Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security
Statement of Estonia delivered by the Permanent Representative of Estonia H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar
6 October 2025
President,
We welcome this very topical open debate and would like to thank the briefers for their presentations.
Estonia aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union and would like to add the following.
This year we mark two important milestones: the 25th anniversary of resolution 1325 and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration. As we celebrate these achievements, we must also recognize with deep concern the global backsliding on women’s rights and gender equality. Our message must be clear: we need to accelerate, not just reiterate, our commitments to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Estonia reaffirms our unwavering commitment to advancing WPS across all peace and security efforts. Gender equality is not only a matter of fairness, but a cornerstone of resilient democracies and a vital element of foreign and security policy. Women’s full, equal and meaningful participation is indispensable to building sustainable peace, preventing conflict, and ensuring long-term stability.
Accountability must remain at the heart of our efforts. Ending impunity is essential to upholding the rights of survivors, deterring future crimes, and strengthening the credibility of the WPS agenda. Perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, must be brought to justice before national and international courts.
On that note, I would like to draw attention to the fact that the country sitting on the chair of the President of the UN Security Council is responsible for rape and other forms of sexual violence against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war, as documented in the Secretary General’s report. Russia´s actions are not compatible with its status as a permanent member of the Security Council and are undermining international peace and security. The manner in which Russia has organised today’s open debate – without clear communication and engagement – only confirms its lack of commitment to the agenda.
Excellencies,
In the past five years, Estonia has taken structural steps to advance gender equality. We strongly believe that digital transformation can accelerate progress in this regard. Estonia will continue to promote women’s voices in media and technology and to strengthen international cooperation in this field. Enhancing digital rights is also one of our priorities as a candidate for the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2026–2028. Additionally, Estonia is currently preparing our fourth National Action Plan on resolution 1325, ensuring that the WPS agenda remains embedded in our domestic activities and international policies.
Colleagues,
Gender equality must extend to the highest levels of leadership. With elections coming up for the position of the next Secretary-General, Estonia strongly encourages Member States to nominate women candidates, because true equality can only be achieved when women are fully represented at every level of decision-making.
Thank you.