Statement of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Introduction
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Mr President, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.

I would like to thank Prime Minister Rajoy and the Spanish presidency of the Security
Council for this chance to reaffirm the commitments we made 15 years ago to women in
conflict situations.

I’d also like to thank the SG for his extensive report. This debate could not take place without
it. Nor would it be possible without all the work done by Radhika Coomaraswamy, and all
the people who supported her as lead author of the Global Study on the Implementation of
Resolution 1325. Or without the study’s recommendations on the way forward for women,
peace and security.

As one of the first female diplomats working for the Dutch foreign ministry, I have been
personally committed to this agenda since 2000, when I coordinated the last Dutch UN
Security Council membership and resolution 1325 was adopted. 15 years later, we are still
debating HOW we can better deliver on our promises and HOW we can translate this unique
normative framework of ambitions to concrete actions.

Please allow me to underline the following: action speaks louder than words. Women, Peace
and Security is not a paper agenda, it is a tool to empower women, men and societies living
and working in dire circumstances every day. This resolution is an instrument for sustainable
solutions for conflicts; we should not only embrace the normative framework but also
reinforce our actions.

As the UNSG has emphasized in his report, women’s participation is a key tool for effective
peacemaking and conflict prevention. We have worked on women’s participation and
leadership women around the world. We support Karama, a strong coalition of women’s
organisations working in the Middle East, based in Cairo. Karama works to end violence
against women by enhancing the capacity of women to advocate, lobby, and build awareness
on women’s issues, priorities, and their rights in the region. With adequate resources and
more political will, we have made progress and can make the next decade the decade of real
changes on the ground.

In February, more than 200 men and women from conflict zones all over the world came to
the Netherlands to share their recommendations for action on the ground on women, peace
and security. I salute the women who are here today from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen,
the DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Colombia and other conflict-affected countries. You
face the bitter reality of conflict on a daily basis. You are the true experts, and we look to you
to shape our agenda. All of you, and the men and women who work with you, deserve our
praise for your daily contributions to women’s participation and women and protection, often
made at the risk of your lives.

On 25 June 2014, the Libyan lawyer Salwa Bugaighis was assassinated by unknown
extremists. Her murderers have not been found. This monstrous crime was soon followed by
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Statement of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
the assassination of Fareha al-Barqawi. I commemorate these brave women, who gave their
lives to improve the lives of others. Their murders only strengthen our resolve to put an end
to impunity, and to continue our work with even more vigour.
Lessons learned – Dutch perspective

In 15 years of implementation, major steps have been taken. We have a strong normative
framework established by this Council. Worldwide, more than 50 action plans are being
implemented. One main lesson always comes to the forefront: supporting and empowering
women at local and national level in conflict areas is the key to real change.

Our strategy in the Netherlands has been to work closely with civil society organisations on
our National Action Plan, and to integrate women, peace and security into all our foreign and
security policies. We will step up our commitment to women, peace and security through
Diplomacy, Development and Defence.
Our commitments

Before the end of this year, we will issue our third National Action Plan. Through this plan,
we will help brave women continue their struggle for equal and meaningful participation in
conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding and reconstruction.

Our action plan is a unique platform for collaboration and action between four government
ministries and more than 50 civil society organisations. We provide 4 million euros a year to
carry it out. On top of that, our grant scheme FLOW – Funding Leadership Opportunities for
Women – supports organisations working to protect and politically empower women in
conflict situations. This fund has almost 100 million euros available for the next five years.
Diplomacy

Our diplomatic efforts are inclusive. We facilitate and encourage women playing a crucial
role in politics, and especially in conflict resolution and peace processes. We have given both
diplomatic and financial support to Syrian women’s efforts to present their views on their
country’s future in international forums, and we continue to do so. We have also supported
the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region to involve women and civil
society in that region’s peace process.

We support other countries in drafting and implementing their national action plans. In Iraq,
for example, we work with civil society organisations and lobby the Iraqi government to
implement its plan. Besides this advocacy and lobbying, we will continue to amplify the
voices of women in the region and assist their work on the ground for women’s rights and
security.

We will support international and national accountability mechanisms, including tribunals
and commissions of inquiry that investigate and prosecute sexual and gender-based violence
as international crimes.
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Statement of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

We support incorporating gross violations of women’s human rights and other gender-based
crimes, including those committed by extremist groups, in the remit of UN and bilateral
sanctions committees.
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We are committed to nominating women for top positions in international and regional peace
and security organisations.
Development

We will make sure that our development cooperation policies promote inclusiveness and the
active role of women. This is especially important in processes such as security & justice
sector reform, capable and inclusive governance, demining and the fight against small arms
and light weapons. We support access to safe abortion for all women and girls; they should
always have the right to decide about their own body.

In relief and humanitarian aid work, we will take account of the specific security needs of
girls and women and the active role women play in providing aid to their communities.
Defence

Development, Diplomacy and Defence are closely linked, and all three are essential to
achieve lasting progress through military and civilian missions. The Netherlands includes a
gender perspective at every step of every mission we contribute to, from planning and
training until the end, and we provide substantial gender expertise along the way.

Together with the current president, Spain, we are training both civilian and military
personnel on gender issues and the comprehensive approach to peace operations. We recently
launched a partnership with Mexico as well, and our training has been added to US Africa
Command’s instruction of peacekeepers for AU and UN missions in Africa.

We train the same way as we conduct our missions. Our exercises are developed jointly with
civil society from day one, to ensure the inclusion of as many points of view, experiences and
best practices as possible. This includes integrating a gender perspective in the exercise goals
and scenarios. We are committed to continuing to address women’s rights and needs in predeployment training.
Conclusion

In conclusion, Mr President, I’d like to challenge the members of this Council and all UN
member states to say less and do more. ‘A little less conversation, a little more action’, as
Elvis Presley put it in one of his classic songs.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands stands ready to do its share. As a candidate for the UN
Security Council for the 2017-18 term, we will continue to work with and for women in
crisis and conflict situations. We hope to continue promoting the women, peace and security
agenda as a member of the Council, in close partnership with civil society and grassroots
organisations. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is your partner in increasing women’s
participation in peace and security.
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