation with women’s NGOs, the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman, and academic institutions.
The Ambassador also stressed the importance to ensure consistent adherence to the implementation of necessary measures in codes of conduct of the armed forces of states, sharing best practices and encouraging integration of measures for the protection of women in armed conflicts into operational documents. She also urged to strongly support calls for a gender perspective in the future Arms Trade Treaty, including the need to retain the obligation for exporting states to avoid arms being used to commit gender-based violence or violence against children.
Lithuania is ready to continue to actively engage with issues of women, peace and security after gaining a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Since 1996, Lithuania has been a candidate for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the period 2014-2015.
URM.lt
