Check against delivery
Speech by Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Minister Grahn-Laasonen,
Vice-Minister Paegļkalna,
Excellencies, dear participants,
Security is the language of power in our time.
From military security to cybersecurity, it defines the terms of the emerging world order.
But who is actually shaping it?
***
How many women lead defence ministries across the world’s largest democracies?
In the G7, the answer is one. Just one.
How many design the systems that protect our digital infrastructure?
About one in five.
And how many sit in the parliaments that oversee these decisions?
One in three.
And when wars end?
In nine peace processes out of ten, there is not a single woman at the table. Not one.
***
As Europe invests hundreds of billions of euros in defence, women remain largely absent from the decisions about our security.
This is both dangerous and short-sighted.
Because real security today is, above all, democratic security.
Without it, the so-called “hard” security begins to crack, even when it looks strong.
By democratic security, I mean a security architecture that protects institutions, rights and freedoms.
One that addresses cyberattacks, terrorism, disinformation, climate risks and the many pressures confronting our democracies.
***
Without gender equality, there cannot be democratic security.
For too long we have dismissed gender equality as “soft” security.
In reality, it is part of the very fabric that keeps democratic societies resilient, legitimate and secure.
***
But time is not on our side.
At the current pace, it will take several generations to achieve full gender parity globally.
A girl born today will not live to see equality.
Neither will her daughter.
***
When the international order is tested every day, waiting a century to correct this imbalance is not only unjust.
It is a strategic mistake.
I look forward to our discussion.
Thank you.