Africa-Press – Angola. Angola’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Francisco José da Cruz, reiterated on Tuesday, in New York, the country’s satisfaction with support provided by the United Nations during the difficult years of the armed conflict.
The diplomat recalled that the four UN peacekeeping missions, authorized by the Security Council between 1989 and 2007, played a crucial role in the country achieving peace and national reconciliation.
Ambassador Francisco José da Cruz made the statement during the plenary meeting of the 4th Committee of the UN General Assembly on the “Comprehensive Review of the Whole Question of Peacekeeping Operations in All Its Aspects”.
The diplomat said that peacekeeping operations remain a fundamental instrument for conflict prevention, management and resolution, noting that in recent years, the work has been affected by disinformation, false information and hate speech.
He stressed that peacekeeping operations constitute one of the main activities and instruments of foreign policy implemented by the international community, and it is therefore essential to adapt them to meet the needs on the ground.
Cruz emphasized that operational capabilities must be improved, including the effectiveness of deployment and mandate implementation, reliable medical support and access to adequate medical facilities, as well as mental health assistance before, during and after deployments.
The Angolan diplomat reiterated Angola’s full support for the Secretary-General’s “Zero Tolerance Policy on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse” and strongly condemned all forms of exploitation committed by UN personnel, including in peacekeeping operations.
He considered it essential to ensure that those who have committed sexual exploitation and abuse are held accountable and ineligible for future missions, and that victims receive adequate support, including medical and psychological assistance.
According to Ambassador Francisco José da Cruz, Africa hosts the majority of UN peacekeeping operations, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, where women represent a small fraction of peacekeeping forces worldwide: 6.4% of military personnel and 12% of police personnel in 2023.
“As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325: Women, Peace and Security (WPS), let us reaffirm our long-standing commitment to the implementation of these normative instruments,” stressed the Permanent Representative of Angola to the United Nations.
He stated that these instruments represent important milestones for women’s rights and gender equality, as well as a dedicated path to promoting their active and effective participation in peacebuilding and consolidating peace and to protecting their rights during and after conflicts.
The diplomat explained that in September of this year, Angola organized the Regional Seminar on Integrating the Gender Perspective in Light of Resolution 1325: Women, Peace and Security in Angola, promoted by the Angolan Network of Women Police Officers, to address the importance of integrating the gender perspective in different operational and administrative functions.
He added that the country is currently hosting the Regional Training Course for Trainers and Preparation for Deployment in Peace Support Operations for police personnel.
The diplomat called for multilateralism as a way to reach consensus on the preservation of international peace and security, providing peacekeeping operations with clear and defined mandates, objectives and command structures, as well as adequate resources based on a realistic assessment of the situation and secure funding to support efforts to achieve the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Source: ANGOP
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