U.S., Japan, and Republic of Korea on Women, Peace, and Security | Security Council | United Nations

Summary

On International Women's Day, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States reaffirm their commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, emphasizing the critical role of women in peace and security. The 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will address accelerating gender equality and empowerment. The script highlights the vulnerability of women in conflict and disaster, advocating for their equal participation in decision-making for sustainable solutions. It condemns sexual violence as a war tool and stresses the importance of women's roles in post-conflict and post-disaster recovery.

Takeaways

• 🌍 International Commitment: The script emphasizes the collective commitment of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda on International Women's Day.
• 💪 Empowerment Focus: It stresses the importance of empowering women in security spaces as well as in peace and reconciliation processes, including post-conflict reconstruction and post-disaster recovery.
• 📅 Upcoming Event: Highlights the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, where world leaders will discuss accelerating gender equality and women's empowerment.
• 🔍 Women's Vulnerability: Acknowledges that women often become targets of warring parties and repressive regimes, and are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.
• 🌱 Active Agents: Recognizes women and girls as active agents of climate change mitigation and adaptation, despite facing higher losses and displacement.
• 🚫 Overlooked Needs: Points out that women's distinct needs are often overlooked in conflict and disaster response, underlining the need for equal opportunities and access to resources.
• ⚖️ Decision-Making Participation: Emphasizes the imperative for women to have equal participation in decision-making across political, economic, and social aspects.
• 🔑 Diverse Perspectives: Asserts that including women's diverse experiences and perspectives is vital for developing sustainable solutions for society.
• 🏛️ UN Security Council: As members of the UN Security Council, the countries condemn all forms of sexual violence and commit to elevating the issue within the council.
• 🤝 Joint Effort: Calls for a joint effort to support women's roles in post-conflict reconstruction and post-disaster recovery, acknowledging the benefits of women's full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation.

Q & A

What is the significance of International Women's Day in the context of this script?

International Women's Day is highlighted in the script as a reaffirmation of the collective commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, emphasizing the critical role of women in achieving peace and security.

What does the term 'WPS agenda' refer to in the script?

The WPS agenda stands for 'Women, Peace, and Security,' which is a global commitment to ensuring women's full participation in peace processes and security spaces, as well as addressing the impact of conflict and insecurity on women.

Why is empowering women in security spaces and peace and reconciliation processes important according to the script?

Empowering women in these areas is crucial because it recognizes their agency and potential to contribute to sustainable peace and security, including in post-conflict reconstruction and post-disaster recovery.

What is the 68th session of the commission on the status of women, and why is it significant?

The 68th session of the commission on the status of women is a gathering of world leaders to discuss strategies for accelerating gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. It is significant as it provides a platform for global dialogue and action on these issues.

How does the script describe the impact of conflict on women and girls?

The script describes that during conflict, women and girls often become targets of warring parties and repressive regimes, and they suffer higher losses of livelihood, displacement, and face potentially catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

What role do women and girls play in the context of climate change and environmental degradation as mentioned in the script?

Women and girls are described as active agents of climate change mitigation and adaptation in the script. However, they are also more vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.

Why is it important to ensure women have equal opportunities, access to resources, and participation in decision-making?

Ensuring these aspects is important because it addresses the distinct needs of women that are often overlooked and recognizes the benefits of women's full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in all stages of decision-making, particularly in prevention, preparedness, and reconstruction.

What evidence is mentioned in the script that supports the benefits of women's participation in decision-making?

The script refers to 'irrefutable evidence' that shows the benefits of including women's diverse experiences and perspectives, which play a vital role in developing sustainable solutions for the whole of society.

As members of the UN Security Council, what commitment do the countries mentioned in the script have regarding sexual violence?

The countries condemn all forms of sexual violence, including its use as a tool of war, and redouble their commitment to elevating this issue in the council in support of women's roles in post-conflict reconstruction and post-disaster recovery.

What is the main message of the script regarding the role of women in conflict and disaster response?

The main message is that women and girls have distinct needs that are often overlooked in conflict and disaster response efforts, and there is an imperative to ensure their equal opportunities, access to resources, and participation in decision-making across political, economic, and social aspects.