Gender and peacekeeping

106. The Special Committee welcomes the publication by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Gender Resource Package and the appointment in 2004 of a gender adviser in the Department, and looks forward to the development by the Secretary-General of a comprehensive strategy and action plan for mainstreaming gender perspectives into peacekeeping activities at Headquarters and in peacekeeping operations. The Special Committee looks forward to reviewing this strategy at its next session. The Special Committee looks forward to status reports by the Department to Member States on the progress of those initiatives.

107. The Special Committee commends the introduction of mandatory pre- deployment gender training for military, civilian and civilian police personnel and the issuance of guidance on human trafficking as well as the subsequent development of a package of training materials.

108. The Special Committee considers that gender issues should be systematically addressed in all aspects and phases of peace processes, and that urgent measures must be taken to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in situations of armed conflict. There must be a concerted effort to realize the commitments made in Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) in line with the recent report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security (S/2004/814), through urgent implementation of its recommendations, including a United Nations-wide plan of action.

109. The Special Committee encourages Member States and the Secretariat to increase the participation of women in all aspects and all levels of peacekeeping operations, where possible, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 59/164 of 20 December 2004 and Security Council resolution 1325 (2000).

110. The Special Committee stresses the need for ongoing reporting by the Secretary-General on how gender mainstreaming is being implemented in the field and at Headquarters.