‘Continued tolerance’ of limited space for women ‘is shameful’ - Briefing to UN Security Council

Remarks by Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, on the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda and sustaining peace through women’s political and economic empowerment.
Addressing the Council, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Executive Director of UN Women noted that a year ago, she expressed her alarm at the numbers of women’s contribution in peace process and mediation. She stated again today that the number had stagnated or dropped.
She said “we need to be vigilant about ending superficial efforts to include women that do not genuinely extend the opportunity to influence outcomes.”
The UN Women chief also said that “it is not only women whose opportunities are being limited. In many conflict settings, girls are one and a half times more likely to be out of primary schools and the whole community therefore experience setbacks. The number of children lacking education in conflict areas call for concentrated response and solution with schools and second chance education.”
Randa Siniora Atallah, Director of the Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling told the Council that he recent funding cuts to UNRWA “have also disproportionally impacted the lives of Palestinian women, especially in health and education.”
She added “the destruction of infrastructure has had a devastating impact on families and the lives of women and girls by cutting off their access to food, water, sanitation, electricity and life-saving medical care.”