Women, rule of law and transitional justice in conflict-affected situations

Thank you Mr. President,

for allowing me to give a brief presentation of NATO’s contributions to the implementation of the Council’s resolutions on Women, Peace and Security.

Allow me also to welcome today’s adoption of yet another significant Resolution on Women Peace and Security.

Thank you also to our distinguished briefers for today’s debate.

In the year that has passed since I last addressed the Council, NATO’s and our Partners’ work on women, peace and security has continued to progress. Awareness is rising, and it is better understood that mainstreaming gender in the broader security context will strengthen our ability to meet today’s security challenges. Our policies on women, peace and security are becoming more of an integral part of our everyday business.

NATO’s collaboration with Partner Nations on women, peace and security focuses on joint political leadership as well as on practical cooperation in the security and defence fields. Reforms and rebuilding of security institutions should be gender sensitive and ensure women’s participation in the security sectors, just as in any other sector of our society. I am happy to report that over the past year a number of partners have included or are considering to include women, peace and security related goals in their cooperation programmes with NATO.

A “Review of the Practical Implications of UNSCR 1325 for the Conduct of NATO-led Operations and missions” has been conducted together with our partners in ISAF and KFOR, and recommendations on the way ahead have been approved by the North Atlantic Council. This review and the following discussions in the Alliance, and with our Partners, provided a good opportunity to learn from our experiences in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

A key lesson is that we need to strengthen our focus on the implementation of already existing policies, action plans and directives. We are therefore pursuing continued integration of a gender perspective in all phases and activities related to conflict analysis, planning, and execution of crisis management operations and we are strengthening the role of Gender Advisers in the field. These activities contribute to the enhancement of operational effectiveness and to an improved implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions in an operational context.

As documented by this review, training, education and exercises remain key tools for ensuring that our security institutions and armed forces have the necessary competences. We have made strides in strengthening the gender training offered under the auspices of NATO. The Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations, located in Sweden, has been appointed Department Head for NATO gender training in military operations. Strengthened curricula both for troops and for Gender Advisers have been developed. NATO is currently developing an online gender course in close collaboration with the UN. We encourage partners to make use of available gender training opportunities offered by NATO as well as gender training made available by NATO Allies.

Mr. President,

NATO’s overall purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means, but the Alliance is not defined by the threats we face, the Alliance is defined by the values we share. We are united by the principles of individual liberty, democracy, human rights and rule of law.

NATO fully recognizes the need to ensure access to justice for all and we recognize the challenges that occur when the rule of law breaks down in a conflict situation and when there is no equality before the law.

Mr. President,

We do not have individual liberty, if women cannot decide for themselves; we do not have democracy, if women cannot participate; we do not respect human rights, if women’s rights are not respected; and there is no rule of law if women do not have access to justice.

The overall responsibility for ensuring rule of law and equality before the law rests with the nations, but the role of international law setting standards and ensuring accountability is also very important. Real gains have been made developing the international legal frameworks and institutions to secure accountability and justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

NATO is exploring how we, as a politico-military regional organization, within our role and responsibilities, best can prepare and assist in supporting rule of law and gender equality through our activities. For example, under ISAF we have been running a Rule of Law Field Support Mission, supporting and enabling Afghan officials and international organizations in their Rule of Law efforts.

The heinous crimes, and in particular sexual and gender based violence, committed during conflicts, have amplified the need to stand united in the struggle against impunity. Sexual and gender based violence in conflict undermines freedom, security, and stability, and if unpunished, it undermines the credibility of any legal system, denying access to justice for all. Global prosecutions, civilian-protection mechanisms, United Nations and other international organizations contributions are there to complement national efforts.

In September, all NATO Allies fully subscribed to the declaration of commitment to end sexual violence in conflict. It is highlighted by both this declaration and the Security Council Resolution 2106 that collection of data and documentation of sexual and gender based violence in armed conflict can be instrumental in bringing perpetrators to justice and ensuring justice for survivors.

We should, however, not regard women as passive victims and recipients. Just as women need to be included in prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, women need to be included also in reconciliation and transitional justice.

Women’s participation is a matter of basic human rights and democratic principles. Those most affected by conflicts must be heard and enabled to contribute to the solutions that prevent conflicts. We cannot afford not to include women. This is not simply a question of what benefits women, but of what benefits the whole society - men and women, boys and girls.

Thank you.