Protection of women in conflicts urged

China's United Nations ambassador on Tuesday stressed the importance of protecting women in armed conflicts and supporting their participation in the peace process.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, urged the Security Council to "stick to the right direction and stay on the right course" to achieve these goals.

Zhang told a Security Council open debate on women, peace and security that women affected by armed conflicts are entitled to security and protection, regardless of whether they are part of the peace process or not. "They should be treated equally without exception," he said.

A comprehensive approach and collective efforts are needed to protect these women and all parties to conflicts should fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian laws to renounce all violence against women, including sexual violence, the ambassador said.

He affirmed China's support for relevant UN organizations in carrying out their work "in accordance with their respective mandate in this regard".

Relief efforts

The international community should intensify relief efforts in line with UN guiding principles for humanitarian assistance and meet the basic living needs of women affected by conflict. Countries with historical responsibilities for hot spot issues are bound by duty to provide more financial and in-kind support.

He urged the Security Council to address the symptoms and eliminate the root causes of conflicts.

The Security Council, which bears the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, should "work harder to eliminate root causes of conflicts, pursue political solutions to hot spot issues, and unremittingly seek a peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue, mediation and consultation".

Zhang emphasized the need to "unswervingly support women's empowerment and development". Supporting women's development, amplifying their initiative, participation and power to change in the field of peace and security could help extend the impact of the women, peace and security agenda.

He noted that more than 1,000 Chinese women have served in UN peacekeeping operations over the past three decades. In recent years, China has also helped developing countries implement 100 maternal and child health projects and train 130,000 female professionals.