STATEMENT BY
H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE
“WOMEN AND PEACE AND SECURITY: INVESTING IN WOMEN IN PEACEKEEPING AND PEACEBUILDING”
21 OCTOBER 2021, NEW YORK
Mr. President,
Thank you for convening this important Open Debate on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) with emphasis on women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Malaysia would also like to thank the Secretary General for his remarks and briefers for their briefing.
Mr. President,
2. Malaysia remains convinced that women’s participation is key to the success and longevity of peace processes. As an elected member of the Security Council in 2000, Malaysia supported the first and landmark Security Council resolution 1325 on WPS. We also co-sponsored Security Council resolution 2538 on women in peacekeeping on 28 August 2020 in line with our commitment to the WPS agenda and Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) Initiative.
3. Malaysia continues to support efforts in enhancing peacekeeping operations’ performance through supporting full participation of women in peace processes and making peacekeeping more gender-responsive. In this regard, Malaysia has recently deployed its largest number of women peacekeepers serving under the UN banner in Lebanon, consisting of 85 female personnel. We remain convinced that their participation will contribute in promoting inclusivity towards sustainable peace and development.
4. At the same time, Malaysia supports efforts to continuously update peacekeeping training programmes in meeting new challenges including to equip women peacekeepers with necessary skills, tools and equipment at the operational and strategic level. We also believe that peacekeeping missions and peace operations must be adequately supported to respond and prevent incidences of sexual and gender based violence in conflict area. In this context, Malaysian peacekeepers are continually trained, including in areas of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse in their pre-deployment training programme.
5. Malaysia also calls for greater efforts and initiatives by Member States, United Nations entities and civil society organisations in building capacity and advancing the WPS agenda at the national, regional and global levels. We continue to support UN Women including through consistent financial contribution to the Agency in support of women's meaningful participation and integration of gender perspectives in peace and security processes.
Mr. President,
6. At the regional level, Malaysia is committed to working closely with other ASEAN Member States in advancing WPS agenda in the region. In 2017, ASEAN adopted the Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace and Security in ASEAN at the 31st ASEAN Summit. The adoption of the Joint Statement signified a landmark step towards enhancing the critical role being played by ASEAN women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peace building. This first ASEAN Women, Peace and Security Statement was subsequently reaffirmed by the Joint Statement of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in 2019.
7. In September 2020, ASEAN held a Ministerial Dialogue on Strengthening Women’s Role for Sustainable Peace and Security, and reiterated our determination to enhance the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution, post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation. The Ministerial Dialogue also expanded networks of women in peace and security in Southeast Asia.
8. At present, ASEAN is finalising its Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security.
9. In the area of peacekeeping, ASEAN women military and law enforcement officers have made positive impact through their active participation in UN peacekeeping operations globally.
Mr. President,
10. Sustainable peace, gender equality and inclusive institutions are at the heart of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. In this connection, Malaysia remains committed to advancing the WPS agenda and ensuring the full mainstreaming of women in all areas of peace and security.
Thank you.