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.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Collective Commitment on International Women's Day

On International Women's Day, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States reaffirm their collective commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. They emphasize the importance of women's roles in achieving inclusive and sustainable peace and security, highlighting the need for women's empowerment in security, peace, and reconciliation processes, including post-conflict reconstruction and post-disaster recovery.

🌐 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

Next week marks the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, where global leaders will convene to discuss accelerating gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. The session will address how women, especially during conflict, become targets of war and repressive regimes. Additionally, it will focus on the impact of climate change on women and girls, who often play significant roles in climate change mitigation and adaptation yet suffer higher losses in livelihood, displacement, and food insecurity compared to men and boys.

🚨 Addressing Women's Needs in Conflict and Disaster

In conflict and disaster response efforts, the distinct needs of women and girls are frequently overlooked. This highlights the necessity of ensuring they have equal opportunities, access to resources, and participation in decision-making across political, economic, and social domains. The undeniable evidence shows the benefits of women's full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in all stages of decision-making, particularly in prevention, preparedness, and reconstruction.

🔍 Importance of Women's Diverse Perspectives

Including women's diverse experiences and perspectives is vital in developing sustainable solutions for society as a whole. As members of the UN Security Council, the commitment is to condemn all forms of sexual violence, including its use as a tool of war, and to elevate this issue within the council. This support aims to bolster women's roles in post-conflict reconstruction and post-disaster recovery.

Keywords

💡International Women's Day

International Women's Day is a global event celebrated annually on March 8th to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is a call to action for gender equality and is deeply connected to the video's theme as it serves as the backdrop for the reaffirmation of commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.

💡Collective commitment

Collective commitment refers to a shared dedication or promise made by multiple parties to work together towards a common goal. In the context of the video, it highlights the joint pledge by Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States to advance the WPS agenda, emphasizing unity and cooperation in promoting gender equality and peace.

💡Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda

The WPS agenda is a framework that recognizes the different ways in which conflicts affect women and girls and calls for their equal participation in peace processes. The script emphasizes the importance of this agenda by stating the commitment to advancing it, showing the focus on gender equality in peace and security discussions.

💡Empowering women

Empowering women involves increasing their ability to make choices and have control over their lives. The video script mentions empowering women in security spaces and peace and reconciliation processes, which is crucial for achieving sustainable peace and inclusive decision-making.

💡Post-conflict reconstruction

Post-conflict reconstruction refers to the process of rebuilding societies after a conflict has ended. The script mentions the importance of including women in this process, as their involvement is key to ensuring that the reconstruction is sustainable and inclusive.

💡Post-disaster recovery

Post-disaster recovery is the process of restoring and improving systems, communities, and lives after a disaster. The video script highlights the role of women as active agents in this process, underlining the need for their empowerment and participation.

💡Commission on the Status of Women

The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The script mentions the 68th session of this commission as a platform for world leaders to discuss gender equality and women's empowerment.

💡Gender equality

Gender equality is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, and the absence of discrimination based on a person's gender. The script repeatedly emphasizes the goal of accelerating gender equality, which is central to the discussions and efforts mentioned.

💡Sexual violence

Sexual violence is any sexual act or attempt to obtain a sexual act by violence or coercion. The video script condemns all forms of sexual violence, including its use as a weapon of war, and stresses the importance of addressing this issue in the context of the UN Security Council.

💡Vulnerability

Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of individuals or groups to harm or negative consequences. In the script, it is mentioned that climate change and environmental degradation increase the vulnerability of women and girls, who often suffer higher losses and face greater risks.

💡Participation

Participation in this context refers to the active involvement of women in decision-making processes across various sectors. The script argues for the necessity of women's equal opportunities, access to resources, and participation in decision-making, particularly in conflict prevention, preparedness, and reconstruction.

Highlights

Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States reaffirm their collective commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.

Recognizing that women are critical actors in achieving inclusive and sustainable peace and security.

Underscoring the shared commitment to empowering women in security spaces and peace and reconciliation processes.

Highlighting the importance of women's roles in postconflict reconstruction and post-disaster recovery.

Mentioning the upcoming 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, where world leaders will discuss accelerating gender equality.

Acknowledging that women often become targets during conflicts and under repressive regimes.

Noting the adverse impact of climate change and environmental degradation on women and girls, increasing their vulnerability.

Stressing that women and girls suffer higher losses of livelihood, displacement rates, and face catastrophic food insecurity compared to men and boys.

Emphasizing the distinct needs of women and girls in conflict and disaster response efforts, which are often overlooked.

Highlighting the need to ensure women have equal opportunities, access to resources, and participation in decision-making across political, economic, and social aspects.

Reaffirming the benefits of women's full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in all stages of decision-making efforts.

Stating that including women's diverse experiences and perspectives is vital in developing sustainable solutions for society.

Condemning all forms of sexual violence, including as a tool of war, and reaffirming commitment to addressing this issue in the UN Security Council.

Supporting women's roles in postconflict reconstruction and post-disaster recovery.

Expressing a collective commitment to elevating the issue of sexual violence in the UN Security Council.

Transcripts

good

afternoon uh on International women's

day Japan the Republic of Korea and the

United States reaffirm our Collective

commitment to advancing the WPS agenda

recognizing that women are critical

actors in achieving inclusive and

sustainable peace and security we

underscore our shared commitment to

empowering women in security spaces as

well as peace and Reconciliation

processes including postconflict

reconstruction and post Disaster

Recovery next week is the 68th session

of the commission of the on the status

of women where world leaders will gather

to discuss how to accelerate the

achievement of gender equality and the

empowerment of all women and girls

during conflict women too often can

become targets of Waring parties and

repressive re regimes the adverse impact

of climate change and environmental

degradation further increases the

vulnerability of women and girls who

often are the active agents of climate

change mitigation and

adaptation they suffer higher losses of

livelihood rates of displac

and face potentially catastrophic levels

of food insecurity compared with women

with men and boys in conflict and

Disaster Response efforts women and

girls have distinct needs that are too

often overlooked this underscores the

imperative to ensure they have equal

opportunities access to resources and

participation in decisionmaking across

political EC economic and social

aspects the irrefutable evidence

reaffirms the benefits of women's full

equal meaningful and safe participation

in all stages of decision-making efforts

particularly in prevention preparedness

and

reconstruction we know that including

women's diverse experiences and

perspectives play a vital role in

developing Sustainable Solutions

for the whole of

society together as members of the UN

Security Council we condemn all forms of

sexual violence including as a tool of

war and redouble our commitment to

elevating this issue in the council in

support of women's roles in postconflict

reconstruction and post- Disaster

Recovery I thank

you question

Happ