New Delhi, Sep 12 (PTI) The BRICS on Saturday appeared to root for a woman helming the post of UN Secretary-General, as it pitched for a “comprehensive reform” of the world body, including its Security Council.
‘The New Delhi Declaration’, adopted on the opening day of the two-day BRICS summit, also takes note that “no woman has ever been elected for the role of Secretary-General of the United Nations, and only one national from Latin America and the Caribbean, and two nationals from Africa and Asia each have ever occupied the position”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the adoption of the declaration at the end of the opening day’s deliberations in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other top leaders of the bloc.
The New Delhi Declaration is being seen as a major triumph for Indian diplomacy.
Recognising the 2023 Johannesburg-II Leaders’ Declaration, the BRICS leaders said, “We reiterate our support for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the council’s membership so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges.” They also reiterated their commitment to the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 adopted in 2000 and subsequent resolutions and to the advancement of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
“We further reiterate the importance of ensuring the full, equal, safe, and meaningful participation of women in decision-making at all levels of peace and security processes, including conflict prevention and resolution, humanitarian relief, mediation, peace operations, peacebuilding, and post-conflict reconstruction and development,” it reads.
On October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted resolution 1325. After years of advocacy, this marked the launch of what’s known as the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, according to the UN Women website.
In simple terms, global leaders “committed to a new way of looking at conflict and peace”, beyond the warring parties and traditional powerbrokers – both dominated by men, even today, the website adds.
Resolution 1325 acknowledges that women and girls are harmed by conflict in ways that are distinct, horrific and must be stopped, and it establishes that women’s meaningful participation in peace processes is essential to preventing, ending and recovering from conflict.
As the current chair of BRICS, India is hosting the two-day summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The declaration further reads that in light of the ongoing selection process of the next Secretary-General of the UN and bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the UN Charter, “We note that no woman has ever been elected for the role of secretary-general, and only one national from Latin America and the Caribbean, and only two nationals from Africa and Asia each have ever occupied this position.” The BRICS leaders have also reiterated the need to “intensify the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as well as discrimination based on religion, faith or belief, and all their contemporary forms around the world, including the alarming trends of rising hate speech, disinformation and misinformation”. PTI KND KSI KSI
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