Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
at the meeting with Japan’s Diet Members’ Network on Women, Peace and Security (WPS)
[as delivered]
15 February 2023
Your Excellencies Ms. Noriko Furuya and ?
Ms. Noriko Horiuchi ¨C Members of the House of Representatives,
Honourable Members of the Japanese Diet,
Let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation for the generous invitation to join you today.
It is, indeed, my great privilege to exchange views with you on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
It is particularly impressive to be with women leaders of the Japanese Diet ¨C one of the most powerful forums in this country, whose values and outlook make a significant contribution to shaping the global agenda.
Before we engage in an open interactive exchange, allow me to offer a few introductory remarks to set the scene.
At the United Nations, I have the distinct pleasure of working with one of your own ¨C an outstanding Japanese professional, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs ¨C who is extremely dedicated and, like myself, is also an international gender champion.
In her typically understated manner, she once said that ¡°where there is women’s political leadership, things tend to happen.¡±
I cannot agree with her more.
Happen they do ¨C and we do not have to look far, but here in your great country, Japan.
I highly commend Japan for its admirable track record of implementing the women, peace and security agenda, in particular, through its action plans.
While the United Nations Security Council initiated the WPS agenda ¨C with its historic adoption of resolution 1325 in 2000 ¨C for its part, the General Assembly, of which I am privileged to be President, routinely undertakes its own work to advance the priorities outlined in this important resolution; first and foremost, in the area of peacebuilding.
As you may be aware, together the General Assembly and the Security Council oversee the activities of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture.
This includes the Peacebuilding Commission ¨C the advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict-affected areas.
In its related resolutions, the Assembly recognizes the importance of the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in the spectrum of peacebuilding efforts ¨C and I am happy to say that a large number of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ membership do specifically cite resolution 1325 (2000) during our relevant intergovernmental deliberations and processes.
While citations alone without meaningful action do not indicate progress, I believe that with such recognition, the General Assembly ¨C as the only universally representative organ of the United Nations ¨C continues to demonstrate commitment to advancing implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
The same is true for the Assembly¡¯s work on disarmament.
Over recent years, the General Assembly has adopted ground-breaking gender-related resolutions, including one on ¡°Women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control.¡±
It is with great pride that I must highlight the fact that Trinidad and Tobago, my own country of origin, has been the lead sponsor of this resolution tabled since 2010.
Among other elements, the resolution stresses the need to promote equal opportunities for women¡¯s representation in all decisions related to disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control.
Since its introduction, this resolution has been adopted biennially ¨C by consensus and with an ever-growing list of co-sponsors, adding to its significance.
Another area of the Assembly¡¯s work involves its vital collaboration with parliamentarians ¨C like yourselves.
In recognition of the critical role Parliamentarians play, at every session annually, the President of the General Assembly co-hosts a Parliamentary Hearing with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union ¨C a global network of parliamentarians, to discuss issues high on the international agenda.
Just last week, I had the honour to open the 2024 Hearing, held under the theme of ¡°Putting an end to conflicts: Prescriptions for a peaceful future¡±.
I was impressed by the active discussion on women, youth and other groups in our communities actively working to achieve peace and noted in particular the participants¡¯ keen focus on the role of women members of parliament in advancing sustainable peace.
I look forward to Japan¡¯s fulsome participation in future hearings at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters.
Excellencies,
In closing, I wish to commend the strong leadership of Her Excellency, Ms. Yoko Kamikawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, in promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
I will be meeting with her separately later today ¨C and, as someone who has been actively engaged in this area, I very much look forward to hearing her insightful views on how we can take this critical work forward.
I am likewise eager to hear your perspectives on how to mobilize the full potential of women in building a safer, more equal world ¨C a world where gender equality and empowerment of women are meaningfully mainstreamed into the work that we do both at national, regional and global levels.
There is no turning back. Women must be allowed, indeed be encouraged, to take their rightful place alongside men in a meaningful partnership to achieve peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all, with no one left behind.
Thank you, once again, for the generous invitation to join you today ¨C and I look forward to an active exchange of ideas.
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