UN Defeats Russia’s Resolution Demanding Equal Participation Of Women At Peace Tables

The United Nations Security Council on October 30 defeated a Russian resolution to honour the 20th anniversary of a UN measure demanding equal participation for women in activities that promote global peace. According to the reports by AP, the draft by Russia was supported by Russia, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Africa. The countries which were not in favour of the measure were the United States, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Germany, Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tunisia. The vote stood at 5-0.  Countries who abstained from the draft said that it weakens the existing UN resolution adopted in 2000 and 9 follow-up resolutions. Christoph Heusgen, Germany’s US ambassador said that his calls for strong language on the human rights foundation of all the resolutions, and for “the adequate reflection of the critical role of civil society, women peacebuilders and human rights defenders” in implementing the measures were not reflected in the Russian draft. US amabassador Kelly Craft said, “the draft resolution “was designed to undermine and reverse the progress of the past 20 years,” and “it is evident that our Russian and Chinese colleagues … do not believe women should be fully empowered to prevent conflict, or sit at the table to pursue peace and reconciliation”.