Statement by Jennifer Brush, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kosovo, at the Open Day on Women, Peace and Security in Kosovo
Pristina, 26 November 2014
Distinguished guests,
Friends, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
I am honored to address the Global Open Day 2014 event in Kosovo. In fact, I am honored to be back in Kosovo, having visited Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje 41 years ago as a high school foreign exchange student in the former Yugoslavia. At that time, Yugoslavia was proud to be a provider of security as a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement. How tragic that much of that country ended up becoming consumers of international security. But let us look to the future. Kosovo has hosted two successful Open Days in 2010 and 2012. This third Open Day gives the opportunity to female civil society leaders, activists and advocates, to have an open and direct dialogue to channel their concerns, on remaining gaps and challenges on key issues related to peace and security; to take stock of progress made in the past fifteen years and present forward-looking recommendations for improving implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325.
Recommendations resulting from the 2010 Open Day highlighted women’s participation in negotiations, political empowerment, legislation, anti-poverty and economic security, gender perspectives in the security sector, gender-based violence and transitional justice, representation and reintegration of women from minority groups and women’s civil society.
The 2012 Open Day recommendations on improving the status of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and torture were instrumental to the legal recognition of the status of survivors under Law no.03/L-054 on the Status and the Rights of Martyrs, Invalids, Veterans, Members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Civilian Victims of War and their Families.
In the past years, the UN Security Council has taken important steps to fully implement its resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, with this new resolution focusing on three key areas, and that is women’s participation, protection and prevention.
The resolution calls for increased participation of women at all levels of decision-making, including in national, regional, and international institutions; in mechanisms for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict; in peace negotiations; and in peace operations, as military, police, and civilians.
The resolution also calls specifically for the protection of women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence.
Furthermore, the resolution calls for improving intervention strategies in the prevention of violence against women, including by prosecuting those responsible for violations of international law; strengthening women’s rights under national law; and supporting local women’s peace initiatives and conflict resolution processes. On 18 October 2013, the UN Security Council also adopted resolution 2122, expressing its intention to convene a High-Level Review in 2015 to assess progress at the global, regional and national levels in implementing UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, renew commitments, and address obstacles and constraints that have emerged in the implementation of the resolution. In the same resolution, the Security Council invited the Secretary-General, in preparation for the High-level Review, to commission a Global Study on the implementation of resolution 1325 and called for all actors to leverage high-level reviews in 2015 to ensure gender equality is included in peace and development. Therefore, this year’s Open Day occurs when the Global Study on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 is launched and amid preparations for its 15-year anniversary and High-level Review in 2015.
I, therefore, am convinced that the findings and recommendations you present today will contribute to the Global Study on the implementation of resolution 1325 commissioned by the UN Secretary-General within the framework of the 2015 High-level Review.
Let me just add, on a personal note, that this emphasis on women in security puts a huge burden on women, as if we are biologically better suited to peace and security than men. We should not be naïve; we need to prove ourselves individually to prove that we are value-added to the peace process. Some will demonstrate that ideal, some will not; we are all human. Likewise, many of our male colleagues, my boss and my colleague here included, have equally demonstrated their commitment to female inclusion and gender equality; we need to recognize and support their efforts.
Dear colleagues,
The spotlight is on us as women to prove that UN Security Council resolution 1325 is value-added to global peace. We cannot sit complacently and quantify our value, solely by securing more seats at the table. No, it is our duty to demonstrate to the world that we will advocate for the common man, that we will not put our individual gains above the gains we can achieve for conflict resolution, that we will not be seduced by the appeals of our male elites, that we as mothers, sisters and daughters, will place our needs second to the needs of world peace. That is a huge challenge and a challenge not easily met. I urge you to demonstrate courage, resolve and creativity in tending to the needs of your society so that you can show a way forward to greater prosperity, democracy and stability. Do not take for granted that you deserve a place at the negotiating table in order to ensure gender equality. You need to earn that seat.
Thank you for this opportunity to address the brave women of Kosovo. Believe me, I know what you have endured; believe me, I know your potential.
Thank you.
