Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre

UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) Roundtable on the International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC)

New York, 20 September 2006

Words of welcome

Check against delivery

(Talking points)

• As a co-host, I would like to welcome all of you to this roundtable on the International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC).
• I want to emphasise the obvious: that peace stands a better chance when women and men work together. There is a dawning acceptance at global level that the gender perspective must be included in all the areas on the international peace-building agenda.
• I would also like to congratulate the IWC on having successfully brought together women experiencing different realities, women representing both sides of the conflict, including women in the diasporas.
• These women have been able to agree on a joint understanding and a shared vision for the region. So, the women of the IWC demonstrate to us, to the world, that women should play a more decisive role in conflict resolution in the Middle East – as well as in other conflict-afflicted regions.
• Too often, however, women find themselves excluded from conflict resolution, from peace and reconciliation processes. This must be changed.
• Research and experience show that many of the resources the international community employs in conflicts are not effective enough. Peace processes break down, and post-conflict reconstruction is an extremely difficult task.
• The adoption of the UN SCR (Security Council Resolution) 1325 marked a decisive step forward. The resolution calls for women’s equal participation and full involvement in all areas and at every level in peacebuilding processes. And that all peace processes should be locally owned.
• More and more UN Member States are now following up with action (plans) to ensure implementation. We – Norway – launched an action plan for the Implementation of Resolution 1325 on 8 March this year.
• We have gained experience as a facilitator in several peace and conciliation processes, and we have shouldered our responsibility for including women as equal partners in these processes.
• Norway has had a gender balanced government for more than 20 years. Work-places are more harmonious, more effective, when gender balanced. Society at large gains from a balanced representation of women and men.
• Like men, women have different backgrounds, different experiences of war and armed conflict. What women tend to share though, is their deeper involvement in nourishing and caring for human beings – this gives women a common ground and a different perspective compared to men, perhaps a more practical, “down to earth” approach, a preference for dialogue rather than conflict? The preliminary results of the IWC appears to support this hypothesis.
• Norway has supported the IWC – including providing financial support – and will continue to do so. We wish to ensure that Israeli and Palestinian women have the opportunity to build bridges that could help to end decades of war, conflict and division.
• The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recognised the IWC through an official decree. In Israel, the Knessset has adopted a law calling for implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325, giving credence to the IWC.
• I am sure this roundtable will bring new fresh political perspectives, insight and innovative proposals that can help advance the peace process. [Thank you].