Minister Grabar-Kitarović participated in International Conference entitled “Women Leaders - Networking for Peace and Security in the Middle East”

The International Conference dedicated to the strengthening of the role of women was chaired by its host, Austrian Foreign Minister Usrula Plassnik, and co-chaired by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, whose incentive launched this initiative.

The second meeting in a row of the Conference’s Managing Board is a continuation of the Working Meeting dedicated to the strengthening of the role of women, held on 23 September 2006 in New York. Along with Minister Grabar-Kitarović, Minister Plassnik and Secretary of State Rice, the meeting saw the participation of some 20 women ministers and other distinguished high representatives: UN General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Hanan Ashrawi, et al. The meeting discussed the topic of “Women Leaders - Networking for Peace and Security in the Middle East”, focusing on the conclusions reached at the first Working Meeting and the areas of a more efficient networking between women leaders, especially in the context of achieving peace and stability in the Middle East – through dialogue as the optimal way of solving conflicts, statutory amendments and the rule of law necessary for protecting women, and efficient strategies of strengthening the role of women throughout the world.

During the discussion, Minister Grabar-Kitarović said that Croatia, in accordance with its possibilities, is strongly dedicated to contributing to the international community’s efforts in achieving peace and stability in the Middle East, noting Croatia’s engagement in the UN-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. She pointed out that, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, she recently had the opportunity to receive the women officials of the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the delegations of the Iraqi women officials, whom she familiarised with Croatia’s experiences in protecting human rights, especially the rights of women. As a country that has recently experienced war, Croatia knows well the importance of promoting and protecting human rights, and puts forth great effort in implementing the activities concerning human rights, namely the protection of children, fighting human trafficking, and the policy of zero tolerance towards sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations, said Minister Grabar-Kitarović.

The Working Meeting ended with the participants’ conclusions on the need to appoint a larger number of women as mediators and special envoys in solving conflicts within international and regional organisations, as well as to the positions in various UN peacekeeping operations, intensify the meeting of women officials during their visits to conflict and post-conflict areas with representatives of groups for women’s affairs and protection, inviting international and national factors to re-examine countries’ co-operation programs and strategies with the aim of improving the position of women in their societies, from the aspect of peace and security, and the coming holding of the next similar meeting of women ministers and other high officials.