The future of gender parity within the NPT is ours to create, affirmed a distinguished panel today at a side event on gender in the NPT. Tackling the peril of nuclear weapons will require the best contributions of everyone — men and women. The event organized by the Permanent missions in Geneva of Sweden, Australia, Netherlands and Canada, provided a meeting point for creative discussions on how to strengthen the review process and enhance sustainable outcomes.
The NPT is the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, making the review cycles strong arenas to promote the integration of gender equality. Only by ensuring the equal and meaningful participation of both women and men can we apply the fullest range of experience to effectively address the challenges posed by nuclear weapons.
“More perspectives could help to find new approaches to break stalemate”, United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs H.E. Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu said in her opening. “We need to invest in capacity building especially for younger women, so they can have the opportunities to come into disarmament work.”
“How do we challenge the principles and big issues we have in front of us within nuclear disarmament? With gender parity, we have a better chance of looking at these issues with new eyes.” the Argentinian Ambassador in Vienna H.E. Mr Raffael Grossi said. “We need to continue to encourage women to engage in the disarmament fora. Gender equality must be present at all levels, both at national and international level.” the Permanent Representative of Mexico Ms. Socorro Flores Liera added. Chief of Research of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Mr. John Borrie stressed the importance of including both men and women to improve the effectiveness of the multilateral work. “Underrepresentation of women should be the concern of everyone since it effects the quality of the policymaking”, he said. Don’t mistake representation for agency – a room filled with women isn’t enough if the structure still doesn’t allow them to influence the process!”, the Permanent Representative of Canada Ms Rosemary MacCarney added , “Gender was included in the factual chair’s report in 2017 – but did anyone do anything differently this year?, she questioned.
In order to move from actions to results, we need to pull in the same direction - at the same time. High Representative Nakamitsu concluded the active panel discussion by stressing "In the end, it is all about power-sharing. We must join forces to accomplish real change!"
Read Ms Nakamitsu’s remarks at the event here.
Read the full speech by the Nordic countries delivered by Deputy Director General Andrés Jato at the NPT Preparatory Committee on 24 April here.