Welcome

No peace without women: Minister of State Müntefering in New York

The UN Security Council

The UN Security Council, © Thomas Imo/photothek.net

25.10.2018 - Article

On 25 October, Minister of State Müntefering is taking part in the open debate on women, peace and security – a topic that will be a focus of Germany’s upcoming membership of the UN Security Council.

The likelihood that a peace agreement will last longer than 15 years increases by 35 percent if women are involved in the peacemaking process. Involving women in peacebuilding, post conflict reconstruction and transformation of societies is therefore a key factor for success in establishing peace.

Ensuring that women are involved even more often and more intensively is a central element of the Security Council’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Before speaking in the open debate in the Security Council in New York, Minister of State Müntefering stressed once again how important this subject is for Germany: “The unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security on 31 October 2000 was a milestone in the UN Security Council. Implementing this resolution is a priority for Germany in the United Nations. We cannot afford to talk about women, peace and security in the 21st century without women sitting at the table as equal partners. They must be actors and shapers of peace and security.”

Women, peace and security: What is Germany doing for this in the Security Council?

Minister of State Müntefering during the open debate on women, peace and security in the UN Security Council on 25 October 2018
Minister of State Müntefering during the open debate on women, peace and security in the UN Security Council on 25 October 2018© AA

In 2019 and 2020, Germany will be a non permanent member of the UN Security Council. Promoting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda will be one of its priorities. Germany is committed to ensuring even more political participation for women, to improved prevention of sexual violence in conflicts and, generally, to protecting women and girls.

Furthermore, Germany will take over from Sweden as co chair of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security along with Peru. This group analyses the situation in individual countries and makes recommendations as to how Resolution 1325 might be even better implemented in each case. Germany wants to help get the group a better hearing in the Security Council and give it a public profile. In addition, Germany is particularly keen to put the prevention and elimination of conflict-related sexual violence higher on the agenda.

For more information:

-- check against delivery -- “I would like to state here, and I believe that many agree with me on this issue, that we women do not owe a debt of gratitude in the traditional sense of the…

Speech by Minister of State Michelle Müntefering at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Resolution 1325

They work behind the scenes to bring about peace but women are often underrepresented in formal peace negotiations.
That’s why Germany is committed to implementing the UN Security Council Women, Peace and Security Agenda around the world.

No peace without women:  Women, Peace and Security Agenda

Keywords

Top of page