Media Release: UN Women National Committee Aotearoa New Zealand

For immediate release

Security Council seat a chance for NZ to empower women

The UN Women National Committee Aotearoa New Zealand (UN Women NCANZ) welcomes New Zealand winning a seat on the United Nations Security Council and is calling on New Zealand to use its position to proactively promote effective implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, by calling for women’s genuine and effective participation, and by supporting women human rights.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are critical to international peace and security, and underlining that, the economic empowerment of women greatly contributes to the stabilization of societies emerging from armed conflict.

“We urge New Zealand to use its seat on the United Nations Security Council to ensure a sustained respect for international human rights standards in issues of peace and security in the Pacific, including promoting the elimination of violence against women in the Pacific.” says Angela McLeod, President of UN Women NCANZ.

“A seat on the UN Security Council is an influential position and a chance for New Zealand to use this two year chance to further promote and protect human rights on the global stage, both within its work on the Council, and in the Asia-Pacific region.

“This win is also an important opportunity for our country to strengthen its commitment to addressing the widespread problem of sexual and gender-based violence in the Pacific region.

“New Zealand should use its unique position in the region to urge Pacific Island leaders to implement their commitments by adopting laws, policies and practices to end violence against women and to eliminate all other forms of discrimination against women.”

“We look forward to working together so that we can see action on ensuring improvement of human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment,” says Angela McLeod.

ENDS

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