William Hague hosts NATO discussion on women’s participation in conflict resolution
Hague: "I welcome NATO’s leadership on this agenda and I look forward to working with Mari Skåre to turn commitments into practical action."
William Hague and NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative on Women, Peace and Security, Mari Skåre
The Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, William Hague, hosted a meeting with NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative on Women, Peace and Security, Mari Skåre. They were joined by Foreign Ministerial PSVI leads.
I am delighted that NATO has created a permanent Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security who will lead NATO’s new ambitious framework of action to ensure that women’s participation in conflict resolution is seen and taken forward as an integral part of the peace and security agenda. NATO’s new streamlined policy and comprehensive action plan has been developed by NATO Allies, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and partners in Afghanistan, Australia, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates and in consultation with civil society. The participation of women helps to secure more sustainable peace, which is vital to all of our security interests. The action plan contains practical steps towards realising this goal. The permanent position of NATO Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security underscores the Alliance’s active engagement and commitment to this agenda and we welcome the appointment of Marriët Schuurman, currently the Kingdom of the Netherlands’s Ambassador to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the new NATO Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security.
I was also pleased to discuss with colleagues how this work contributes to preventing conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence. As highlighted by the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in June, and illustrated so tragically by reporting from Iraq and Syria, sexual violence in conflict, when used as a tactic of war, contributes to instability and cycles of conflict. The military is a critical partner for both prevention and protection but is not always properly trained or equipped to respond effectively. We were joined by Foreign Ministers and senior diplomats who all actively support the issue of preventing sexual violence in conflict and women, peace and security. I know they share my commitment to maintaining momentum on this issue. I welcome NATO’s leadership on this agenda and I look forward to working with Mari Skåre and other partners in turning these commitments into practical action.
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