UNGA Resolution 67/48 on Women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control 1. Recommendations EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC Portugal believes that a strong gender perspective in disarmament, non proliferation and arms control processes would step up their effectiveness and legitimacy, as proven in so many cases in different regions. On the basis of our own national experience and of international developments we are convinced that the following measures would improve women's participation in non proliferation, disarmament and arms control: - Implementation of policies with a view to promoting the recruitment of women to the security forces, such as awareness raising campaigns and the adoption of measures which contribute to the improvement of the conciliation of the professional and family/personal life. - Establishment of national plans for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325, which would ensure a refocusing of national activities in this area. - Investment in the specific training of women in disarmament, nonproliferation and arms control efforts within the security forces as well as in other levels of decision making. - Data collection and analysis on the actual differences in the results of disarmament processes with higher and lower levels of participation of women. 2. International instruments Portugal welcomes the outcomes of the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, which took place in New York, from August 27 th to September 7 th, last year, which addressed this important topic. Portugal also welcomes the addition of gender-base violence as a criterion which has to be considered when exporting arms, according to the Arms Trade Treaty, as adopted in April 2 nd 2013 and signed on behalf of the Portuguese Republic on June 3 rd 2013. 1
3. Situation at national level MINISTÉRIO DOS NEGÓCIOS ESTRANGEIROS At national level, in May 2011, Portugal ratified the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Although many of the provisions foreseen in the Protocol had already been incorporated into the Portuguese legal system on firearms and ammunition, this ratification was very important as it reinforced Portugal's position in the context of the United Nations in what combating the stockpiling and spread of small arms and light weapons (SALW) are concerned. Women and girls are affected in various ways by violence as a result of the use of firearms. Firearms are a source of increased danger for women in the domestic context, regardless of who owns the weapon, his/her motivations and the legality of the act. In Portugal, the majority of legal firearms belong to men of Portuguese nationality, aged between 40 and 64 years old. Likewise, most criminal firearms users are men of Portuguese nationality (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2007). Between 2003 and 2008, 985 persons died victims of firearms in Portugal. Of these, 225 were women (24%). Between 2007 and 2009, there were 191 cases of use of firearms in situations of domestic violence, which corresponds to 0.5% of the total number of cases of domestic violence reported (42336 cases) and 13% of the total use of weapons in situations of domestic violence in those years (1531) (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2007-2009). Although firearms represent "fear", "threat" and "death", some women nevertheless identify them with the needs for self-defense and protection against external threats or with individual and business protection (in the case of criminal use). The threats and insecurities, particularly those resulting from the dissemination and use of small arms, experienced by women, girls and men, are common in many contexts, including in peaceful countries. Our national interpretation of UNSC Resolution 1325 is comprehensive and includes, besides the approach to armed conflict and humanitarian assistance, the internal promotion of coherence and articulation of the national policies of disarmament and combat the use of light weapons, public safety and combating gender based violence in the defense of human rights of women and girls. This is stated in the current National Action Plan to implement UNSC 1325, which runs from 2009 to 2013. Portugal is striving to ensure a balanced representation of women and men at all decision-making levels, in particular in the security sector, which may make or 2
influence policy with regard to matters related to disarmament, arms control and nonproliferation. As a result of the adoption of positive actions for the promotion of equality between women and men and the participation of women in the military and police forces, at all levels, including the decision-making level, the situation of women in these areas was the following in : Total number of effectives in Security Forces: Guarda Nacional Republicana/GNR (Gendarmerie) Military officers of the GNR by category and sex M W % of Women Officers 743 46 5,8% Sergeants 2.531 99 4% Guards 18.735 1.050 5,3% Total 22.009 1.195 5% Polícia de Segurança Pública (Police) Police Agents by category and sex M W % of Women Police officers 677 70 9,37% Police Chiefs 2.227 227 9,25% Police Agents 16.998 1.261 7,06% Total 19.902 1.558 7,26% Source: Ministry of Home Affairs Total number of effectives in the military forces: Army Military 3
the army by category and sex Officers 3.469 343 10% Sergeants 5.175 353 6,4% Soldiers 9.232 1.633 15% Total 17.876 2.329 11,5% Navy Military the navy by category and sex Officers 1.676 253 13% Sergeants 3.080 199 6% Soldiers 4.744 398 8% Total 9.500 850 8% Air Force Military the air force by category and sex Officers 1.961 350 15% Sergeants 2.772 275 9% Soldiers 1.636 500 23,4% Total 6.369 1.125 15% Source: Ministry of Defence 4
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