October 20, 2022
Mr President,
Excellences,
At the outset, I would like to express my gratitude to the Presidency of Gabon for convening today’s meeting. I would like also to join colleagues and thank the distinguished speakers for their interesting presentations.
[Georgia aligns itself with the statement delivered earlier by the European Union, and I would like to make some additional comments in my national capacity].
While gender parity in peace and security dimension globally is yet to be achieved, we welcome every effort of the participating states to increase women’s participation in areas pertaining to international peace and security.
Regrettably, despite the increasing awareness on their contributions worldwide, girls and women face different types of obstacles to their activism. We share the concerns raised in the UN Secretary-General’s report on WPS (S/2021/827) regarding the numerous barriers compounded by predominant gender stereotypes that girls and women have to overcome in realization of their right to participate in public and political life.
Georgia spares no effort to ensure meaningful engagement of women in the peace process and continues to attach significant importance to the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in accordance with the subsequent UN Security Council resolutions and the respective National Action Plan. Here, let me note that the Government of Georgia is finalizing its 4th National Action Plan (NAP) on WPS for 2022-2024. The plan is based upon the Government’s approach to integrate gender perspectives in the security sector and in decision-making processes, by using a gender lens in peace negotiations and by promoting meaningful participation of women and girls in conflict prevention and resolution.
Excellences,
Women and girls are disproportionately and differently affected by wars, conflicts and crises. Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and brutal war against Ukraine has in particular highlighted the importance of specific emphasis on women and the WPS agenda.
Continued occupation and creeping annexation of the Georgian regions of Tskhinvali/South Ossetia and Abkhazia, bluntly violate the principles of the UN charter and undermine the rules based international order, bringing into peril regional and global security.
Regrettably, women and girls living in the Russia-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia continue to suffer from persistent violations of their fundamental human rights and are unable to benefit from the human rights protection framework of the Government of Georgia.
At each round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRMs) the Georgian Delegation actively raises the needs and priorities of women IDPs and conflict-affected women. The topics are highlighted with the Co-chairs of the GID (EU, UN, OSCE), as well as with other international and regional organizations to properly reflect the needs and priorities of women IDPs and conflict-affected women in peaceful conflict resolution process. Furthermore, for the same purpose, with the support of UN Women Georgia, GID participants from the Georgian side hold regular meetings with representatives of the civil society, including forcefully displaced conflict-affected women, as well as women’s rights defender NGOs.
Excellences,
In conclusion, let me reaffirm Georgia’s commitment to advance implementation of the women, peace and security agenda on the national level, as well as to contribute towards the promotion of its implementation globally.
I thank you.