BY
H. E. MR. AMARA S. M. SOWA
AMBASSADOR/DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
CHARGE D’AFFAIRES a.i.
I thank you Madam President, Your Excellency Ms. Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation.
I welcome Your Excellency Madam President for joining us in the Security Council today, and I thank the Swiss Presidency for convening this high-level open debate.
I also thank H.E. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director, UN Women, Justice (Rtd) Effie Owuor, Co-Chair of FemWise-Africa, Secretariat of the Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks and Chair of the AU Panel of the Wise, and Ms. Wai Wai Nu, Founder and Executive Director of Women’s Peace Network, for their informative and inspiring briefings.
I further thank H.E. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General for the annual report on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), which paints a thought-provoking picture of both the gains and the challenges to the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in political, social, and economic spheres of society.
We finally thank the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for its helpful written advice (S/2024/757).
Sierra Leone remains deeply concerned about global trends showing that the WPS framework, designed to uphold women’s full participation as agents of change in peace and security, is facing significant challenges. The Secretary-General’s report highlights alarming increases in violence against women and girls and restrictions on the agency of women and human rights defenders, a stark reminder of the obstacles we still face in achieving the WPS agenda.
Despite progress made since the adoption of Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1325 almost 25 years ago, women remain disproportionately affected by conflict, violence, and restrictive policies, yet their participation in peace processes remains limited. This is despite the undeniable contributions women make to peacebuilding and conflict resolution, both locally and globally.
Sierra Leone, therefore, welcomes the commitment to strengthening the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women in peace processes, as demonstrated by the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council during their recent consultative meeting on October 18, 2024. The inclusion of a dedicated pillar on the role of women in post-conflict reconstruction and development in the Revised AU Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD Policy) is a positive step forward.
Madam President,
In strengthening practical applications of the WPS framework, Sierra Leone wishes to make three points: First, we believe that SCR 1325 can be most effectively implemented through a comprehensive and actionable framework that connects it to other resolutions, such as SCRs 1820, 1888, and 1889, alongside international agreements like Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Union Agenda 2063, in terms of the regional context.
Collaborative approaches that prioritize gender equality from the outset, including gender-responsive conflict analysis, participatory planning, and robust monitoring and evaluation systems, are key to ensuring that women are actively involved in all stages of peace processes.
Second, an inclusive policy system must actively engage diverse female stakeholders to address the immediate security needs of women in conflict zones as well as the socio-economic drivers of conflict. In essence women must not only have a say in the development and implementation of peace processes during and after conflict but should also be actively involved in national development activities that help forestall conflict. The development of National Action Plans (NAPs), informed by regional and global frameworks, is essential in this regard. This aligns with tools like the African Union Continental Results Framework, the European Union Strategic Approach to WPS, and the UN System Wide Action Plan, which help to ensure coherent action at all levels. In this regard, Sierra Leone launched the Third Generation National Action Plan (SILNAP) to enhance women’s role in peace and development on 3rd October 2024, reaffirming Sierra Leone’s commitment to advancing women’s participation in peacebuilding, leadership, and national development.
Additionally at the global stage, Sierra Leone as Co-Chair of the Informal Expert Group on Women Peace and Security,we have helped to enrich the Security Council’s information and engagement on women and girls in Sudan, Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Myanmar, and Ukraine through meetings of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security. With the other ten Council Members that have signed the Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security, we have raised our collective voice in defense of women’s rights. For example, we have advocated for Colombian women having access to land on equal terms.
Third, amplifying women’s voices and ensuring their safe and meaningful participation in peace processes requires more than normative frameworks. It requires practical political, financial, and logistical support. During the August Presidency of Sierra Leone in the Council we spotlighted the issue of sustaining women peace and security commitments in the context of accelerated drawdown of peace operations. This issue not only impacts the safe and meaningful participation of Women in peace processes it also highlights the concern about the seeming lack of trust in the engagements between UN missions and host countries, and the impact that this will surely have on the rights of women and girls.
Madam President,
Women’s networks face significant barriers, including tokenistic participation, restrictive societal norms, and threats both online and offline. We must utilize new technologies such as digital platforms to facilitate women’s participation in peacebuilding, provide tools to protect them from online harassment, and develop mechanisms to counter disinformation campaigns. In this vein, Sierra Leone passed a Cybercrime Law in 2021 that guarantees the protection of citizens especially women from online bullying and abuse with stiff fines and jail sentences for any individual sharing grossly offensive, indecent and obscene messages without consent.
To address the issue of tokenism, Sierra Leone has taken significant steps at the national level, including in the enactment of the 2022 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act and the 2022 Public Elections Act, which ensure a minimum 30 percent representation of women in political and public decision-making bodies. In this regard, Sierra Leone now has a 30% quota of women in parliament and more than 30% of women in cabinet positions. Furthermore, one of the key institutions responsible for the consolidation of peace in Sierra Leone the independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion is led by a woman with significant participation of women in the activities of the commission.
We call on member States to support similar legislation to not only empower women, but to protect them, including ensuring that women human rights defenders can operate without fear of threats or reprisals.
Regional and international institutions must also directly fund women’s groups and networks at the local and national levels, particularly those operating in conflict zones. Increased funding, capacity-building, and technical assistance will help amplify women’s voices in peace processes and support their role in shaping peace agreements and conflict resolution strategies.
Let me conclude, Madam President, by underscoring that Sierra Leone remains steadfast in its commitment to gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the WPS agenda. We recognize the need for greater collaboration among international organizations, national governments, civil society, and other stakeholders in achieving the full objectives of SCR 1325. By aligning our efforts, we can overcome the significant challenges that remain and advance the meaningful participation of women in peace processes at all levels.
I thank you.
