This month we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Within the global response to the covid-19 pandemic, Sweden has decided to contribute an additional 75 million Swedish kronor to sustaining peace efforts, within which women’s meaningful participation is a key component.
– In addition to be an acute health crisis with unprecedented economic and humanitarian consequences, the covid-19 pandemic also risks exacerbating existing and create new conflicts. The Swedish government is committed to strengthening peace efforts as a part of the global covid-19 response in developing countries. This is crucial also to underpin humanitarian efforts, says Peter Eriksson, Minister for International Development Cooperation.
Sweden is already one of the most important donors to the UN Peacebuilding Fund. Active participation of women is an integral part of projects financed by the fund and 30 percent of its activities should be allocated towards projects focusing on advancing gender equality, this goal has been exceeded in the past couple of years.
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1325. The resolution recognises the importance of women’s meaningful participation in peace processes as a prerequisite to create sustaining peace. Sweden is committed to advance this agenda and continue the important results yielded during our Security Council tenure, 2017-2018. The anniversary should be used to accelerate the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, rather than slowing down due to the pandemic.
– Much remains to be done to achieve tangible results for people living in conflict. In the occurrence of the 20th anniversary, Sweden has therefore decided to increase its contribution to the UN Peacebuilding Fund with 75 million Swedish kronor, says Peter Eriksson.
