United Nations Security Council: Open debate on Women, Peace and Security

Mr President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Canada, Australia and my own country New Zealand.

We thank Colombia for convening this debate, and for placing a clear focus on strengthening women's participation and leadership as a pathway out of conflict.

Across today's conflicts, women continue to be excluded from negotiations, sidelined in political transitions, or brought in too late to shape outcomes. This is the result of deliberate choices about who holds power, whose knowledge counts, and whose security is prioritized.

The problem we face today is not a lack of norms, but a persistent failure of implementation. Hard-won progress on gender equality is also being undermined, putting at risk the safety, stability and security of us all.

We know what works. When women are meaningfully included, peace agreements are more durable, institutions are more trusted, and recovery is more inclusive. Yet too many peace processes move ahead without women at the table.

First, participation must be a non negotiable. Women must be present from the outset, across all tracks, not as an afterthought but as a core requirement of credibility and legitimacy.

Second, we must back participation with real support. This means predictable, flexible, and long term financing for women led civil society and women peace mediators - often first responders and trusted interlocutors. It also means concrete protection measures. Women peacebuilders continue to face threats, intimidation, and reprisals for their leadership.

Third, gender-responsive leadership at the national level needs to be strengthened. National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security, now adopted by 117 countries, including by all CANZ members, remain among the most effective tools for sustaining progress, when they are properly resourced and applied - including in our support to ceasefire and peace negotiations.

Mr President,

At a time of deepening polarization, we cannot afford the dilution of established norms. Instead, we must strengthen commitments to gender equality across the multilateral system and within this Council.

Processes that exclude women are less likely to deliver agreements, let alone peace. If we are serious about conflict prevention and building inclusive peace, women's full, equal, meaningful and safe participation must move from principle to practice, without exception. Anything less risks undermining the credibility of this Council and eroding the prospects for lasting peace.

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