Canada’s National Statement at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security

October 24, 2024

Canada’s National Statement delivered by Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security on October 24, 2024:

President, I will now address the Council on behalf of Canada.

Last year, Canada reflected on how far too much text from many previous annual statements could be ‘recycled’ and be just as relevant as when first delivered. The same can sadly be said today – though needs are even greater, and patience related to inaction and hypocrisy even more strained.

Canada continues to call for dramatically more consistent implementation of commitments, and much greater recognition, resourcing, inclusion, and protection of women working for peace.

Wise women peacebuilders in Canada and around the world remind all of us, that despite being surrounded by crises, dehumanization, and attacks on this very work – we must not become suffocated by negativity. We must also give oxygen to progress and impacts.

In that spirit, let us briefly shine a light on just three of many.

First – many young women around the world are engaging in the Women, Peace and Security agenda – embracing its principles while also making it their own. We see them mobilizing quickly and creatively, often using digital tools and other approaches to make this space itself more inclusive. Many are building coalitions across sectors and geographies with invested allies, including young men and members of LGBTQ+ communities. Their leadership is engaging young people as voters and actors in peace and political processes. They’re also countering disinformation intended to undermine democracy, sew divisions, and push women out of public life.

The second positive point relates to the quality, not just the quantity of national action plans on women, peace and security. For many years, there were two broad types: one being those of countries that had recently experienced war at home, and were focused inward. The other being those of countries whose focus was outward – with women, peace and security relating to foreign policy and peacekeeping. Now, 19 years after the world’s first national action plan, a much greater proportion – including Canada’s latest– blend domestic and international issues and commitments. This shift is a reflection of the interconnectedness of security issues, and of progress toward the humility and self-reflection needed to acknowledge and address systematic barriers facing women within our own borders as well. Within national governments, the result is more policy coherence, more learning across silos, and more people in more parts of government understanding the relevance of the women, peace and security agenda to their daily work, and feeling a sense of ownership for it.

Third, while women peacebuilders in civil society remain dramatically under-resourced, there is growing recognition that while the amount of funding matters, so too does its form. Peace is not a project, and the most impactful funds are predictable and multi-year, flexible, and sometimes fast. The result is more efficient and effective uses of public funds, more relevant responses to crises, and more trust – often the scarcest currency during conflict and crises.

President, every minute of every day, in every part of our world, champions of women, peace and security are leading in thousands of different ways. They teach us, inspire us, and need us to fulfill our commitments.