By IANS,
New York : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called for increased participation of women in peacekeeping operations to curb violence against women in war zones and conflict areas, WAM reported Friday.
“Women participation in international peacekeeping process, mediation, reconciliation, and reconstruction efforts is highly essential to maintain gender equality and to reduce violence against women,” Ahmed Al-Jarman, UAE’s permanent UN representative, said during the Security Council debate on “Women and Peace and Security” Thursday.
“UN peacekeeping officials are failing to protect women in war-torn nations from a catalogue of crimes including rape, mutilation and starvation,” he said.
He called for full implementation of international laws protecting gender rights in conflict and post-conflict zones.
“The UAE government has enacted necessary legislations for protecting women’s constitutional rights on the basis of gender equality in rights and duties,” he said.
He reiterated the UAE’s concerns over the dire humanitarian situation of the Palestinian women and children “as a result of the continuous Israeli aggression, siege and occupation of the Palestinian territories”.