China, at the United Nations, emphasized the importance of women in building a culture of peace and resolving conflicts. Sun Lei, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, stated that women play a unique and crucial role in issues related to peace, security, and sustainable development.
He spoke on September 2nd at a high-level forum of the United Nations General Assembly dedicated to the "Action Program for a Culture of Peace." The discussions focused on the program's achievements to date and ways to strengthen the leading and active role of women in promoting peace.
Sun Lei pointed out that the current world faces significant instability, conflicts, and rapid changes. In this situation, he said it is necessary to better utilize the potential of women and support their greater involvement in peace processes and social development.
The Chinese side presented three main proposals on this occasion.
The first point emphasizes maintaining peace and security. According to Sun Lei, it is necessary to adhere to the goals and principles of the UN Charter, promote peaceful resolution of disputes, and strive for ceasefires and an end to conflicts in crisis areas.
At the same time, he called for resolute action against violence against women and girls.
According to him, women should have equal, full, and truly effective opportunities to participate in peace negotiations and processes that determine the future of their societies.
The second point is promoting inclusive development. China called for reaffirming commitments based on the Beijing Declaration and Action Program and creating better conditions for the all-round development of women.
According to Sun Lei, it is necessary to better utilize the abilities of women as a significant force for social change and strengthen their opportunities to actively participate in sustainable development.
Women should not only be recipients of development policies but also active creators and driving forces behind them.
The third area is greater international cooperation and sharing of experiences. Sun Lei called for eliminating discrimination and prejudice, strengthening mutual understanding, and building trust between different societies.
According to China, an intensive exchange of experiences among women from different countries also plays an important role.
Beijing also supports the continued central role of the UN, which should create broader platforms for cooperation among women in the areas of peace, security, and development.
The Chinese statement emphasized that, according to Beijing, lasting peace cannot be separated from the equal involvement of women, their protection from violence, and their ability to participate in decision-making about social and economic development.