STATEMENT BY
H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE
“ADVANCING THE WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY AGENDA THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS: WOMEN’S ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND PARTICIPATION AS A KEY TO BUILDING PEACE’
8 MARCH 2022, NEW YORK
Mr. President,
At the outset, I wish to congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month. I also wish to thank you for convening this open debate as we celebrate International Women's Day today. I also thank the briefers for their insightful presentation.
Mr. President,
2. It is increasingly evident that building and sustaining peace requires ongoing partnerships with various actors, including women. Empowering women and advancing gender equality in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings can transform vicious circles into virtuous ones, which would lead to sustainable peace and development.
3. My delegation also remains convinced that efforts in increasing women’s economic participation in conflict and its long-term empowerment must be strengthened. The humanitarian and socioeconomic development for every segment of society should go hand in hand to help prevent a new spiral of fragility and instability.
4. In addition, Malaysia continues to call for greater efforts and partnerships among Member States, UN entities, civil society organisations, youth organisations, and the private sectors. However, these collaborations and engagements must take into account local and cultural contexts as well as national priorities and policies.
5. Malaysia, in this respect, is committed to building capacity and advancing the WPS agenda at the national, regional, and international levels. We continue to provide financial aid to the UN Women annually in support of the Agency's efforts to boost women's meaningful participation and integration of gender perspectives in peace and security processes.
6. At the regional level, recognising the transformative roles that women fulfil in building, maintaining, and fostering peace and security in the region, ASEAN is currently developing the Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace, and Security, with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and UN Women. As part of our continued commitment to WPS and the implementation of the Security Council resolution 1325, Malaysia is also preparing its National Action Plan on WPS.
7. My delegation also believes that women's equal, full and active participation is key to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. In support of gender-responsive peacekeeping and peace operations, Malaysia has recently deployed its largest number of women peacekeepers serving in UNIFIL, consisting of 85 female personnel. We remain convinced that their participation will contribute positively to promoting inclusivity towards sustainable peace and development.
8. Malaysia also calls for greater representation of women in peace negotiations and mainstreaming gender perspectives into peace agreements. In this respect, we encourage the Secretariat to appoint more women as mediators and special envoys for country and region-specific conflicts.
Mr. President,
9. In closing, my delegation strongly believes that women’s inclusion and participation is critical in preventing and responding to conflict as well as in building lasting peace. Malaysia remains committed to partnering for peace and advancing the WPS agenda in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict processes.
Thank you.