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Madam President, Excellences, Distinguished Participants,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia as well as Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

I want to start by thanking the briefers, in particular Mrs. Wai Wai Nu and Mrs. Owuor for their interventions today.

This year’s report of the Secretary General is indeed a sobering read. The 50% increase in the number of women and girls living in conflict-affected areas highlights the urgent need for action. The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda must be consistently implemented, and the human rights of women and girls must be respected and protected.

The EU finances and actively supports women’s participation and leadership for peace. We strive to increase the number of women mediators and political representatives, including within our own structures and we support women insider mediators in several countries. We welcome the Common Pledge to Increase Women’s Full, Equal, and Meaningful Participation in Peace Processes, as it aligns with these efforts. Women’s participation both within and outside of formal peace agreements is vital. Yet, we all must do more to reduce institutional barriers faced by local women’s organisations, a key step towards women’s participation in peacebuilding.

Madam President,

In light of next year’s anniversary, our commitments and related implementation efforts must surpass those made 25 years ago. We need to ensure women's involvement in all peace processes. Equally important is their leadership in all other political efforts to address conflict, in formal as well as informal processes, whether they be at local, regional or international level. This is a core principle of the WPS agenda and cannot be compromised.  Along with the UN, all of us must lead by example, ensuring women are always included in critical political processes, especially in contexts like Afghanistan where their human rights and fundamental freedoms are severely disregarded and violated.

Ensuring safe participation is critical. Creating an enabling environment requires addressing violations proactively. Safety must never be used as an excuse for exclusion; instead, it is a call to action for stronger protective measures that allow women to take their rightful place in decision-making. This also applies when leveraging new technologies to enhance women’s participation, while recognizing that the root of harassment and gender-based disinformation lies not in technology but in a broader culture of misogyny and impunity and negative social norms.

Madam President,

I would like to conclude by expressing the EU's deep appreciation and respect for the tireless and immensely vital work of women leaders, civil society actors, peacebuilders, and human rights defenders. We will continue supporting your work, and call others to do so too.

I thank you.