Remarks of the Acting Head of the European Union Delegation, Lothar Jaschke, at the Women in Uniform Day

Thank you for the invitation to mark the Women in Uniform Day 2025 and to commemorate the third year of the South Sudan Security Sector Women’s Network. Happy third birthday, to the South Sudan Network. You are still very young but already indispensable as the previous session on key achievements and challenges have shown. 

I myself have the honour to co-chair the WPS group, co-chaired also by the British Embassy and supported by UNWOMEN, with the same noble objective to move the agenda forward. 

To do this, we need the network and the WSP group: more meaningful participation of women in security forces; the inclusion of women in the whole peacebuilding cycle – peace negotiations, peace-making, peace-keeping, agreeing and implementing peace agreements and the prevention of conflict related sexual violence and ensuring gender equality. Women need to be included from the outset, also in other political processes such as elections which can have an impact on conflict and violence. 

Women have always been involved in conflict in different roles, as peacemakers, combatants, dependents, politicians or activists and have a fundamental human right to participate in decision-making that affects them, often disproportionally. 

Historical evidence has shown that peace deals involving women are more sustainable and have a higher chance of being implemented. Peace is easier to achieve when women are at the negotiating table. Men, there is no need for you to disappear; however, your female colleagues should be given more space, equality — including equal pay — and more recognition and acknowledgement. They walk side by side, but behind.

Today is also a chance to commemorate 25 years of the UNSCR 1325, adopted on 31 October 2000. It was a high point of multilateralism, supported by a diverse and geographically representative coalition of countries, including EU Member States. It also gave rise to ten more resolutions to follow up on specific aspects of the agenda. 

Still, 25 years on there is a long way to go in terms of equal opportunities for women in security forces and their participation in peace processes. Both in the world and in South Sudan. Here, your role as a role model; our role as pressure groups is badly needed to walk the talk and to contribute to WSP agenda in South Sudan which, this is my conviction, will make South Sudan more peaceful and stable. 

The EU is a staunch supporter of the WPS agenda. The EU currently runs 21 military and civilian operations in all parts of the world under its Common Security and Defense Policy. All the operations are mandated to strengthen implementation of UNSCR 1325 and to raise female participation from currently 25% to 40% in all civilian missions. The Presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament as well as the EU Foreign Minister are women and we are at gender parity within the diplomatic service of the European Union. 

Let me end with giving great thanks to our partners UNDP, UNMISS, UNESCO and the Peacebuilding Fund as well as the organiser Hope Africa South Sudan for bringing us together; with happy birthday to the women’s Network and with congratulations to our heroes in uniform for their outstanding contribution to security in South Sudan. We see you, we respect you, we appreciate you, we thank you. Your work matters, your courage matters, your presence matters. You are an example, a role model for many, the stars many want to be. 

May every day be the day of women in uniform! 

God bless South Sudan 

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