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Statement on behalf of the Republic of Lithuania at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate “Strengthening women’s resilience and leadership as a path to peace in regions plagued by armed groups” on 20 October 2022, New York.

Thank you Madam President,

Lithuania aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and would like to add the following remarks in its national capacity. We thank Gabon for organizing this very important debate on the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Thanks to all briefers for their presentations, as well as Ms. Zahra Nader for her moving testimony.

Gender equality is an essential factor in ensuring a country’s security and stability. Evidence that full, equal and meaningful participation of women in decision-making process offers a path to sustainable peace and conflict prevention is abundant. However, despite the acknowledged fact, that women are crucial for peace and security, despite their strong leadership at the forefront of protests against authoritarian leaders, women and girls all around the world still face suppression, still are being attacked and still are vastly underrepresented in public life.

Most recently, Iran has sunk in deep public unrest, with demonstrations and protests, triggered by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. Iranian women in all their diversity are leading the change and demanding justice. The acts of violence and use of lethal force by the authorities against protesters and women human rights defenders are shocking. We condemn Belarus for denying women many rights and freedoms guaranteed by international human rights law, and for imprisoning women activists, women human rights defenders, such as Maria Kalesnikova, Maria Rabkova that lead grassroots movements to protest against fraudulent presidential elections in 2020.

We are appalled by the Taliban’s systematic repressions on women and girls of Afghanistan. Nearly 20 million Afghan women and girls are denied basic rights, such as right to education and right to work. Afghanistan is now the only country in the world that forbids girls to go school. Lithuania is also deeply concerned by the reports about the women’s rights situation in Haiti, where armed gangs are widely using rape and other forms of sexual violence to instill fear, punish, subjugate, and inflict pain on local populations.

Russia’s brutal and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine is causing yet another humanitarian crisis, which disproportionately affects women and girls. Ongoing sexual and gender-based violence, growing numbers of reported cases of rape of Ukrainian women and girls must be investigated and those responsible must be brought to justice.

Madam President,

All forms of violence against women and girls, including the sexual violence, are deeply rooted in cultural norms and gender stereotypes, and indisputably, play role in feeding the gender based discrimination, perpetuating gender inequalities and holding women back. This is a huge adaptive challenge four our societies and should be addressed through legal changes, as well as including into the dialogue all relevant stakeholders.

Evidence also shows that in general women human rights defenders are more likely to be targeted by State and non-State actors, including hate speech, harassment, sexual and gender-based violence. Women human rights defenders face additional and different threats compared to those faced by men. And again these threats are shaped by entrenched gender stereotypes and ingrained social perceptions of women. As stated in Secretary-General’s report, these attacks are more likely to target women’s personal behavior, their moral conduct, to belittle them and shame. We have to acknowledge that despite the efforts of the international community, the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda must to be strengthen at all levels around the globe. 

Lithuania remains committed to the implementation of Women, Peace and Security nationally, as well as support and promote its implementation internationally. Lithuania has been continuously supporting the Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund since its launch in 2016. We also cooperate closely with women rights NGOs in Ukraine seeking to provide humanitarian aid responding to women and girls’ needs in the country and Ukrainian refugees abroad.

We encourage all Member States to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for all those who work towards protection and promotion of gender equality, including women peacebuilders, human rights defenders and advocates for gender equality; as well as to ensure there is no place for impunity.

I thank you.