Creating New Opportunities and Rectifying Inequalities

Thank you Under-Secretary O’Brien. And I thank all of you for joining us today. It is a pleasure to be in London to launch The State of World Population 2010 report by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

The report I am launching today marks the 10-year anniversary of the adoption of the landmark resolution 1325 by the UN Security Council. The resolution condemned violence against women and girls in conflict situations and called for greater participation by women in peace-building initiatives worldwide. The resolution elevated women and conflict to a global security issue.

The 2010 State of World Population report, entitled 'From Conflict and Crisis to Renewal: Generations of Change', shows that while women rarely wage war, they suffer the worst of its consequences. And women’s participation in peace-building is a prerequisite to its success.

This year’s report is about the three Rs: resilience, renewal and redefining roles between boys and girls and men and women.

Yes, conflict and disaster can worsen inequalities between men and women. But the report shows that recovery from conflict and disaster also presents a unique opportunity—an opportunity to rectify inequalities, ensure equal protection under the law, and create space for positive change.

The report tells the story of change through people who have lived through conflict, in places like Liberia, or through natural disasters, such as the earthquake in Haiti.

The State of World Population report shows that when women enjoy rights and opportunities, they are more resilient to disaster and conflict and can play a central role in reconstruction, peace-building and recovery.

On the other hand, when women and girls suffer deep discrimination, they are more vulnerable to the worst effects of disaster and war, including rape, and less likely to contribute to peace-building, which threatens long-term recovery.

This year's report calls attention to the devastating and unacceptable sexual violence in countries affected by conflict. As an international community, we have not been able to prevent this crime and human rights violation. This report calls for urgent and concerted action to protect women, prevent sexual violence, stop impunity, and bring justice.

The State of World Population report makes the case for replacing the vicious cycle of crisis and underdevelopment with a virtuous cycle of peace, justice and stability.

It is time to tear down the false barriers between crisis, recovery and development. Investing in development softens the impact of crisis and natural disaster, and whatever is invested during humanitarian response can become a solid foundation for development and rebuilding a society.

UNFPA’s State of World Population report argues that rebuilding societies is just as important as rebuilding homes and restoring essential services after conflict or disaster. And we must not only build back, but build back better, and renew societies.

Renewal means creating new opportunities and rectifying entrenched inequalities. Renewal requires empowerment of all members of society who are vulnerable—women, the young and the elderly—so they may all become agents for positive change.

When the United Nations Security Council adopted its historic resolution 10 years ago, it changed the way the world viewed sexual violence in armed conflict. No longer would violence against women and girls be tolerated as an unpreventable by-product of war.

The framers of this resolution understood that peace deals won’t succeed if women have no place at the negotiating table.

So far, more than 30 countries are receiving support from UNFPA to implement parts of resolution 1325. UNFPA is working with United Nations agencies to address and measure the extent of gender-based violence in conflict-affected societies and the extent to which countries are funding and providing services to survivors.

UNFPA’s State of World Population report shows how much some countries, and some remarkable individuals, have accomplished in healing the wounds of war and catastrophe. It also shows that recovery cannot be left to the survivors alone. It takes solidarity.

It is time to end brutal attacks against women and girls during and after conflict, to put the right laws in place to bring offenders to justice, and to engage more women in peace processes. This requires increased commitment and funding.

The compelling stories in this year’s report tell what it means to finish what the Security Council started 10 years ago, to work towards a world where peace is secured, human rights are protected, and conflicts prevented.

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to questions. But before that, I would like to introduce my colleague, Jemilah Mahmoud, Chief of UNFPA’s Humanitarian Response Branch, who will provide some brief remarks.