Global issues, local interests

Recently I had the pleasure to be in London for the visit of Guatemala’s Foreign Minister, Fernando Carrera. His agenda covered a wide range of topics from drugs policy  to the international sugar trade. I would like to highlight one topic in particular that he discussed with the Foreign Secretary William Hague – the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

Both Ministers agree that preventing crimes of sexual violence is important at any time, but that in situations of conflict more must be done at the international level to end this abhorrent crime. Minister Carrera spoke at the UN Security Council debate in June chaired by William Hague. He reiterated the crucial role women can and must play in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and the importance of their participation in all sectors of society as stakeholders, not subjects. Both Ministers were pleased that a new resolution was adopted (UNSCR 2106) but were now keen that it would translate into concrete operational follow-up across the range of UN missions.

Minister Carrera expressed his support for the Foreign Secretary’s plans to convene a global gathering during the UN General Assembly in September to make further progress and offered to be a Champion on this issue (along with other Foreign Ministers from across the globe). The Foreign Secretary said how pleased he was with the role that Minister Carrera was playing and that he looked forward to working with him on the declaration for the UN General Assembly.

Now I am back in Guatemala we will be working with the Foreign Ministry and other partners to identify areas of cooperation at the local and regional level that might help make a difference for the future. This isn’t an easy topic and there are no simple solutions but working together we might be able to contribute to the goal we all share to stop it happening again.