Open Debate: Women, Peace and Security
On October 18th, the UN Security Council held its annual open debate on women, peace and security entitled Women, Rule of Law and Transitional Justice in Conflict-Affected Situations. The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed. Brigitte Balipou, the founder of the Association of Women Jurists of the Central African Republic, spoke on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security and the civil society. The debate was presided by Council's president for the month, Azerbaijan. The meeting resulted in unanimous adoption of a resolution (S/RES/2122), which is the seventh text adopted by the Council on the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The debate featured 64 statements, including the statements made on behalf of the European Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the African Union. Overall, the speakers focused on judicial reform and women's participation in this process, as well as the need to increase women's participation in decision-making and peacekeeping processes. The frequently mentioned fragile states were Syria and the DRC.