WORLD leaders must do more to fulfil a United Nations policy to protect women and girls during war, Holyrood has heard.
SNP backbencher Emma Harper made the point during a debate on progress being made since the organisation’s Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 nearly 20 years ago to address the needs of women caught up in armed conflicts.
Her intervention came against the background of ongoing wars in Syria and Yemen and renewed tension in the Middle East following the US killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani last week.
“While most resolutions talk about combatants and set rules for engagement and conflict, Resolution 1325 specifically highlights how women and girls are affected by armed conflict, by sexual violence talks about how women are treated by combatants,” Harper told the chamber.
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“It aims to achieve the protection of women and girls, and of promoting the importance of women in conflict resolution.” Harper added: “Current political situations such as rising tensions caused by Donald Trump in the Middle East, Brexit and the repositioning of the UK on the international stage are causing much uncertainty and concern.
“These political situations leave Scotland in an extremely difficult diplomatic situation whereby we must build relationships to broker trade agreements, whilst being cautious of the actions of other countries and governments.
“More than ever, it is important to build peace, to ensure security and particularly to ensure we are looking out for women and girls.”
Harper said in 2010 the UK joined 36 other UN member states in adopting a national action plan which commits the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office and the UK defence forces to activities to integrate women, peace and security issues into the UK’s conflict policy.
She said some progress had been made, including the launch of the No Girl Left Behind campaign – which aims to help girls in affected countries access good quality sanitation and education – but there were still many areas that needed further action.
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