Morocco, UAE, Bahrain, Israel Lead Joint Statement At HRC on Women, Diplomacy

Rabat- As part of the 48th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on Wednesday, September 22, Bahrain’s Permanent Representative Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri delivered a Joint Statement on Women and Peace on behalf of Morocco, the UAE, Israel, and Bahrain, as well as the University for Peace and over 50 countries around the globe.

The “Joint Statement on Women, Peace and Diplomacy” reaffirmed the crucial role that women play in peace processes and conflict prevention, as well as the importance of all states’ commitment to the advancement of women in preventive diplomacy and peacebuilding.

Bahrain’s Ambassador Bucheeri stated that the joint statement is “consistent with the distinguished Bahraini experience in terms of empowering Bahraini women and enhancing their leading role in laying the foundation for international peace and security through their remarkable and renowned diplomatic presence in international fora.”
The statement aims to “convey an important message of peace stemming from the deep-rooted values of the Bahraini society, the vision of its wise leadership, and its pioneering experience in the field of peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance,” the Ambassador said.

Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel’s UN representative, explained that the joint statement is the “first formal initiative in the multilateral arena” between Israel, Morocco, the UAE, and Bahrain.

“I am especially pleased that the important issue of women in peace processes is the focus of this statement and I believe that it is testament to the new dynamic we want to promote in our region and beyond,” said the Israeli ambassador.

Omar Zniber, Morocco’s ambassador in Geneva, stated that that initiative represents the desire and the urgency to work actively and communally to establish a peaceful and conducive environment. He said the joint initiative celebrates human relationships and opportunities for growth “by putting women at the heart of the action for peace building and conflict resolution.”
Zniber stressed, “I am very pleased as the Moroccan Delegation to promote such action.”

For his part, Ahmed Aljarman, the UAE representative, remarked that the Gulf country has made strong progress on its national policy regarding women’s empowerment and to “advance the women, peace and security agenda.” He noted the launch of the “Sheikha Fatima Women, Peace and Security Initiative and the launch of the UAE First National Action Plan in response to UNSCR 1325 in March 2021.”

Ambassador David Fernandez Puyana, Permanent Observer of University for Peace, said of the joint statement: “Becoming part of this innovative cross-regional initiative, UPEACE fulfills its mandate.”

He spoke of the importance of providing the world with an “international institution of higher education for peace and with the aim of promoting among all human beings the spirit of understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among peoples and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress, in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations.”

The Joint Statement was delivered under the General Debate of Item 3: Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural. It was made during the opening of the Human Rights Council’s 48th Regular Session.