Security Council Open Debate on Post-Conflict Peacebuilding, October 2010

This debate is especially timely, in part because of the review of the Peacebuilding Commission, which is expected to conclude shortly after the excellent work by the facilitators appointed by this Council and by the President of the General Assembly. In addition, this is the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), which lays the basis for the Secretary- General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding.

In his report on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (S/2010/386), the Secretary- General outlines ambitious but vital goals for the United Nations in becoming more effective in its support for postconflict countries. We welcome his progress report, and the steps taken so far in its implementation. We also congratulate the Secretary- General on having delivered a strategic action plan on the participation of women in peacebuilding. The Nordic countries fully support its clear recommendations and comprehensive approach, and stand ready to do their part in fulfilling these measures.

The Nordic countries believe that the following recommendations deserve particular attention: first, inclusive participation as a key to legitimate and sustainable peace; secondly, adequate and timely financing of the postconflict needs of men and women alike; and thirdly, improving the response of the system as a whole in the immediate aftermath of a conflict.

My delegation acknowledges the value of the reports we have before us (S/2010/386 and S/2010/466) and shares the view that we must place peacebuilding at the very centre of the work of the United Nations in various areas, including the participation of women and the strengthening of the Organization's peacebuilding capacity.

The reports before us today mark a critical turning point in the United Nations strategy for peace and security. The in-depth analysis contained in the report on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (S/2010/386) dovetails with the proposals in the report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466). Nigeria welcomes the renewed emphasis on the nexus between peacekeeping, peacebuilding, security and development, and we understand the challenges faced by women in relation to conflict, as well as the invaluable contribution they can make to the establishment of peace.

Austria has repeatedly stressed the importance of national ownership of peacebuilding processes. In order to promote national leadership and ensure the sustainability of progress, all peacebuilding efforts need to draw upon existing national capacities to the greatest extent possible. We therefore welcome efforts to assess existing capacities as a basis for the deployment of international civilian expertise. The ongoing review of civilian capacity will contribute to ensuring that civilian expertise for peacebuilding is deployed in an efficient and timely manner and that specialized skills to address women's needs are included.

We are now passing through a very challenging period. We are about to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the landmark resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security at a time when such initiatives as review of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), women's participation in peacebuilding, review of civilian capacity and others are being debated and developed. The Movement deems it a privilege to take note of the endeavours of different actors in these processes who have been contributing positively to restoring sustainable peace by preventing relapse into conflict and addressing the genuine needs of the people emerging from conflict. Furthermore, the Movement feels it necessary that such processes be considered by the principal bodies of the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly.

We believe that lasting peace in a conflict would remain elusive without improving the conditions of women and other vulnerable segments of the society. For long-term economic recovery and social cohesion, women's access to health, education and entrepreneurship is essential.

In the context of human-dimension of Peacebuilding, the Secretary General's report on “Women and Peacebuilding” is both candid and objective. The report put forth a ‘seven-point action plan' that factors gender perspective in Peacebuilding endeavours.

At the outset, I would like to welcome the progress report of the Secretary-General on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (S/2010/386), as well as the report of the Secretary- General on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466). The substantive contribution of the co-facilitators of the 2010 review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture (S/2010/393, annex) deserves to be commended. In line with what the European Union delegation will state, Portugal fully endorses the co-facilitators' report.

On this occasion, Thailand would like to emphasize a few aspects of peacebuilding that we believe to be crucial to its success and conducive to women's participation in the process.

Lastly, we welcome the Secretary-General's proposal of specific measures to ensure that the recommendations contained in the report are implemented on the ground through the inclusion of women in development, infrastructure, employment, and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes.

We reiterate the importance of deploying an increased international civilian capacity in a prompt and coordinated manner in countries emerging from conflict, in particular taking advantage of the capacities of the southern hemisphere and of women, taking into account their important contribution in generating national capacity, in particular in spheres such as the strengthening of the rule of law, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, security sector reforms, mediation and electoral assistance.

I would like to highlight the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding and his seven-point plan, which places women on truly equal footing with men and emphasizes their full participation in the peacebuilding process from the outset. As stated in the report, women's participation is crucial in shoring up the three pillars of lasting peace: economic recovery, social cohesion and political legitimacy. Coordinated work between the PBC and UN Women seems to us to be essential.

The Nordic countries believe that the following recommendations deserve particular attention: first, inclusive participation as a key to legitimate and sustainable peace; secondly, adequate and timely financing of the postconflict needs of men and women alike; and thirdly, improving the response of the system as a whole in the immediate aftermath of a conflict.

As the Secretary-General notes in his report, rebuilding after a conflict offers an opportunity to create a virtuous cycle, starting from more inclusive peace processes. The report also draws an important link between women's participation and the wider question of gender equality. Women need to be included in all phases of peace processes and in post- conflict governance institutions. Outside actors cannot dictate the composition of the negotiating delegations, but there is a lot that can be done. Peace mediators and their supporting teams can ensure that sufficient gender expertise is provided to the parties; they can also organize parallel consultations with women's groups if they do not have a seat at the table.

Special measures might also be needed to support women's representation in the governance institutions that emerge after a conflict. The United Nations often acts as the adviser in crucial decisions, such as the composition of constituent assemblies or the choice of electoral system, including possibilities for quotas or preferential treatment. We believe that such measures can be effective and justified in ensuring more legitimate State institutions, thus leading to a more durable peace.

The question of funding and resourcing in general is also critical from the perspective of women in peacebuilding. In order to have a real impact on the lives of women and the post-conflict societies they live in, United Nations agencies should be adequately resourced. In that way, we might provide women and girls with effective resources and protections as victims of violent conflict. Our work can also empower and engage women as protagonists of peace within the United Nations system and as political and civil society participants.

A coordinated and coherent approach is needed in order to ensure women's full participation in all peacebuilding efforts. The relative absence of women from peace negotiations and post-conflict planning processes has recently been demonstrated by concrete figures in a UNIFEM study: Women rarely assume core government functions, they are not able to ensure their issues are addressed in peace accords and peace processes, and they are not in a position to ensure prioritisation of their needs in planning processes or adequate financial allocations to address them. This problems needs to be addressed by the Council and the UN system in a more consistent manner.

Austria therefore fully supports the SG's Action Plan for Gender-Responsive Peacebuilding with its seven commitments and calls upon the Secretariat and other relevant bodies and agencies to translate these commitments into concrete programs, ensuring that the peacebuilding priorities, as identified by the SG in his 2009 report, are met in a gender-responsive way to ensure women's full participation. Austria highly welcomes the crucial role of the PBC in addressing a country's post-conflict needs and in promoting and ensuring women's participation in all peacebuilding efforts, as outlined in the report by the SG.

We note with appreciation the efforts made so far to build national capacities in countries emerging from conflict. Much more needs to be done to create sustainable peace. The Movement believes strongly that these initiatives must be complementary. A roster for such complementary capacity-building efforts must represent the broader membership with specific emphasis on representation of the global South, South- South cooperation and trilateral cooperation. Civil society members and women actors with experience in similar State-building activities should be incorporated, as they will understand the ground reality from the perspective of their life experience and lessons learned.

Now, turning to the report of the Secretary General on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466), the Movement reiterates its view that it is women and girls who suffer the most as victims of conflict and benefit the least from the dividends of the peace process. Therefore, the onus is on us to alleviate the challenges faced by women and girls in post- conflict situations and to strengthen their effective participation in the peacebuilding process.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is of the view that mainstreaming women's participation in peacebuilding, addressing their post-conflict needs, increasing their engagement in post-conflict planning and governance, and enhancing their capacity to contribute to economic recovery and overall social stability are key issues in post-conflict societies. We therefore consider that increasing women's confidence in the political process not only requires action in the immediate post-conflict period, but also influences the design of provisions on power-sharing or justice. It is of vital importance to enhance the funding that addresses the specific needs of women and girls, the economic empowerment of women and gender equality.

Women's participation in mediation and policy formulation of various Peacebuilding efforts can be a source of force multiplier. However, adherence to merit, cross-board institutional contexts and strict professionalism should not be compromised.

The Security Council stresses the importance of women's equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, including peacebuilding. The Council reiterates the importance of addressing women's peacebuilding needs and their involvement in the development and implementation of post-conflict strategies. The Security Council, in this regard, underlines the importance of enhancing the mobilization of resources for initiatives that address women's peacebuilding needs, advance gender equality and empower women in peacebuilding contexts, and encourages Member States and other partners to render their support.

The Security Council welcomes the important role of the Peacebuilding Commission in promoting and supporting an integrated and coherent approach to peacebuilding, including women's participation. The Council reiterates its support for the work of the Commission, and expresses its willingness to make greater use of the Peacebuilding Commission's advisory role.

As we near the anniversary of resolution 1325, the importance of involving and empowering women in all stages of the conflict is very much on our minds. In this area, as in others, our main concern is sustainability. Our goal must be to help permanently improve women's place in society. It is with this in mind that we are studying the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding, for which we are grateful. Today, I wish to make a few preliminary comments on one of the plan's key commitments, namely women's participation in economic recovery.

First, Canada supports the seven-point action plan contained in the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466). At a time when the United Nations is reviewing its efforts to implement resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, the action plan's pragmatic, coordinated and sustained approach to addressing women's and girls' post-conflict needs and the constraints on women's participation in peacebuilding is most welcome. It encourages troop- and police- contributing countries to address the participation of women in peace operations and in training for those operations. It also provides concrete targets for enhancing women's participation in all aspects of the peacebuilding continuum and the availability of relevant expertise.

The report of the Secretary-General rightly identified women's role as partners in shoring up the three pillars of lasting peace: economic recovery, social cohesion and political legitimacy. We support a greater role for women in peacebuilding, including the promotion of gender equality within the work of the United Nations. The legal provision for ensuring women's representation in political bodies, gender mainstreaming, empowerment, affirmative action and targeted programmes are some of the essential measures to bring women to the forefront of every walk of life.

I also wish to make a reference to the importance of women's contribution to this process, which was clearly underlined in the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding. The instrumental role that women play in economic recovery, social cohesion and political legitimacy — thus expanding the scope of national ownership and national capacity — makes it imperative to fully integrate the gender perspective into our goals. To relegate consideration of gender issues to later phases of peacebuilding would be to ignore the centrality of those issues in everything from institutional design to funding allocations to programme execution. Portugal is fully committed to a gender-responsive approach to each of the five peacebuilding priorities that have been outlined in the 2009 report of the Secretary-General on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (S/2009/304).

Thailand firmly participation in all peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development will contribute significantly to long-term and sustainable peace and security in post-conflict societies. Since it is believes that women's aspects of peacemaking, mostly men who participate in conflict, it is important to encourage the role of women in order to help stabilize post-conflict environments and restore the fabric of society. In this regard, Thailand takes note with appreciation of the Secretary-General's action plan for gender-responsive peacebuilding as a concrete step to women's empowerment in post-conflict societies.

The second strand of work under consideration today is the recently released report of the Secretary- General on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466). Not only must women's rights be protected in conflict-related situations; women must also be able to fully and effectively participate in all aspects of conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding activities if we are to build a durable peace. We welcome the detailed action plan set out in the Secretary-General's report, which, if implemented, will make a substantial contribution towards that end.

We are grateful for the Secretary-General's detailed overview of the progress achieved in the implementation of his agenda for action set out in the report on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of the conflict he issued a year ago (S/2009/304). In particular, we find valuable the many diverse examples from the field used to further clarify and support the report. Equally, we appreciate the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466) and the strategic, seven-point action plan introducing necessary practical suggestions for women's more active engagement in peacebuilding processes, which we
wholeheartedly support.

In welcoming the Secretary General's second report before us today, i.e. Women's participation in Peacebuilding, my delegation would like to underline the attention given to the role of women in the peacebuilding. Women represent more than a half of the active population and carry an important part of the peacebuilding activities. Without an active participation of women it would not be possible to succeed in the peacebuilding efforts. We therefore support the seven point Action plan contained in the SG's report.

Sixthly, women and children are the main victims of conflict. In the post-conflict period, women should be given the opportunity to participate in reconstruction and peacebuilding, as well as in peace negotiations. Those factors serve to promote the agreements that the parties are working to reach. Furthermore, including women in positions of power reduces the likelihood of a resumption of conflict. That is why we concur with the Secretary-General's statement that greater efforts should be made to meet women's needs in post-conflict situations and to increase their participation in the peacebuilding process.

In addition, peacebuilding will be effective only if women are actively and effectively involved in their societies. In this regard, we support the seven commitments of the action plan proposed in the Secretary-General's report (S/2010/466). We believe, furthermore, that greater involvement by women in political life, the mediation process and the planning of sensitive activities would promote lasting peace. We are convinced that the new gender entity, led by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, will also make a substantial and valuable contribution to this goal.

Last but not least, we wish to underline the importance of mainstreaming women's participation in peacebuilding efforts, as well as increasing opportunities for women to engage in decision-making and economic recovery. In this framework, we welcome the Secretary-General's action plan for gender-responsive peacebuilding aiming to address women's post-conflict needs and remove the constraints on their full participation in the peacebuilding processes.

As the Secretary-General notes in his report, rebuilding after a conflict offers an opportunity to create a virtuous cycle, starting from more inclusive peace processes. The report also draws an important link between women's participation and the wider question of gender equality. Women need to be included in all phases of peace processes and in post- conflict governance institutions. Outside actors cannot dictate the composition of the negotiating delegations, but there is a lot that can be done. Peace mediators and their supporting teams can ensure that sufficient gender expertise is provided to the parties; they can also organize parallel consultations with women's groups if they do not have a seat at the table.

A coordinated and coherent approach is needed in order to ensure women's full participation in all peacebuilding efforts. The relative absence of women from peace negotiations and post-conflict planning processes has recently been demonstrated by concrete figures in a UNIFEM study: Women rarely assume core government functions, they are not able to ensure their issues are addressed in peace accords and peace processes, and they are not in a position to ensure prioritisation of their needs in planning processes or adequate financial allocations to address them. This problems needs to be addressed by the Council and the UN system in a more consistent manner.

The Council will agree that there can be no lasting peace in post-conflict countries unless women are effectively involved in the stabilization and development processes of these countries. This is addressed in resolution 1325 (2000), whose tenth anniversary we mark this month. To date, the success of this resolution is reflected in the increased participation of women in peace processes. Today, one notes the increased number of women heading peace missions and civilian components of peacekeeping operations. We are gratified by the fact that the Secretary-General's action plan for gender-responsible peacebuilding is part and parcel of the Council's approach aimed at bolstering the involvement of women in post-conflict peace and reconstruction efforts.

The Security Council welcomes the important role of the Peacebuilding Commission in promoting and supporting an integrated and coherent approach to peacebuilding, including women's participation. The Council reiterates its support for the work of the Commission, and expresses its willingness to make greater use of the Peacebuilding Commission's advisory role.

As the Secretary-General has said, the peacebuilding process is an opportunity to better rebuild a country in all its aspects, with one of the most important aspects being the status of women, their legal position, and access to jobs and to justice, among others. This last aspect — access to justice — is of crucial importance, since women are among the main victims of conflicts. Their access to justice is crucial, since it will enhance their confidence in the State and in the country's political processes.

We reiterate the importance of deploying an increased international civilian capacity in a prompt and coordinated manner in countries emerging from conflict, in particular taking advantage of the capacities of the southern hemisphere and of women, taking into account their important contribution in generating national capacity, in particular in spheres such as the strengthening of the rule of law, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, security sector reforms, mediation and electoral assistance.

We congratulate the Secretary-General on committing the United Nations system to ensuring that at least 15 per cent of United Nations-managed funds in support of peacebuilding are dedicated to projects whose principal objective is to address women's specific needs, advance gender equality or empower women. As donors, we are happy that the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is already employing a gender marker and that Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery of the United Nations Development Programme is already exceeding the target of 15 per cent. However, in all United Nations post-conflict multi-donor trust funds, the proportion is far behind the target. We encourage the United Nations to work towards the target of 15 per cent

The Secretary-General's report sets out a detailed model for cementing peace in fragile States in a manner that reaffirms the key role that women can play in re-establishing the fabric of recovering societies. His proposals for a more gender-responsive approach to peacebuilding, encompassing access to justice and participation in post-conflict planning and governance, duly prioritize the needs and capabilities of women in the peacebuilding context.

There is clearly a need to enhance the mobilization of resources for initiatives to mainstream women in peacebuilding activities in order to address their peacebuilding needs, advance gender equality and empower them in peacebuilding contexts. Nigeria pledges its support for the newly created United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. In this regard, we look forward to its full engagement in promoting the role of women in peacebuilding and in advocating for the active participation of women at all levels of decision- making and post-conflict planning.

Furthermore, we are looking forward to regular updates by the SG on efforts to ensure women's full participation in peacebuilding. The indicators to measure progress in the implementation of Res. 1325 constitute a useful tool to track progress in this regard.

Now, turning to the report of the Secretary General on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466), the Movement reiterates its view that it is women and girls who suffer the most as victims of conflict and benefit the least from the dividends of the peace process. Therefore, the onus is on us to alleviate the challenges faced by women and girls in post- conflict situations and to strengthen their effective participation in the peacebuilding process.

The gender perspective needs to be filtered through country-specific situations. It should also be an integral part of every aspect of peacebuilding on the ground. To that end, the role of women in peacebuilding needs to move from a niche concern to the mainstream. Enhancing women's capacity to engage in peacebuilding needs to include, inter alia, supporting peace processes through independent diplomatic initiatives, providing bilateral assistance to post-conflict countries and participating within United Nations intergovernmental bodies. We would like to underline the importance of enhancing the mobilization of resources for initiatives that address women's specific peacebuilding needs, advance their equality and empower them. We urge Member States and other partners to render their support.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is of the view that mainstreaming women's participation in peacebuilding, addressing their post-conflict needs, increasing their engagement in post-conflict planning and governance, and enhancing their capacity to contribute to economic recovery and overall social stability are key issues in post-conflict societies. We therefore consider that increasing women's confidence in the political process not only requires action in the immediate post-conflict period, but also influences the design of provisions on power-sharing or justice. It is of vital importance to enhance the funding that addresses the specific needs of women and girls, the economic empowerment of women and gender equality.

The Council will agree that there can be no lasting peace in post-conflict countries unless women are effectively involved in the stabilization and development processes of these countries. This is addressed in resolution 1325 (2000), whose tenth anniversary we mark this month. To date, the success of this resolution is reflected in the increased participation of women in peace processes. Today, one notes the increased number of women heading peace missions and civilian components of peacekeeping operations. We are gratified by the fact that the Secretary-General's action plan for gender-responsible peacebuilding is part and parcel of the Council's approach aimed at bolstering the involvement of women in post-conflict peace and reconstruction efforts.

The Security Council stresses the importance of women's equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, including peacebuilding. The Council reiterates the importance of addressing women's peacebuilding needs and their involvement in the development and implementation of post-conflict strategies. The Security Council, in this regard, underlines the importance of enhancing the mobilization of resources for initiatives that address women's peacebuilding needs, advance gender equality and empower women in peacebuilding contexts, and encourages Member States and other partners to render their support.

The Security Council welcomes the important role of the Peacebuilding Commission in promoting and supporting an integrated and coherent approach to peacebuilding, including women's participation. The Council reiterates its support for the work of the Commission, and expresses its willingness to make greater use of the Peacebuilding Commission's advisory role.

As we near the anniversary of resolution 1325, the importance of involving and empowering women in all stages of the conflict is very much on our minds. In this area, as in others, our main concern is sustainability. Our goal must be to help permanently improve women's place in society. It is with this in mind that we are studying the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding, for which we are grateful. Today, I wish to make a few preliminary comments on one of the plan's key commitments, namely women's participation in economic recovery.

Although Brazil is not a post-conflict country, our experience suggests that there are significant long-term social and economic benefits in steering social programs towards women. A similar approach may be fruitful in peacebuilding. This is not merely a question of distributive justice, but of inducing meaningful change. Ensuring women's economic inclusion has the potential to permanently transform their role in society, regardless of cultural and historical particularities. This should be our collective goal.

Women should not be on the receiving end of the pains of conflict, with all the psycho-social trauma and stigmatization that entails. They are peacemakers and they are the very foundation of social cohesion and the long-term sustainability of peace. They are an inherent part of the reconstruction and rebuilding of any country. The adoption of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) have not only drawn the attention of all Member States to act concertedly for protecting women and children from violence during conflicts, but also emphasized the role of women as peacemakers and peacebuilders.

The report of the Secretary-General rightly identified women's role as partners in shoring up the three pillars of lasting peace: economic recovery, social cohesion and political legitimacy. We support a greater role for women in peacebuilding, including the promotion of gender equality within the work of the United Nations. The legal provision for ensuring women's representation in political bodies, gender mainstreaming, empowerment, affirmative action and targeted programmes are some of the essential measures to bring women to the forefront of every walk of life.

I also wish to make a reference to the importance of women's contribution to this process, which was clearly underlined in the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding. The instrumental role that women play in economic recovery, social cohesion and political legitimacy — thus expanding the scope of national ownership and national capacity — makes it imperative to fully integrate the gender perspective into our goals. To relegate consideration of gender issues to later phases of peacebuilding would be to ignore the centrality of those issues in everything from institutional design to funding allocations to programme execution. Portugal is fully committed to a gender-responsive approach to each of the five peacebuilding priorities that have been outlined in the 2009 report of the Secretary-General on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (S/2009/304).

On this occasion, Thailand would like to emphasize a few aspects of peacebuilding that we believe to be crucial to its success and conducive to women's participation in the process.

Thailand firmly participation in all peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development will contribute significantly to long-term and sustainable peace and security in post-conflict societies. Since it is believes that women's aspects of peacemaking, mostly men who participate in conflict, it is important to encourage the role of women in order to help stabilize post-conflict environments and restore the fabric of society. In this regard, Thailand takes note with appreciation of the Secretary-General's action plan for gender-responsive peacebuilding as a concrete step to women's empowerment in post-conflict societies.

The second strand of work under consideration today is the recently released report of the Secretary- General on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466). Not only must women's rights be protected in conflict-related situations; women must also be able to fully and effectively participate in all aspects of conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding activities if we are to build a durable peace. We welcome the detailed action plan set out in the Secretary-General's report, which, if implemented, will make a substantial contribution towards that end.

Sixthly, women and children are the main victims of conflict. In the post-conflict period, women should be given the opportunity to participate in reconstruction and peacebuilding, as well as in peace negotiations. Those factors serve to promote the agreements that the parties are working to reach. Furthermore, including women in positions of power reduces the likelihood of a resumption of conflict. That is why we concur with the Secretary-General's statement that greater efforts should be made to meet women's needs in post-conflict situations and to increase their participation in the peacebuilding process.

The empowerment of women and the gender perspective are a key element in generating capacity and in the peacebuilding process, as the report of the Secretary-General notes. It is no coincidence that, as the Secretary-General points out, women's post- conflict needs resemble the five recurring priorities that we have just mentioned. An analysis of women's needs and the strengthening of their overall participation in peacebuilding processes will also facilitate clearer awareness of the causes of the conflict, which is significant in planning the response strategy, mobilizing resources and identifying measures to enhance the confidence of the local people to the peace process and their commitment to it.

My delegation has noted the report of the Secretary-General on Women's participation in Peacebuilding. Women can play an important role as agents of change and South Africa has always viewed the participation of women in post-conflict situations as critical to the attainment of peace. To this end, the adoption of Resolution 1325 in 2000, whose tenth anniversary we are about to commemorate later this month, was a response to the need to fully involve women in promoting peace and playing a pivotal role in post-conflict reconstruction and development of their countries. We remain convinced that women should be provided with the necessary support to be able to play an effective and visible role in providing leadership for peacebuilding and full participation in the development processes of their countries.

I would like to highlight the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding and his seven-point plan, which places women on truly equal footing with men and emphasizes their full participation in the peacebuilding process from the outset. As stated in the report, women's participation is crucial in shoring up the three pillars of lasting peace: economic recovery, social cohesion and political legitimacy. Coordinated work between the PBC and UN Women seems to us to be essential.

Chile supports the fact that the proposed seven- point peacebuilding plan embodies a gender approach. In order for it to succeed, there must be proper coordination among the various United Nations agencies and coordination between them and other external partners, in particular international financial institutions, that participate in the peacebuilding process. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring the presence of women in leadership positions either by direct appointment or by popular election.

Lastly, we welcome the Secretary-General's proposal of specific measures to ensure that the recommendations contained in the report are implemented on the ground through the inclusion of women in development, infrastructure, employment, and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes.

Special measures might also be needed to support women's representation in the governance institutions that emerge after a conflict. The United Nations often acts as the adviser in crucial decisions, such as the composition of constituent assemblies or the choice of electoral system, including possibilities for quotas or preferential treatment. We believe that such measures can be effective and justified in ensuring more legitimate State institutions, thus leading to a more durable peace.

We congratulate the Secretary-General on committing the United Nations system to ensuring that at least 15 per cent of United Nations-managed funds in support of peacebuilding are dedicated to projects whose principal objective is to address women's specific needs, advance gender equality or empower women. As donors, we are happy that the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is already employing a gender marker and that Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery of the United Nations Development Programme is already exceeding the target of 15 per cent. However, in all United Nations post-conflict multi-donor trust funds, the proportion is far behind the target. We encourage the United Nations to work towards the target of 15 per cent

With regard to the report on the participation of women in peacebuilding (S/2010/466), we welcome the plan of action aimed at implementing resolution 1325 (2000) through concrete peacebuilding measures. Over the past 10 years, the Security Council has made progress and has put in place a solid framework for its gender agenda. But the time has now come for it to adopt concrete measures that enjoy the full support and political backing of the Security Council, as well as the political will of States, the United Nations system and strategic partners.

We support the plan of action for the participation of women and its seven commitments. We are aware that it is an ambitious plan, but it can be achieved by joining the efforts of all of us who make up the United Nations. Likewise, it will be crucially important to ensure that all the relevant agencies, including the recently established United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, participate actively to ensure women's contributions in conflict resolution and decision-making processes and that their particular needs are taken into account in the very design of security and justice strategies.

In discussing positive actions that should be undertaken by States at this stage of the peace process, countries have an unparalleled opportunity to ensure respect for the human rights of women and to contribute to their involvement in the civilian, political, social, cultural and economic spheres.

We welcome the seven action points identified the report of the Secretary-General on the participation of women in peacebuilding (S/2010.466). They capture the core gaps in our efforts to promote the full and equal participation of women in post-conflict peacebuilding, as envisaged in resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1889 (2009). Nigeria commends the Secretary- General for homing in on the required actions in such considered detail. We feel strongly that, if correctly implemented, this action plan will go a long way towards actualizing the aims of resolution 1889 (2009).

The Secretary-General's report sets out a detailed model for cementing peace in fragile States in a manner that reaffirms the key role that women can play in re-establishing the fabric of recovering societies. His proposals for a more gender-responsive approach to peacebuilding, encompassing access to justice and participation in post-conflict planning and governance, duly prioritize the needs and capabilities of women in the peacebuilding context.

The question of funding and resourcing in general is also critical from the perspective of women in peacebuilding. In order to have a real impact on the lives of women and the post-conflict societies they live in, United Nations agencies should be adequately resourced. In that way, we might provide women and girls with effective resources and protections as victims of violent conflict. Our work can also empower and engage women as protagonists of peace within the United Nations system and as political and civil society participants.

There is clearly a need to enhance the mobilization of resources for initiatives to mainstream women in peacebuilding activities in order to address their peacebuilding needs, advance gender equality and empower them in peacebuilding contexts. Nigeria pledges its support for the newly created United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. In this regard, we look forward to its full engagement in promoting the role of women in peacebuilding and in advocating for the active participation of women at all levels of decision- making and post-conflict planning.

Austria has repeatedly stressed the importance of national ownership of peacebuilding processes. In order to promote national leadership and ensure the sustainability of progress, all peacebuilding efforts need to draw upon existing national capacities to the greatest extent possible. We therefore welcome efforts to assess existing capacities as a basis for the deployment of international civilian expertise. The ongoing review of civilian capacity will contribute to ensuring that civilian expertise for peacebuilding is deployed in an efficient and timely manner and that specialized skills to address women's needs are included.

Austria therefore fully supports the SG's Action Plan for Gender-Responsive Peacebuilding with its seven commitments and calls upon the Secretariat and other relevant bodies and agencies to translate these commitments into concrete programs, ensuring that the peacebuilding priorities, as identified by the SG in his 2009 report, are met in a gender-responsive way to ensure women's full participation. Austria highly welcomes the crucial role of the PBC in addressing a country's post-conflict needs and in promoting and ensuring women's participation in all peacebuilding efforts, as outlined in the report by the SG.

Furthermore, we are looking forward to regular updates by the SG on efforts to ensure women's full participation in peacebuilding. The indicators to measure progress in the implementation of Res. 1325 constitute a useful tool to track progress in this regard.

We are now passing through a very challenging period. We are about to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the landmark resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security at a time when such initiatives as review of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), women's participation in peacebuilding, review of civilian capacity and others are being debated and developed. The Movement deems it a privilege to take note of the endeavours of different actors in these processes who have been contributing positively to restoring sustainable peace by preventing relapse into conflict and addressing the genuine needs of the people emerging from conflict. Furthermore, the Movement feels it necessary that such processes be considered by the principal bodies of the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly.

The Movement appreciates the Secretary- General's efforts to create specific action plans for ensuring women's participation in the peacebuilding process and emphasizes that women are crucial partners in shoring up the three pillars of lasting peace: economic recovery, social cohesion and political legitimacy. Thus, the Movement stresses the necessity of reviewing and evaluating the recommendations and proposed action plan in this regard in an open, transparent and all-inclusive manner in the General Assembly and in the Economic and Social Council in accordance with their relevant mandates as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as in relevant United Nations structures including the PBC and UN Women.

We welcome the fact that there is overwhelming support in the international community for vigorous action to ensure women's full participation in peacebuilding, and we urge Member States to make substantial long-term investments in women's security and productive potential. We also welcome the establishment of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and encourage its close work and cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies and other stakeholders in that direction.

I cherish the hope that the setting up this year of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, better known as “UN Women”, headed by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, will, amongst its other missions, back this very important development. I wish to reaffirm Gabon's readiness to work side by side with UN Women in developing this approach.

This plan provides Member States with a solid and credible foundation for meeting their commitments on implementing relevant Security Council resolutions. This is the right time and place to pay tribute to the role played by civil society organizations in making States more aware of the importance of involving women in peacebuilding activities.

The Council will agree that there can be no lasting peace in post-conflict countries unless women are effectively involved in the stabilization and development processes of these countries. This is addressed in resolution 1325 (2000), whose tenth anniversary we mark this month. To date, the success of this resolution is reflected in the increased participation of women in peace processes. Today, one notes the increased number of women heading peace missions and civilian components of peacekeeping operations. We are gratified by the fact that the Secretary-General's action plan for gender-responsible peacebuilding is part and parcel of the Council's approach aimed at bolstering the involvement of women in post-conflict peace and reconstruction efforts.

In the context of human-dimension of Peacebuilding, the Secretary General's report on “Women and Peacebuilding” is both candid and objective. The report put forth a ‘seven-point action plan' that factors gender perspective in Peacebuilding endeavours.

The Security Council takes note of, with appreciation, the report of the Secretary-General on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466) and looks forward to its consideration, including with participation of relevant parts of the United Nations system, including the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

First, Canada supports the seven-point action plan contained in the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466). At a time when the United Nations is reviewing its efforts to implement resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, the action plan's pragmatic, coordinated and sustained approach to addressing women's and girls' post-conflict needs and the constraints on women's participation in peacebuilding is most welcome. It encourages troop- and police- contributing countries to address the participation of women in peace operations and in training for those operations. It also provides concrete targets for enhancing women's participation in all aspects of the peacebuilding continuum and the availability of relevant expertise.

Canada also agrees that monitoring of the action plan can be facilitated by the global indicators on resolution 1325 (2000), which we call on the Security Council to endorse on 26 October. In that spirit, Canada was pleased to announce earlier this month the launch of its new Action Plan for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. Canada's Plan is intended to guide the Government in its implementation of those resolutions and to improve Canada's capacity to safeguard and support affected populations in fragile States and conflict-affected situations.

Japan very much expects that the newly established United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) will play an important role through the implementation of both policies and programmes. The agenda regarding women and peace and security, including women's participation in peacebuilding, should be addressed by coordinating the relevant United Nations activities effectively and efficiently. Japan will actively contribute to the activities of UN Women while continuing to support the enhancement of women's participation in peacebuilding, including, inter alia, through the economic empowerment of women in post-conflict situations from the perspective of human security.

Japan welcomes the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466). We expect that the Secretary-General will steadfastly implement the action plan for gender- responsive peacebuilding to which he committed in the report, as part of his comprehensive agenda to improve United Nations peacebuilding efforts. The Security Council will commemorate the tenth anniversary of its landmark resolution 1325 (2000) later this month. In that connection, the Council should conduct a substantive review of the implementation of the action plan and its peacebuilding agenda in order to further mainstream the issue of women and peace and security in the Council's overall agenda over the next decade.

Women should not be on the receiving end of the pains of conflict, with all the psycho-social trauma and stigmatization that entails. They are peacemakers and they are the very foundation of social cohesion and the long-term sustainability of peace. They are an inherent part of the reconstruction and rebuilding of any country. The adoption of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) have not only drawn the attention of all Member States to act concertedly for protecting women and children from violence during conflicts, but also emphasized the role of women as peacemakers and peacebuilders.

Thailand firmly participation in all peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development will contribute significantly to long-term and sustainable peace and security in post-conflict societies. Since it is believes that women's aspects of peacemaking, mostly men who participate in conflict, it is important to encourage the role of women in order to help stabilize post-conflict environments and restore the fabric of society. In this regard, Thailand takes note with appreciation of the Secretary-General's action plan for gender-responsive peacebuilding as a concrete step to women's empowerment in post-conflict societies.

We are grateful for the Secretary-General's detailed overview of the progress achieved in the implementation of his agenda for action set out in the report on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of the conflict he issued a year ago (S/2009/304). In particular, we find valuable the many diverse examples from the field used to further clarify and support the report. Equally, we appreciate the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466) and the strategic, seven-point action plan introducing necessary practical suggestions for women's more active engagement in peacebuilding processes, which we
wholeheartedly support.

In welcoming the Secretary General's second report before us today, i.e. Women's participation in Peacebuilding, my delegation would like to underline the attention given to the role of women in the peacebuilding. Women represent more than a half of the active population and carry an important part of the peacebuilding activities. Without an active participation of women it would not be possible to succeed in the peacebuilding efforts. We therefore support the seven point Action plan contained in the SG's report.

In addition, peacebuilding will be effective only if women are actively and effectively involved in their societies. In this regard, we support the seven commitments of the action plan proposed in the Secretary-General's report (S/2010/466). We believe, furthermore, that greater involvement by women in political life, the mediation process and the planning of sensitive activities would promote lasting peace. We are convinced that the new gender entity, led by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, will also make a substantial and valuable contribution to this goal.

Last but not least, we wish to underline the importance of mainstreaming women's participation in peacebuilding efforts, as well as increasing opportunities for women to engage in decision-making and economic recovery. In this framework, we welcome the Secretary-General's action plan for gender-responsive peacebuilding aiming to address women's post-conflict needs and remove the constraints on their full participation in the peacebuilding processes.