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Minister Cannon remarks Civil Society Consultation on Women, Peace & Security, Humanitarian Action

Ireland is a strong supporter of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS) which we see as an integral – indeed essential – part of the conflict prevention and resolution framework. It is our own lived experience of conflict which gives us a deep understanding, and appreciation, of the importance and added value, of including women in peacebuilding.

If we know that conflict is the single greatest driver of humanitarian crises today, and we know that women’s participation increases the probability of more lasting peace, Ireland believes we have a duty to support women’s participation, leadership and empowerment in both humanitarian response and peace and security settings which is exactly what this fund does.

Ireland was one of the founding donors of this Fund and has contributed a total of €700,000 to the fund to date.

Ireland’s work on WPS involves a whole of government approach across different departments and activities, including advocacy, training, mediation, research and funding.

We see the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) as an important part of this support because of who and what it funds. Whether advancing conflict prevention and mediation efforts in Burundi, or Colombia, the fund is firmly focused on supporting civil society led and locally owned initiatives. We in Ireland know all too well that this is the only way to build and sustain lasting peace and I am looking forward to hearing discussions here today from civil society representatives on their direct experience as peace-builders. Civil society in Ireland plays a key role both in the development of our National Actions Plans and the oversight and implementation of same. In addition, recognising the complex relationship between humanitarian crises and conflict resolution, the fund’s commitment is to supporting timely and flexible support across all phases of the humanitarian, peace, security and development continuum.

Ireland is committed to supporting this fund because we believe in the transformative potential of the WPS Agenda. Our history gives us empathy with those who are trapped in conflict today and our direct experience of peacebuilding gives us as a unique understanding of the importance of women’s involvement in bringing lasting peace. Ireland is running for election to the UN Security Council for the term 2021 -2022 and if successful a key aim of our membership will be to build the WPS Agenda. Ireland will continue to support the WPHF as it expands into the future.

Thank you.

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