On the occasion of the Security Council’s 2026 Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, we, Colombia, Denmark, France, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, the United Kingdom and my own country, Greece – also Security Council signatories of the Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security –, as well as Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, State of Palestine, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and the European Union have gathered here today to reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the Security Council Agenda on Women and Peace and Security.
In this regard, we wish to highlight the following points:
- We call for the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation and leadership of women in peace processes and in decision-making at all levels.
- We endorse the Secretary-General’s call for women to constitute at least one-third of participants in UN-led or co-led peace processes, and we urge all relevant stakeholders to ensure the substantive inclusion of women as key negotiators, mediators and peacebuilders.
- We underline the importance of integrating the WPS Agenda across all peacekeeping operations, including during mission transitions and withdrawals, through the sustained deployment and retention of women’s protection advisers and gender advisers.
- We reiterate our commitment to upholding and protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all women and girls, in full compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
- We underscore the particular impact of armed conflict on women and girls and call on all parties to armed conflict to take effective measures to ensure their protection.
- We condemn all violations and abuses of the human rights of women and girls, and remain committed to ending impunity by holding all perpetrators accountable, including by advocating for targeted designation criteria within UN sanctions regimes. We commend the important work of the International Criminal Court and welcome the creation of the CRSV prosecution network earlier this year.
- We condemn, in the strongest terms, all instances of conflict-related sexual violence, as well as all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, and stress the need to deliver comprehensive, life-saving assistance to victims and survivors, including sexual and reproductive health services and psychosocial support.
- We commend the indispensable work of civil society, including women human rights defenders, journalists and peace activists, and commit to protecting them from reprisals, threats and all forms of intimidation aimed at silencing their voices.
- We call for predictable, adequate and sustained financing of the WPS Agenda, both across the UN system and through official development assistance provided by individual donors.
- We underscore that emerging technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, should be harnessed to promote the empowerment of women and we reject their misuse to target women, including women leaders, and propagate hate speech.
- We encourage all UN Member States to adopt, adequately resource and effectively implement dedicated National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security.
On this important day, we express our solidarity with all women and girls who suffer under the scourge of war. You are not alone. We, as Member States, remain committed to turning the commitments of the WPS Agenda into concrete action for the protection and advancement of all women and girls.
Thank you
October 27, 2026