1 FORCES OF CHANGE IV LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN WOMEN PROMOTING DISARMAMENT, NON-PROLIFERATION AND ARMS CONTROL TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 65/69 United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean www.unlirec.org Av. Jorge Chavez 275, Floor 3 Miraflores Lima - Peru Tel: +51.1.625.9114. With the support of Copyright Notice This document is the intellectual property of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament United Nations. It may not be reproduced, stored in a and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean data recovery system or transmitted by any means, in whole or in part or, for any purpose, without the prior written permission of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), which acts as the representative body FORCES OF CHANGE IV of the United Nations. This document is not for sale. LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN WOMEN United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) PROMOTING DISARMAMENT, NON- Av. Jorge Chavez 275, Floor 3 Miraflores PROLIFERATION AND ARMS CONTROL Lima Peru E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (+51) (1) 625 9114 TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 65/69 ©UNLIREC 2020 - All rights reserved IN MEMORIAM GIOCONDA UBEDA RIVERA (1959 – 2020) — While this publication was being drafted, on 21 October 2020, regrettably, Ambassador Gioconda Ubeda Rivera, a Costa Rican diplomat and the first and only woman to date to have been elected as Secretary-General of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL), a position she held from 2010 to 2013, passed away. Ambassador Ubeda was known for promoting disarmament with great passion. Her contributions and the strength of her leadership in mobilising Latin America for nuclear disarmament have been widely recognised internationally. In recent years, she advised the presidency — held by Costa Rica — of the United Nations Conference to Negotiate the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which was adopted in 2017, thus marking a milestone in the history of nuclear disarmament. UNLIREC dedicates the 4th edition of the Forces for Change publication to Ambassador Ubeda, who - through her professional career and personal commitment - embodied the spirit of Resolution 65/69 on Women, Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Arms Control. Thank you for paving the way for us, Ambassador Ubeda, and for being a Force of Change. Rest in peace. related efforst to support women in disarmament processes, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Regional Centre in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) FOREWORD is launching the fourth edition of the publication ‘Women as United Nations Secretary Forces of Change’. This edition General, António Guterres, spotlights the valuable launched his landmark Agenda work being undertaken for Disarmament in 2018 entitled IZUMI NAKAMITSU by Latin American and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs ‘Securing our Common Future’. Caribbean women in the field The Agenda seeks to generate of disarmament, arms control fresh perspectives and bring and non-proliferation. Women disarmament to the heart of our who serve as the motor behind common efforts for peace and security. It is framed around four key pillars: “disarmament Recognizing the need for women to regional momentum towards women’s to save humanity” focused on weapons of mass destruction; “disarmament to save be rightfully involved in revitalizing empowerment in the security field. lives” through stronger control over conventional arms; “disarmament for future disarmament discussions across the generations” examining challenges posed by new technologies; and “strengthening globe and to promote the valuable I invite you to read the stories of disarmament partnerships.” contribution of women to disarmament, regional women working in the field of the United Nations General Assembly disarmament, arms control and non- The Agenda also prioritizes the equal, full and effective participation of women in all adopted Resolution 65/69 on Women, proliferation and find out first-hand decision-making processes related to disarmament with provisions on supporting Disarmament, Non-proliferation and what drives these women. I applaud the disarmament community in translating gender awareness into practical action. Arms Control for the first time in each of them for not only being The Secretary-General recognizes gender parity as “a moral duty and an operational 2010. It has now been 10 years since the torchbearers of modern-day necessity.” It is through women’s meaningful participation in decision-making this ground-breaking resolution set disarmament, but also for lighting that productivity and effectiveness are fortified and new perspectives and the stage for empowering and fully the cauldron for future generations solutions are brought to the table. While the world has witnessed a positive engaging women as powerful agents of empowered women. I hope these trend to engage women in disarmament and arms control processes on equal terms, for promoting disarmament, non- pages inspire others to carry this women continue to remain seriously underrepresented in United Nations multilateral proliferation and arms control. powerful message forward so that we disarmament meetings. The General Assembly First Committee has been chaired by can fulfill our collective moral duty only one woman in 74 sessions and only one quarter of the participants are likely to In honour of the tenth anniversary towards gender equality and securing be women at any given intergovernmental meeting on disarmament. The continued of this milestone resolution and of our common future. marginalization of women in these discussions is a loss for all. of family life, undermines the rule of law and challenges our efforts for a peaceful, equitable and sustainable society. In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago has PREFACE taken a stand and prioritized this issue at the national, regional and international levels. FROM THE Honourable Minister The GoRTT has utilized GOVERNMENT OF AYANNA WEBSTER-ROY substantial resources to address Office of the Prime Minister (Gender this pervading issue and THE REPUBLIC OF and Child Affairs) Republic of Trinidad acknowledges the vital role of and Tobago women. In 2018, a ‘Pilot Study TRINIDAD AND on the Role of Women in Communities: The Case of TOBAGO on the importance of engaging women East Port of Spain’ was conducted in peace, security and disarmament by the Women’s Institute for Alternative The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT) has long recognized efforts. Development; a non-governmental that international peace and security must be supported by a robust international legal organization based in Trinidad and system, inclusive of criminal justice. The GoRTT acknowledges the importance of the Globally, Trinidad and Tobago fully Tobago and the National Drug Council role of women in addressing the issues of disarmament, non-proliferation and arms subscribes to the Arms Trade Treaty, of Trinidad and Tobago with financial control; and promote their inclusion into legislative, policy and programme design and which regulates the international trade support from the United Nations implementation. in conventional weapons. Though we Development Programme. This Study are not manufacturers nor large scale was commissioned to examine armed As the country with lead responsibility for matters relating to Crime and Security importers of small arms and light violence and leadership in relation in the Quasi-Cabinet of the Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean weapons, the illicit arms trade in Trinidad to women”s security, community Community (CARICOM), Trinidad and Tobago - in recognition of the challenges faced and Tobago, and by extension the wider safety and national development. It in the CARICOM region in countering the scourge of gun violence - called for the Caribbean region, remains a threat to also made specific recommendations international community to focus more on the vulnerability of women in situations our socio-economic structures. for amplifying women’s voices of armed violence and armed conflict. In 2010, Trinidad and Tobago led the biennial and protecting women and girls in Resolution on ‘Women, Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Arms Control’, now The trade of small arms light communities plagued by violence. known as General Assembly Resolution 65/69, to encourage women’s participation weapons is also associated with As best stated by Mr. Kofi A. Annan in the disarmament decision-making process. This milestone Resolution other transnational organized crime, (former Secretary-General of the United represented the General Assembly’s initial formal acknowledgement of the such as drug and human trafficking. Nations, 1997-2006): "When women integral connections between women and disarmament; and was also born It places a tremendous burden on thrive, all of society benefits, and in recognition of the 10th Anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR women, economically, socially and succeeding generations are given 1325) on Women, Peace and Security. Both resolutions have helped raise awareness psychologically and threatens the fabric a better start in life.” 11 In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago is honoured to be amidst