Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

120. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if UN peace resolution 1325 has been raised with European partners surrounding peace negotiations in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11573/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland is committed to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with international law and the UN Charter.

We all want to see an end to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, but how we make peace matters. Ukraine must be centrally involved in any negotiations. There needs to be a clear European role as well. Moreover, any peace process must be fully inclusive and representative of the society it serves. We know that women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in decision-making on peace and security issues is essential for an inclusive and sustainable peace.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the beginning of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, which reaffirms the fundamental role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction.

Ireland has been a longstanding champion of this Agenda, including at the UN where it was a key priority for our membership of the Security Council (2021-22). Ireland is committed to supporting the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda through our multilateral advocacy, political engagement and programming, through the European Union and through our bilateral engagements.

In June 2024, Ireland joined the ‘Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery for Ukraine’ at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin. Through membership of this Alliance, which UN Women supports, Ireland has committed to integrating a gender perspective into our funding and resources, and to supporting gender equality, women’s protection, participation and empowerment as priority objectives in our reconstruction work in Ukraine. Recognising the disproportionate impact of the war on women and children, Ireland will continue to prioritise the protection of all vulnerable groups and address sexual and gender based violence, including prevention, response and accountability measures.

Alongside Ukraine, the proliferation of armed conflicts around the world serves as a stark reminder of the importance of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. It is important that we continue to protect and promote Europe’s values in shaping the multilateral peacebuilding agenda; this must include a relentless focus on supporting women’s political participation and ensuring women’s leadership and participation at all levels of mediation and negotiation in efforts to forge peace.