Addressing violence targeting women in peace and security processes, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador TS Tirumurti highlighted its firm support for women's full, equal and meaningful participation in political processes and decision-making to promote an inclusive society. India stressed on women's participation in public life and elimination of violence against them as a pre-requisite for promoting lasting peace around the world at United Nations Security Council open debate on "Women, Peace and Security." “India has today moved from a paradigm of women's development to women-led development, “said Tirumurti.
In order to strengthen women's participation in peace and political process, and to eliminate discrimination and violence against women, Tirumurti highlighted the following points - Member States should identify and address barriers to women's meaningful participation in the prevention and resolution of conflict, and in post-conflict peace-building efforts and programs. “This requires devising a legislative and judicial framework, providing economic opportunities, undertaking institution and capacity building, ensuring accountability and checking impunity of those perpetrating violence against women,” said Tirumurti.
He also urged Member States to provide conducive environment for the participation and inclusion of women in political processes and decision-making. Along with political participation, the Indian ambassador stressed on socio-economic empowerment of women, including their access to credit, finance and technology. “A growing digital divide could have the potential to alienate women from the mainstream agenda. Keeping this in mind, India has not only undertaken numerous citizen-centric digital initiatives but has also focused these services towards women to minimize the gender divide. We have opened online bank accounts for over 440 million people of which more than 55 per cent of account holders are women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative helped in direct benefit transfer to nearly 200 million women,” added the Indian representative at UNSC. He further urged Member States to condemn violence against women and girls perpetrated by terrorists and said that Council should focus on the consequences of terrorism on the rights of women.
Tirumurti also highlighted the importance of women police officers and peacekeepers, who play an indispensable role in furthering Women Peace and Security agenda as they are better able to gain the trust of a large but marginalized section of society. “India welcomes the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy to increase the number of women peacekeepers. We also support increasing the deployment of Women Protection Advisors for effective monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements on conflict-related sexual violence in the field,” said Tirumurti.