EU Statement – UN Security Council: Role of women and young people
– Check against delivery –
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries Türkiye, North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Andorra and San Marino align themselves with this statement.
To have a good chance of leading to sustainable peace, negotiating tables must include all those affected by the outcomes of their deliberations. This is why the EU has long been committed to the full implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security as well as the Women, Peace and Security agendas. We know that the active participation of women and young persons in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, peace processes and post-conflict processes is a critical ingredient for their success.
Participation is a cross-cutting issue that impacts on the three other pillars of WPS: protection, prevention, and relief and recovery. None of the objectives of WPS can be realised without women’s full, equal and meaningful engagement in all matters of peace and security. The precise measures to be taken will of course be different depending on each conflict-affected context, but should always take into account the work already undertaken by women in their communities.
We place equal importance on young persons as key agents of positive change. In this regard, we welcome the publication of the third report of the Secretary General on Youth, Peace and Security, and want to comment on some key conclusions and recommendations:
First, it is encouraging that political commitment to the YPS agenda has grown over the past two years. We now have to sustain this momentum through concrete actions. The EU is at the forefront in this regard, notably through our Youth Action Plan, which contributes to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2250 by promoting youth leadership and participation, including in conflict situations around the world. One of our Member States, Finland, was also the first country globally to adopt a national YPS Action Plan.
We also have to ensure that youth engagement is integrated more systematically into the UN system. The establishment of the UN Youth Office was an important step in this regard – we look forward to seeing the office fully staffed as soon as possible, and are providing financial support of EUR 1 million to support the Office in its important mandate.
We hope to see a strong reference to the YPS agenda in the Pact for the Future, to ensure that YPS remains firmly on the agenda of this Council, and reiterate our call to make the Secretary-General’s biannual report the subject of a regular open debate.
Second, the report stresses that political declarations have yet to be translated into increased funding for the YPS agenda. Investing in the role, voice and agency of young persons not only matters for inclusivity, but provides a significant return to the community including youth, the government and the private sector.
Third, we underline the need to adopt an intersectional lens on peace and security. Both the YPS and WPS agendas are incredibly important in their own right, but neither operates in a vacuum. Inclusive decision-making and peacebuilding processes means having young women - who are often excluded and marginalised - at the table of discussions, listening to them, and ensuring their protection from reprisals. Their experiences and vision bring unique perspectives on conflict prevention, post-conflict reconstruction, the promotion of gender equality, and the building of more inclusive and resilient societies.
Finally, let me stress that youth participation in decision-making processes should never become a mere box-ticking exercise. In the context of the increasing number of conflicts worldwide and a shrinking civic space for young persons both offline and online, it is critical to protect the achievements made so far and further accelerate our efforts. We look forward to cooperating with all Member States and international partners on this.
I thank you.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.