German State Secretary, at OSCE Permanent Council, calls for including women in conflict prevention, resolution and post-conflict rehabilitation

VIENNA, 10 March 2016 – “Better protection of women in conflict situations is needed”, said Dr. Ralf Kleindiek, State Secretary of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, today at the OSCE Permanent Council. Kleindiek spoke as guest speaker on behalf of Germany’s 2016 OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which was marked on 8 March.

“Women’s rights to demonstrate, to assemble freely in order to call for equal rights and freedom from violence have to be guaranteed,” State Secretary Kleindiek said, referring to demonstrations for Women’s Day around the world.

Addressing ambassadors of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, the State Secretary emphasized the importance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (adopted in 2000), particularly against the background of today’s conflicts, extensive refugee movements and the suffering caused especially to women who are being killed, enslaved and subjected to sexual violence and human trafficking. “As Chair of the OSCE, Germany supports enhanced implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. On a national level, we will have an independent evaluation of our action plan on implementing this Resolution.”

In his speech, the State Secretary further underlined the importance of the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2004), which obligates participating States to enable women to actively participate in all sectors of society. Kleindiek elaborated German experiences in this regard, highlighting how women have attained leading positions in the economy, in public services and federal bodies.

The State Secretary also called on participating States to show greater political willingness to compromise and seek consensus on an Addendum to the OSCE Gender Action Plan, which would update the 2004 document, engage men for gender equality and empower women in (post-) conflict situations.