The role of women in peace and security was the focus of the Forum for Security CoForum for Security Co-operation meeting hosted by Belgium today. Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib spoke to the Forum and emphasised the importance of this issue.
Since the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security in 2000, 103 countries have adopted national action plans on women and peace and security, including 43 OSCE participating States. This information is exchanged freely among participating States, according to the OSCE. Belgium is at the forefront of this issue. In February the country adopted a fourth national action plan on Women, Peace and Security 2022 -- 2026, while the Women, Peace and Security Agenda will soon celebrate its 22nd anniversary, it remains as relevant as ever and much more needs to be done, said Lahbib. Despite all of our efforts, the international community is still far from reaching the goals we set out for ourselves over two decades ago, at the expense of women and girls in conflict situations. Lahbib also drew attention to the continuing effect that the ongoing war against Ukraine has on women and girls, and how this must be addressed.
It is important to recognize that armed conflict has a different impact on women and girls than on men and boys. As horrifying testimonies from Ukraine show, they are more often victims of gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence. She added that this was the case for women and girls fleeing the war, as well as those staying behind.
The Minister stressed that it was important for the OSCE to include Women, Peace and Security into its comprehensive approach to security. The women, peace and security agenda is a priority for Belgium and is one of the many topics that must be discussed in the Forum for Security CoForum for Security Co-operation. Without the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all FSC-related issues, no real comprehensive security can be achieved, she said.