Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, October 2009

Mr. Grauls (Belgium) (spoke in French): Belgium fully aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union, and thanks the Secretary-General for his report (S/2009/465) on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

The fight against sexual violence is one thing; the broader question of the role of women and their place in peace negotiations, peacebuilding and reconstruction processes is quite another. Resolution 1325 (2000) is and must remain, in our view, the key instrument guiding our actions in this area. However, as far as the implementation of this resolution goes — excuse me for speaking frankly, Mr. President — the international community really has nothing to be proud of. We must keep our eyes on the bigger picture.

If we make the effort to look beyond our New York bubble and cast an eye towards the situation on the ground, we are forced to recognize that the situation of women living in countries in conflict or emerging from it has not really improved since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) nine years ago. For Belgium, this status quo is unacceptable. It is specifically the lives of such women that we committed to improving when we adopted resolution 1325 (2000).

As far as Belgium is concerned, the situation is very simple. A year from now, we will celebrate the passage of 10 years since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). We therefore have one year left to fill the gap that exists between the programmes envisioned in New York or our capitals on the one hand, and, on the other, their financing and implementation on the ground. Without significant efforts in that direction, it will be a sad anniversary indeed that we celebrate next year.

Fourthly, Belgium cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance and usefulness of developing national action plans for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Belgium is proud to announce that it developed such a plan of action last year and is ready to share its experience with any Member State that may be interested.

In conclusion, with regard to developing such national action plans, Belgium wonders whether the Peacebuilding Commission could play a more significant role in the countries in which it is active. In the Central African Republic, the Commission, chaired by Belgium, has already striven as far as possible to ensure the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). It would take but a small additional effort to develop a national action plan in partnership with the national authorities, and Belgium is prepared to help.

Mr. Normandin (Canada) (spoke in French): At the outset, on behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish to thank the Vietnamese presidency for convening this open debate on resolution 1325 (2000). Addressing the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations is a critical element of the Security Council's responsibilities.

Canada co-sponsored both resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence in conflict. Both resolutions elaborate on resolution 1325 (2000) by outlining a number of concrete steps to be taken to address sexual violence more systematically. Canada welcomes the call for the nomination of a special representative of the Secretary-General to provide strategic leadership and to strengthen United Nations coordination mechanisms in order to address sexual violence.

Canada also warmly welcomes the recommendations set out in the Secretary-General's recent report (S/2009/465) on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). In particular, Canada would like to echo the Secretary-General's calls for an effective monitoring and accountability mechanism with respect to all aspects of resolution 1325 (2000), in particular the participation of women in peace processes.

(spoke in English) The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is indeed a work in progress, both at a national level and at the United Nations. With the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) approaching next year, it is time to undertake a serious examination of the gains that have been made as well as those aspects of the resolution that remain unrealized.

In conclusion, a peace that lasts is a peace owned by all, including women. As we approach the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), we can acknowledge the progress made towards its implementation. We can also recognize that more must be done. Global indicators to track implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), as called for in today's resolution, will be helpful in this regard. But let us not wait further. We need to continue to act now, particularly in the field, to make the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) a reality.

The adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) represented a landmark in the promotion and protection of human rights. It not only brought to the attention of this organ the pressing issues of gender equality and the empowerment of women, but it also made clear that women have a role to play in conflict situations, besides that of victims, as peacemakers and peacekeepers.

Portugal reaffirms its commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We adopted last August our national plan of action to contribute to the implementation of that document at the national, regional and international policy levels. The drafting of this national plan of action involved a one-year long participatory process, which encompassed wide- ranging governmental contributions together with broad and public consultations with universities, non- governmental organizations, media and other relevant civil society sectors and international networks.

Allow me briefly to highlight five main objectives of our plan. It seeks, first, to increase women's participation and mainstream gender equality in all phases of peacebuilding processes and at all levels of decision-making; secondly, to promote capacity-building on gender equality and gender-based violence, as well as other aspects covered by resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), for all those involved in peacebuilding and development aid efforts; thirdly, to promote and protect women's human rights in conflict areas and post-conflict scenarios, taking into account the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence and the promotion of the empowerment of women; fourthly, to invest in and disseminate knowledge on issues concerning women, peace and security, including awareness-raising among decision- makers and the broader public; and lastly, to ensure the participation of civil society in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the national plan of action.

Nearly 10 years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), there has obviously been enormous progress, but we must recognize that its aims have not yet been fulfilled. I encourage the Council and its members to carry on the good work in that direction.

Mr. Kim Bonghyun (Republic of Korea): Allow me to open my statement by thanking the Vietnamese presidency of the Security Council for the concept paper distributed for this open debate (S/2009/490). My appreciation goes also to the Secretary-General for his excellent report (S/2009/465), which provides a comprehensive outlook on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), as well as sound suggestions for specific actions to take.

We welcome the adoption of resolution 1889 (2009) this morning, which reiterates the commitment of the Security Council to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and other important relevant resolutions, including resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009).

The second point concerns the persistent lack of participation by women throughout the peace process, which is a core element of resolution 1325 (2000). As the Secretary-General's report expresses, a persistent cause of concern is that women continue to be virtually absent from the peace table and to be severely underrepresented as third-party mediators in most conflict-affected countries. It should be duly noted that since 1992, only 2.4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements were women and that no woman has ever been appointed as a chief mediator.

The Republic of Korea urges Member States and the Untied Nations to take more vigorous initiatives to ensure that women are engaged in all levels of decision-making. In that regard, we commend Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's response to the call in resolution 1325 (2000) to increase the number of women in senior positions within the United Nations, especially in peacekeeping operations. It is encouraging to see three women heads of mission, six women deputies in the field and five female under- secretaries-general and assistant secretaries-general in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. We encourage the Secretary-General to further strengthen this positive trend, and we hope that his efforts are emulated in peace negotiations and reconstruction processes at the country level by ensuring the full participation of women.

My delegation believes that the effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) largely depends on the overall capacity of the United Nations system to pursue gender equality and women's empowerment. In that regard, strengthening the gender architecture is a key element. We are very much looking forward to the early establishment of a composite entity, which will be a driving force in creating an environment for the effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in support of the efforts of the Security Council.

In conclusion, the Republic of Korea shares the expectations for the upcoming tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) in 2010. We anticipate that the anniversary will provide a new opportunity for all stakeholders to strengthen efforts to fully implement resolution 1325 (2000) to achieve real and lasting changes in the lives of women and girls.

Ms. Rulumeni (South Africa): Allow me to express our sincere gratitude to you, Mr. President, for organizing this debate on such an important matter. South Africa welcomes the open debate and believes that it is also timely, leading the processes in preparation for the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security in 2010. South Africa aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the African Union (AU) later today.

Resolution 1325 (2000) was adopted nine years ago. Consistent with the resolution, the theme today is “Responding to the needs of women and girls in post- conflict situations for sustainable peace and security”. It is designed to examine how Member States and international and regional organizations could further improve women's participation in all stages of peace processes, particularly in conflict resolution, post- conflict planning and peacebuilding, including by enhancing their engagement in decision-making in the early stages of recovery processes. While women may be the first casualties of war, they remain active agents of change and play a meaningful role in the recovery and reintegration of their families. Women are also instrumental in bringing about democracy and reconciliation in post-conflict societies.

The African Union and subregional organizations offer several advantages in the pursuit of effective conflict prevention and resolution. Therefore, the Assembly of the African Union, in its efforts to promote the participation of women in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and security, has taken concrete steps and pledged that the organs of the AU and the regional economic communities and member States, using the frameworks of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), will integrate gender policies, programmes and activities on conflict and peace. That would ensure that women participate fully in conflict resolution and management processes.

In the context of peace and security, the Protocol stipulates that the States parties shall endeavour to put in place measures to ensure that women have equal representation and participation in key decision- making positions in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes by 2015, in accordance with resolution 1325 (2000). Furthermore, the Protocol specifies that States parties shall, during times of armed conflict, take such steps as are necessary to prevent and eliminate incidences of human rights abuses, especially of women and children, and also to ensure that the perpetrators of such abuses are brought to justice before courts of competent jurisdiction.

There is an urgent need to advocate more strongly for the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. We also believe that all actors to the binding resolution should devote their attention to ensuring sufficient resources, the capacity to address the challenges and empowerment through educational programmes so as to increase the awareness and understanding of how to find lasting solutions. We encourage Member States to finalize and concretize national action plans for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) that provide for the necessary training of women and men alike.

The primary responsibility for preventing and protecting women and girls in conflict situations and their aftermath should not lie with the international community alone. That would assist in promoting local ownership in peace processes. South Africa remains committed to the full and effective implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009). We in the international community have an obligation to women to ensure that their rights are protected and that their place in all aspects of the peace process is assured.

In conclusion, my delegation will continue to support the work of the United Nations and of the African Union in promoting the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, as well as in protecting women and girls in post-conflict situations and their aftermath.

Uganda is committed to strengthening women's participation in the promotion of peace and security within the context of conflict prevention and resolution, eradicating sexual violence and ending impunity in conflict-prone situations. As Uganda is a country that has experienced an extended period of instability, the Government has set one of its priority goals as tracking progress on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Women's participation in Uganda's political life goes beyond elective office and has been extended to other spheres, including peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts, as stipulated by resolution 1325 (2000).

Uganda has an advanced, articulate and organized women's peace movement. Even before the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the Uganda Government had previously supported the efforts of women leaders, such as Ms. Betty Bigombe, who initially led the peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to end the conflict in northern Uganda. The Uganda Government also made provision for women's participation in the 2006-2008 peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army in Juba, in the southern Sudan.

Uganda is the first and only country in the world to adopt a three-in-one national action plan on resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) and the Goma Declaration. Uganda is also one of five countries to develop a national action plan with concrete indicators to monitor implementation, as well as planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, so as to take into consideration the needs of female and male ex-combatants, as well as their dependants.

Uganda's action plan focuses on the relevant legal and policy framework, improved access to health facilities and medical treatment for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, women in leadership and decision-making, the elimination of gender-based violence in society and, finally, budget allocations for the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) and the Goma Declaration. As we do this, our experience has taught us that the full and effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and, indeed, of all other resolutions complementary to it, must begin at the earliest stages of post-conflict peacebuilding; otherwise, it will not yield optimum results.

Uganda is aware that the adoption of a resolution does not automatically translate into its implementation. This year marks the ninth since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security. In those nine years, several bottlenecks have been identified, particularly in post-conflict situations, ranging from the availability of funding and political will to a lack of coordination, appropriate capacities for implementation, as well as institutional monitoring and evaluation.

Ukraine, as a non-permanent member of the Council back in 2000, was one of 15 countries that voted in favour of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). This decision of the Council, no doubt, was and is the milestone document on empowerment of women. We welcome the most recent report of the Secretary- General on the implementation of that resolution (S/2009/465) and support its recommendations. At the same time, my country shares concerns expressed by the Secretary-General regarding the lack of implementation of the resolution.

However, in spite of all international efforts, women continue to be the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict, targeted for the most brutal forms of sexual violence. In addition to that, women also experience the trauma of losing relatives and friends in times of armed conflict and of having to take responsibility for the care of surviving family members. They also constitute the majority of refugees and displaced persons.

My country is greatly concerned about this situation and strongly condemns the targeting of women and girls in situations of armed conflict. In this regard, we welcome the Security Council's efforts to pay a special attention to the particular needs of women affected by armed conflict when considering action aimed at promoting peace and security.

Nine years ago, the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000) for the protection of women, for their participation and for the promotion of their rights in conflict and post-conflict situations. Last year, the Council adopted resolution 1820 (2008), condemning sexual violence as a tactic of war, and last week it adopted resolution 1888 (2009) to further strengthen the United Nations response to sexual violence in conflict. We welcome recent developments and the resolution adopted today, resolution 1889 (2009), which draws our attention to the crucial question of women's empowerment and participation in conflict and post-conflict situations.

Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000). There has been progress in its implementation, but a lot of work remains to be done before our commitments are fulfilled. The unanimous decision by the General Assembly, in its resolution 63/311, to create a new gender entity was long awaited worldwide. Now we must set up the ambitious goal of having the new entity up and running by mid-2010. This will be a key step forward in enhancing the effective contribution by the United Nations to the promotion of women's rights and participation worldwide, including in conflict and post- conflict situations.

Mr. Jónasson (Iceland): Let me at the outset thank you, Sir, for convening this open debate on women and peace and security to discuss the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). The focus you have chosen for our discussion, “Responding to the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations for sustainable peace and security”, is highly relevant and provides ample scope for reflecting on what the focus of our work should be in light of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the resolution next year.

Iceland maintains a strong commitment to resolution 1325 (2000), being one of the few countries that have adopted a national action plan pursuant to the resolution. The Icelandic Government has decided to focus its work related to resolution 1325 (2000) on post-conflict reconstruction and women's access to peace negotiations, being convinced that the inclusion of women in peace processes is a security issue essential to sustainable peace.

Last summer, Iceland organized an international conference on resolution 1325 (2000), entitled “Women Negotiating Peace”, which highlighted how best to ensure that women are included in formal and informal peace processes. Allow me to contribute to this discussion by recapitulating some of the main issues addressed at the Reykjavik conference. Four themes were predominant.

First, the conference emphasized the importance of raising awareness of resolution 1325 (2000) and recognized the importance of using the forthcoming tenth anniversary of the adoption of the resolution for that purpose. Awareness should be promoted in the international community, within the United Nations system, as well as within Member States and societies in or emerging from conflicts.

Secondly, there is need for increased high-level commitment to the resolution, both within the United Nations system and by the Member States. Here, the maw concern was the issue of gender architecture within the United Nations system, which now has been alleviated in part through the unanimous adoption of General Assembly resolution 63/311, calling among other things for a new and consolidated United Nations gender entity to be headed by an under-secretary- general. The Security Council could establish a working group on resolution 1325 (2000) and set an example by incorporating the gender perspective when discussing conflict.

Thirdly, there was a strong call to the United Nations system and Member States to use the tenth anniversary as an impetus to get serious about implementation. The Secretary-General should insist on accountability for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) by the United Nations system. To increase the focus on results, the High-level Steering Group chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General, should focus on the implementation of 1325 (2000). More women should be appointed as special representatives and envoys of the Secretary-General, and gender advisers should be accorded a higher status to ensure that gender mainstreaming does not become sidetracked.

One of the workshops at the conference in Reykjavik approved recommendations on how to mark the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) next year. Time does not allow me to mention them here. The nine recommendations will be circulated with the printed version of my text. The anniversary provides us with an opportunity to draw attention to the resolution, promote greater commitment and improved implementation and work towards the strengthening of the resolution. Let us seize that opportunity.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing us with a progress report (S/2009/465) on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and for the recommendations contained therein. Ahead of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) in October 2010, we have an opportunity today in this open debate to advance women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution and in peacebuilding.

Even nine years after the adoption of the very important landmark resolution 1325 (2000), we cannot fail to see that many innocent women and children live under fear and want in conflict and post-conflict situations. Clearly, much remains to be done. Japan therefore welcomes today's debate and the decision of the Council to adopt resolution 1889 (2009). Today I would like to address three issues: the role of women, the protection of women and empowering women.

Mr. Wenaweser (Liechtenstein): I thank you, Sir, for presiding over the meeting today and your delegation for organizing this open debate with a focus on post-conflict situations. As a strong supporter of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), Liechtenstein agrees with the assessment reflected in the concept paper prepared by your delegation (S/2009/490) that much has been achieved but that enormous challenges remain. Nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the participation of women in conflict resolution, in particular in formal peace processes, is still little more than rhetoric and their protection from violent crimes is still elusive.

Resolution 1325 (2000) calls for an increase in the participation of women at decision-making levels in conflict resolution and peace processes. According to data made available to the Council by the United Nations Development Fund for Women, only 2.4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements are women and no woman has ever been appointed as a chief mediator.

Thus our efforts to guarantee the full and equal participation of women — as well-intentioned as they may have been — have clearly been insufficient. We hope that the input given during this debate today will lead, nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), to significant improvements.

In preparation for the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), we need concrete action. Hence, we welcome the establishment of a United Nations steering committee to enhance the visibility of and to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system regarding the preparations for the anniversary. Liechtenstein, for its part, will support the project of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, launched by Switzerland and to be supported, it is hoped, by other Member States, which will produce in time for the anniversary a report that provides a substantive overview of the work of the Council. That report will demonstrate both the achievements and the remaining gaps and challenges, and we hope that it can also serve as a model for implementation in other areas.

Given the adoption of resolution 1888 (2009) only a week ago, this meeting has particular significance in demonstrating to the world at large the continued commitment of the Council to the empowerment of women in all its aspects. In this respect, I would like to commend Viet Nam's leading role in organizing this debate, as well as its efforts in preparing the resolution we have just adopted. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2009/465) and the Deputy Secretary-General for her briefing; both of these include valuable assessments and recommendations on how to improve the United Nations system as it pertains to the security of women. Finally, I wish to commend the efforts of the various United Nations entities, as well as those of the non-governmental and women's organizations working selflessly to achieve the goals of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). I particularly thank Ms. Mayanja,

Ms. Alberdi and Ms. Amin for their briefings and their contributions to our debate. Since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) in 2000, there has been progress across a broad range of issues related to the protection and promotion of women's and girls' rights in conflict- affected situations, particularly in terms of raising awareness of the challenges that they face. Thanks to the efforts of the international community, a strong understanding of the need for gender equality and women's empowerment as prerequisites for international peace and security is slowly taking hold.

We believe that, while tackling the issue of women's security, which is inextricable from international peace and security, we should move away from ad hoc approaches and towards a systematic one. To that end, the appeals set out in resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) and in resolution 1889 (2009), adopted today, should all become a regular part of the work of the Council in guiding the activities of the United Nations and Member States.

The months ahead of us in the run-up to the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) next year will provide ample opportunities to translate these words into deeds in order to ensure the basic rights and the human rights of women all around the world. We in Turkey are committed to that goal and thus will continue our support for the implementation of all resolutions on women and peace and security.

Today's meeting will allow us to continue the review of the implementation of landmark resolution 1325 (2000). We would like to thank the delegation of Viet Nam for its efforts, which resulted in the adoption of resolution 1889 (2009) today. Furthermore, I would like to express my gratitude to Deputy Secretary- General Asha-Rose Migiro for her continued leadership and commitment to gender equality and women's participation. We are grateful for her statement today. We are equally grateful for the valuable input of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, Ms. Rachel Mayanja, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Ms. Inés Alberdi. We were also very happy to listen to the presentation by Ms. Asha Hagi Elmi Amin from the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.

We welcome the considerable progress that has been made in strengthening the protection pillar of resolution 1325 (2000) with the adoption of resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence, as well as resolution 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict. Let me express our hope for a quick appointment of the special representative requested in resolution 1888 (2009). It is our understanding that this new special representative to address sexual violence in armed conflict will fully take into account the important aspects of prevention on the one hand, and women's participation, on the other, when carrying out his or her mandate.

With the expansion of the monitoring and reporting mechanisms in resolution 1882 (2009) to situations where parties to armed conflict engage in rape and other sexual violence against children, a coherent and coordinated implementation of the mandates of both the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the special representative to address sexual violence in armed conflict will be crucial. Progress is, however, also urgently needed on other pillars of resolution 1325 (2000). Austria sees great value in focusing this debate on responding to the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations for sustainable peace and security. Investing in women means investing into the future, and ensuring women's and girls access to education is one of the cornerstones of their empowerment.

Austria is planning to continue its financial contributions to UNIFEM for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We also plan to host an experts meeting in Vienna in the first half of 2010. We welcome the Secretary-General's positive reply to a letter sent in August 2008 by women leaders, including Austria's then-Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik. We are satisfied with and grateful for his support in organizing a ministerial-level meeting in 2010 to review the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). My country stands ready to work with the Secretary-General and all interested countries and stakeholders to use this tenth anniversary to identify gaps and challenges and to reinforce the commitment of all States, the entire United Nations system and regional organizations to effectively implementing the undertakings of resolution 1325 (2000).

Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). This opportunity should be used to define future priorities and to identify how to address the remaining and new challenges in fully implementing resolution 1325 (2000). A set of global indicators, as called for in the resolution adopted today, will complement this important work.

We further request the Secretary-General to take concrete steps to enhance the efficiency of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) to implement resolution 1325 (2000), in particular by creating the posts of full-time senior gender advisers in DPA and within DPA's Mediation Support Unit.

Austria is committed to the objectives of resolution 1325 (2000). Our activities are firmly based on a national action plan adopted in August 2007. A working group made up of representatives of all ministries involved and the Austrian Development Agency reports annually to the Council of Ministers on measures undertaken under this action plan. Gender and human rights training have been included more systematically in the predeployment training of police and military personnel participating in peacekeeping operations. Additionally, Austria, together with UNIFEM, supports women's networks in the western Balkans and preparatory work for national action plans in the region.

Likewise, we are carrying out a programme to prevent violence in families that include reintegrated persons. Strengthening the role and the capacity of women, as well as respect for their rights, is a central aspect for the Government of Colombia. In such efforts, the assistance of the United Nations system and the international community is essential. My country, as a member of the group Friends of 1325, will continue to closely follow developments in the area of women and peace and security. Colombia reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of policies, plans and programmes that broaden and strengthen the role of women in peacebuilding.

The report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security (S/2009/465) presents an overview of achievements, gaps and challenges, as well as recommendations for further actions to accelerate the implementation of Resolution 1325 (2000). The report introduces its conclusions thus: “The significance of resolution 1325 (2000) lies in the way it links the impact of war and conflict on women on the one hand, and promotes their participation in various peace and security processes such as in peace negotiations, constitutional and electoral reforms and reconstruction and reintegration on the other” (S/2009/465, para. 77).

That link between the impact of war on women and the possibility of using the potential of women in peace negotiations and reconstruction is precisely what we must focus on in our implementation of the resolution. Resolution 1325 (2000) is the very backbone of Security Council resolutions on women and peace and security, highlighting the necessity of addressing the issue of women as peacebuilders as well as victims of war. Women's empowerment and respect for women's rights are among the prerequisites for sustainable peace and stable, democratic development.

These three objectives are also those that Denmark is prioritizing in its new national action plan for implementing resolution 1325 (2000). In order to be able to monitor progress, we have developed indicators for each objective. Last year, Denmark revised its national action plan. The new plan for 2008- 2013 is based on experience from our first plan. Among the lessons learned is that we need to ensure the full cooperation of all stakeholders in the peacekeeping and security processes, in all phases and at all levels. In the new Danish plan, a stronger emphasis is placed on using the untapped potential of women and on involving them actively and on an equal basis in peacebuilding processes and decision-making at all levels and with a focus on visibility at the country level.

The Danish national action plan was formulated in a participatory manner involving all relevant national stakeholders. An annual dialogue with civil society is planned and an inter-ministerial working group is responsible for reporting on the plan's implementation. I have elaborated in some detail on the Danish national action plan and its objectives, since resolution 1325 (2000) in itself will not do the trick. It must be implemented. Action plans must be formulated and actions undertaken and monitored. We fully share the Secretary-General's concern over the resolution's slow implementation, as implementation is obviously the key to any resolution's being worth the effort put into finding the right words.

Resolution 1325 (2009) is a strong resolution, and we all have an obligation to implement it effectively. We see the adoption of today's resolution 1889 (2009) as a step towards strengthening our joint efforts in that respect. Some progress has been made and should be recognized. Incorporation of gender perspectives into peace processes is emerging, but slowly. United Nations agencies and an increasing number of Governments have developed action plans. International cooperation is also increasing. That is positive, but not enough.

Denmark fully agrees with the recommendations of the Secretary-General on ensuring accountability. We also emphasize the stated need for concerted efforts to collect data. At the end of the day, it is results that count. It is the responsibility of the United Nations system, as well as of national Governments, to increase the visibility of the results of initiatives undertaken to ensure that the resolution has a genuine impact on the role and status of girls and women in conflict. We hope that we will soon come much closer to full and equal participation of women in peace processes, at all levels of negotiation and decision- making, and that we can not only effectively protect the rights of women but also dramatically reduce and eventually eliminate sexual violence. We have cases that show that progress is possible. Rwanda is an excellent example of how a country can emerge successfully from conflict when women enjoy equal rights and decision-making power. Resolution 1325 (2000), if and when it is effectively implemented in other conflict situations, can provide similar, positive results.

Mr. Lippwe (Federated States of Micronesia): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Pacific small island developing States represented at the United Nations, namely, Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga, Vanuatu and my own country, the Federated States of Micronesia. I wish to start by thanking the Viet Nam presidency of the Security Council for convening this important event. We acknowledge and welcome the progress that has been made in implementing resolution 1325 (2000) as outlined in the Secretary-General's report on women and peace and security (S/2009/465). In particular, we note that there has been progress in developing the capacity of both Member States and United Nations bodies to implement the resolution. Awareness of the issue of women and peace and security and the capacity to address that issue on the ground are of course critical to successful implementation, and we encourage the focus on this matter.

However, as the Secretary-General's report notes and as the distinguished speakers before me have also remarked today, much work remains to be done to achieve implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We note with concern that significant progress is still needed to ensure the equal and substantive participation of women at all levels in peace and security decision-making, particularly in negotiations in post-conflict situations. And we are deeply concerned that peace agreement negotiations and planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration continue to take place with little consideration of resolution 1325 (2000).

In overcoming the obstacles to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), the Pacific small island developing States strongly support the need identified in the Secretary-General's report to establish effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms for implementation at the global, regional and national levels and for the Security Council to establish these mechanisms as a matter of urgency.

Without such mechanisms we consider it difficult to make further substantive progress. This should be part of an overall strengthened effort, with increased funding, on the part of the Security Council, as well as all United Nations bodies and Member States, to implement resolution 1325 (2000). Also, in order to provide a more coordinated approach to the work on women and peace and security, we support the appointment by the Secretary-General of a special representative for this area.

In discussing the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations under the general topic of implementing resolution 1325 (2000), it is critical to consider prevention of conflict situations, particularly in relation to the security implications of climate change. Unabated climate change risks increased violent conflict in many parts of the world, with its consequent impact on women and girls, potentially beyond the capacity of the international community to adequately respond.

Furthermore, such adverse effects can create obstacles that substantially interfere with the ability of nations to maintain territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. These effects of climate change create a severe risk of increased violent conflict in many parts of the world, and along with it the consequent impact on women and girls, both during and after conflict. We consider that climate change severely jeopardizes implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

The Pacific small island developing States confirm their commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), and with the support of all Member States, we are hopeful of further advancement as we move towards the resolution's tenth anniversary.

As far as military operations are concerned, a study by Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in the provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan showed, among other things, that the effectiveness of the International Security Assistance Force in cooperating with, and winning the trust of, the Afghan population is improved if the armed forces of troop-contributing nations include more women. Incorporating more women into armed forces is an important element of a coherent and comprehensive approach to the issue that we are discussing today. A seminar being organized by Spain and the Netherlands, to take place on 13 and 14 October in Madrid, will focus on how to make progress in that respect.

As far as our bilateral cooperation with other countries is concerned, let me give the Council two examples. Burundi and the Netherlands collaborate in the integration of elements of resolution 1325 (2000) into the ethics training course for Burundi's uniformed services. And in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Netherlands supports the establishment of collective funding arrangements to address sexual and gender-based violence under the stabilization plan for that country, in collaboration with its Government and with other donors.

Ms. Taj (United Republic of Tanzania): We wish to join other delegations in commending the delegation of Viet Nam, led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, for organizing this important debate. Today's debate further attests to the need for the Security Council to continue to be seized of the challenges of protecting women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. We also thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2009/465). We welcome the recommendations contained therein and call for their implementation. We also support his recommendation for a high-level ministerial event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), although we would have preferred the event to be held at a higher level. Let me also at this juncture thank the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Asha Rose Migiro, for her commitment to advancing women's rights, which was affirmed in her statement this morning.

We also appreciate the contributions made by Ms. Mayanja, Ms. Alberdi and Ms. Amin, as well as various other actors, in particular the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and various non-governmental organizations for their efforts in implementing resolution 1325 (2000).

We are concerned that despite several measures being undertaken in response to resolution 1325 (2000), progress in implementing it is still limited, and women and girls continue to suffer the brunt of war, particularly the devastating effects of sexual and gender-based violence. It is our expectation that the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General, as provided for in Security Council resolution 1888 (2009), will add impetus to the United Nations work in fighting the horrendous acts of violence committed against women and girls, as well as boys. We also expect that the appointment of the special representative will not shift resources from a holistic approach to the issue of women and peace and security, one of participation, protection and prevention. We deeply deplore the use of sex as a weapon of war and call for concerted efforts to end impunity.

Women's involvement is necessary to ensure the legitimacy of the decision-making process, to encourage a broad base of participation, to make sustainable peace and development possible and to protect women and girls. The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), as well as of subsequent resolutions on women and peace and security, is a necessary tool for promoting the involvement of women. We also wish to underscore that we can produce a positive impact on the lives of women and children by implementing these resolutions in tandem with the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Mr. Argüello (Argentina) (spoke in Spanish): Allow me to begin by congratulating the Mission of Viet Nam on its assumption of the presidency and on organizing this open debate, which reflects the resolute commitment of the Security Council to the effective follow-up and implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) almost 10 years since its adoption. We thank the Secretary-General for submitting his report (S/2009/465). We endorse the recommendations contained therein, in particular regarding the establishment of monitoring and accountability mechanisms for the implementation of the resolution at the national, regional and international levels.

Argentina is among those countries that have made progress in developing an implementation plan for resolution 1325 (2000) in the defense sector. At the same time, it is drafting a national plan that addresses all the areas included in that instrument, and has incorporated specific policies for the implementation of resolution 1820 (2008) on sexual violence against women in situations of armed conflict.

From the viewpoint of the State, it is important that the role of women in post-conflict reconstruction activities be incorporated into national implementation plans for resolution 1325 (2000). That involves not only the deployment of a larger number of women in the field, but also acknowledgement of the effective role that women can perform in all stages of that process, including as mediators in peace processes. The empowerment of women is fundamental to increasing their participation in reconstruction. The new institutions should take into account the interests and needs of women, and ensure their access to all entities that guarantee the enjoyment of their rights. However, at the same time, it is necessary to invest in the education and training of women so that they can play a role in the institutions thus established. That is particularly important in the case of political parties, electoral processes, judicial systems and security institutions.

Nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) and one year after the adoption of 1820 (2008), and despite the Security Council's repeated recommendations and appeals, post-conflict situations regrettably remain marked by the ongoing devastating impact of armed conflict on women and children. Sexual violence and recurrent violations of women's rights are genuine sources of concern, given their deep physical, psychological and economic impact on victims and their respective communities.

Thus, ceasefire and peace agreements, as well as disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion programmes, must fully incorporate the specific needs of women and girls. Who better than women themselves to plead this cause? We must therefore guarantee their effective participation in all stages of the peace process. To that end and to enable them, where appropriate, to have the necessary tools at hand, peacetime national policies must incorporate the training of women in negotiation and mediation techniques and the peaceful settlement of disputes. In the long term and given the reality of the growing feminization of poverty and social and economic inequality, there is a need to provide greater opportunities in the education of girls, livelihood training and job creation for women, including former combatants. Overall, States must take ownership of the concept of women and peace and security. The adoption of action plans towards the improved implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) at the national level is crucial in that respect.

The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is a collective endeavour. Along with States, the international community, including the United Nations, has an important and unique role to play in that regard. Every agency of the system should play its part in the context of a common and consistent approach. The United Nations must continue to work to strengthen cooperation with regional, subregional and national organizations, including civil society and other local actors. The Security Council must continue to ensure that the specific needs of women and girls are taken into account in its peacekeeping mandates and in the effective implementation of its relevant resolutions and statements.

As to the specific issue of sexual violence, my delegation welcomes the recent adoptions of resolutions 1882 (2009) and 1888 (2009), which provide for the strengthened implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). The Council should continue to call for increased female participation in contingents, for the appointment of more women as mediators, special envoys and special representatives, and for the inclusion in reports of more information on the particular needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations. We cherish the hope that the establishment of the composite gender entity by the General Assembly will add momentum to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). None these actions, however, will be viable if they are not backed by human capacity-building and adequate financing. The commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) should offer us all an opportunity to reiterate our firm commitment and genuine political will to contribute to the emancipation of women in general and the effective liberation of those who, often the innocent victims of conflict, must also endure the harsh conditions of personal rehabilitation and national reconciliation.

That issue of roles and responsibilities remains central to our consideration today. It is imperative that the duality of women's situation — as both victims and actors — be fully recognized. Men have always inhabited those two spaces simultaneously — as victims and victors, waging the wars and authoring the peace. Women have largely been imprisoned in the victim role, as the collateral damage of war and, if present at all, a kind of add-on at the peace table. Resolution 1325 (2000), which has been on the books for nine years, is trying to overthrow the patterns of centuries. The story recurs again and again, with the fundamentals almost always the same. Men who have been in the front line of conflict feel they have earned the exclusive right to broker the peace. Women who are struggling to get hearth and home together after the fighting have other priorities. Implementing resolution 1325 (2000) therefore means climbing mountains. To get to first base camp, we need real, transformative and attitudinal change.

A further effort to stimulate cross-regional discussion on implementing resolution 1325 (2000) was the hosting in Dublin earlier this year of the ministerial meeting of the Human Security Network. The Permanent Representative of Costa Rica described that initiative in his statement this morning, and I will not repeat what he has said.

None of us here is in any doubt about the scale of the challenge and the urgency of action. Next year's tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) is an opportunity to be seized — not for another talkfest but to assess, strategize and commit. In the collective effort to prepare for and mark that anniversary, we look to the Security Council to continue to show leadership and determination.

We also welcome today's adoption of resolution 1889 (2009), as well as resolutions 1882 (2009) and 1888 (2009) on women and children in armed conflict. Today's open debate marks yet another anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, the first resolution adopted by the Council that specifically addresses the impact of war on women and recognizes their role in conflict management and resolution and their contribution to the search for lasting peace.

Unfortunately, we are compelled to note that progress in the implementation of the recommendations therein remains insufficient. 2010 will be an especially important year, for it will afford us an opportunity — at the commemoration of the fifteenth anniversary of the Beijing Conference and of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), as well as at the ministerial session of the Economic and Social Council on the empowerment of women — to take stock of the work accomplished and above all to identify and effectively remedy shortcomings. We further hope that 2010 will see the establishment of the composite gender entity under the Secretariat. We are convinced that the timely creation of the entity will considerably strengthen the cohesiveness of measures undertaken for women in the United Nations system.

Generally speaking, Luxembourg fully endorses the Secretary-General's recommendations in his report (S/2009/465) on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). My country especially welcomes the recommendation that the Security Council energetically pursue a strategy aimed at increasing the participation of women in all peace processes, especially within the framework of peace negotiations and mediation.

Member States will have to demonstrate the political will to fully implement resolution 1325 (2000). It is especially incumbent on them to utilize all existing provisions of international law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law, as well as not to tolerate impunity and to refer to national and international tribunals individuals suspected of having committed crimes against women. The Security Council could assist States in their efforts to implement resolution 1325 (2000) by establishing, as recommended by the Secretary-General, a clear and exhaustive standing follow-up mechanism that would enable us to assess progress achieved.

We are currently conducting field consultations for a National Action Plan on Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) in various regions of the Philippines. These consultations will culminate in a national consultation in Manila on 19 October 2009. The Philippine Action Plan on resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) will be the blueprint that various stakeholders will use to ensure that women are able to participate meaningfully in all peace processes and in decision-making on peace and security issues in both the formal and the informal realms.

My delegation welcomes the resolution that was just adopted by the Council. We are encouraged by, among other things, the efforts to improve the resource allocations for gender issues within the United Nations by enhancing the monitoring of spending for gender- related activities, similar to the system pioneered by the United Nations Development Programme. We are happy to note at last that, as evidenced by paragraph 19 of resolution 1889 (2009), a systematic assessment of the needs and challenges facing women and girls in post-conflict situations is being undertaken by the United Nations, whose report will also recommend possible responses, including in the area of effective financing.

It took a whole nine years after the passage of the landmark resolution 1325 (2000) for the Council to request a study on women's participation and inclusion in peacebuilding in the aftermath of a conflict. My delegation believes that such a report is long overdue and should therefore be given the promptest attention, if the United Nations is to urgently address the situation of the millions of women affected by the ravages of war.

This debate is of great significance in preparing for the review of 10 years of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, adopted by the Security Council in 2000. That resolution has the profoundly humane objective of protecting women and children, including girls, who are the most vulnerable and most heavily affected in conflicts and wars. It is also aimed at promoting more effective implementation of the Council's primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

With this debate, United Nations Members, international organizations and other stakeholders will jointly take stock of and set out measures to enhance the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). In preparing for this undertaking, Viet Nam and Switzerland jointly organized a seminar on women, peace, security and development, held in Hanoi in July 2009, with the participation of United Nations representatives and Vietnamese and international non-governmental organizations.

The enormous international efforts, including those of the United Nations, to promote the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) and of the relevant presidential statements of the Security Council have produced positive results. Of primary significance is the greater recognition that the maintenance of peace and security requires measures to meet the needs of women. It is also necessary to ensure their full and equal participation in reconciliation and negotiation processes, in all stages of peacekeeping, in the management of humanitarian aid and in post- conflict reconstruction.

In order to achieve tangible results, resolution 1325 (2000), resolution 1820 (2008) and resolution 1888 (2009), which was just adopted on 30 September, should be implemented in a coherent and comprehensive manner. Viet Nam supports the Secretary-General's recommendations included in his report to the Council dated 16 September 2009 (S/2009/465) and shares many of the views expressed during this debate. From our own experience in dealing with the multifaceted consequences of war and in promoting national development and the rights of women and children, Viet Nam underlines the following points.

Over the past eight years, we have kept those promises to the best of our ability. The Afghan Constitution guarantees equal rights to women and representation in the Government. Afghanistan has endorsed the Millennium Development Goals, is a signatory to the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, fully supports the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), and has put in place a legal and political framework that protects and promotes the rights of women. Beyond these legal initiatives, Afghan women have seen tangible improvements in their daily lives, including improved access to education, health care and basic infrastructure. Afghanistan's national action plan for women ensures that women and girls receive equal access to these resources.

Croatia welcomes the focus on the need of women and girls in post-conflict situations for sustainable peace and security. Croatia also welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) (S/2009/456) and its recommendations.

We align ourselves with the statement to be delivered later by the representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union. Here, I shall make additional remarks in my national capacity. Almost a decade has passed since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). We have witnessed much progress in the area of the empowerment of women. Women have been trained in leadership, and there has been an increase in the number of female peacekeeping personnel. The Security Council has, for its part, contributed to significant advancements on the issues of women and children that are on its agenda. It has adopted resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence in armed conflict, under the umbrella issue of women and peace and security, as well as resolution 1882 (2009) that addresses, among other matters, the problem of sexual violence against girls.

Croatia has included elements of resolution 1325 (2000) in its national strategy on gender equality, but we are aware that gaps in the implementation of that resolution need to be continuously monitored. In that regard, my Government extends its support to the leadership of the composite gender entity that is to be established within the United Nations. We see it as an important tool in advancing the issue of women and peace and security.

Mr. Matussek (Germany): Germany aligns herself with the statement made by Sweden on behalf of the European Union. As a member of the Group of Friends of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), we attach great importance to the issue of women and peace and security. I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for holding this open debate. Women and children need to be protected from violence. Every day, we bear witness to unspeakable atrocities. This is especially the case in post-conflict situations in which police protection does not exist and judicial systems lie in shatters. Institutions need to be rebuilt, but protection cannot wait until the systems are fully functional. Protection must take place from the very first minute of peacebuilding — for the benefit of the victims but also for the benefit of the whole community, since rape and sexual violence destroy the very components of societies. Thus, sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the protection of the most vulnerable, namely, women and children.

Next year is the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000). Let us try to reach these targets by that date so we will be able to proclaim some progress that will benefit and guide all people in the world that need our help and look to us for support.

Almost nine years have passed since the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000), during which it also adopted several resolutions and presidential statements on the protection of women during and after armed conflict, their participation in the prevention of conflict and post-conflict decision-making and their role in the economic and social spheres. However, we are still far from reaching the desired goals. Every field report and all the data indicate that women and children are increasingly the main victims of conflict, often being the main targets of combatants and armed groups who deliberately subject them to various forms of aggression, human rights violations and forced displacement. Unfortunately, those practices often continue after the end of conflict.

During the past year much thought has been given in the Security Council to the issue of women and peace and security. We responded to gender concerns through resolution 1820 (2008) last year. The recently adopted resolution 1888 (2009) and resolution 1889 (2009), adopted today, all contribute to strengthening a process that began with the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). That resolution pioneered the recognition of the needs of women as victims of conflict and of the role they can play as protagonists in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Despite these efforts, women's participation remains marginal, as pointed out by the Secretary- General in his report (S/2009/465). Resolution 1325 (2000) paved the way for future developments. Its broad scope is one of its main strengths, but it has also made it more difficult to address some key challenges effectively. Its weak implementation framework and the absence of adequate follow-up mechanisms has limited progress and made it slow and uneven.

Lastly, on behalf of the Human Security Network — made up of Austria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Greece, Ireland, Jordan, Mali, Norway, Switzerland, Slovenia and Thailand, and South Africa as an observer member — we would like to welcome the conclusion of the process leading to the adoption of this new resolution. The members of the Network are committed to supporting significant progress to promote and strengthen the role of women in peacebuilding processes. This commitment compelled us to dedicate our eleventh Ministerial Meeting, held in Dublin last May, to analysing the topic of how to promote the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). The members of the Network continue to consider possible joint actions in the future, and we hope that the consideration of this important topic by our interregional group, with a human-security perspective, will contribute to the debate on women and peace and security in the run-up to the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) in October of next year.

We co-sponsored resolution 1888 (2009), which was adopted last week under the presidency of the United States. We were also happy to co-sponsor resolution 1889 (2009), which was adopted today. Nevertheless, let me underscore that the issue of women and peace and security has implications that are cross-cutting, as well as multi-dimensional. Therefore, the need to discuss those issues in the universal forum — the General Assembly — cannot be over- emphasized.

The Security Council's adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) marked a milestone in acknowledging the importance of mainstreaming the gender perspective at all stages of a peace process. That resolution also reflected the Council's interest in the situation of boys and girls in armed conflict, the protection of civilians and the prevention of conflict.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela fully supports all efforts made within the General Assembly, its funds and its programmes to ensure the comprehensive consideration of the advancement of women and their genuine empowerment in the context of an egalitarian and just society that respects their rights.

Our national plan thus embodies Portugal's concern over the vulnerability of women and girls in post-conflict situations, together with our national commitment to developing measures to answer the needs of women in these situations. In concrete terms, this is translated at the international level into the promotion of policies, strategies and legislation to prevent armed violence, including domestic armed violence, as well as in the systematic integration into development programmes of a gender dimension and training for development actors in this field.

The primary responsibility for preventing and protecting women and girls in conflict situations and their aftermath should not lie with the international community alone. That would assist in promoting local ownership in peace processes. South Africa remains committed to the full and effective implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009). We in the international community have an obligation to women to ensure that their rights are protected and that their place in all aspects of the peace process is assured.

In conclusion, my delegation will continue to support the work of the United Nations and of the African Union in promoting the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, as well as in protecting women and girls in post-conflict situations and their aftermath.

It is important that the Secretary-General's reports to the Council dealing with specific conflict situations and developments in the field also incorporate gender perspectives in addressing various aspects of conflict analysis and conflict resolution. It is also important to be sure that personnel involved in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations have appropriate training on the protection, rights and particular needs of women. Security Council resolutions setting up or extending peacekeeping operations should provide a clear mandate to address the protection of women and girls affected by conflict against all sexual violence, abduction, enforced prostitution, trafficking and threats imposed by military, paramilitary and other groups.

We believe that the Security Council has a special responsibility to support women's participation in peace processes by ensuring appropriate gender balance in United Nations peacekeeping missions. We welcome the fact that the Council has already recognized the important role of women in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding and has emphasized the importance of promoting an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes when addressing armed or other conflicts.

After a violent conflict, women are often the best experts in identifying the most crucial needs of their communities. Their experience, knowledge and determination are needed for the markets to start buzzing with life again, for the children to go to school and for the community to heal. Yet, women are still too often left out of the peace negotiations and the following processes where priorities and budgets for early recovery and peacebuilding are planned and decided upon. Finland emphasizes the right of women to fully participate in post-conflict peacebuilding.

We urge the United Nations to lead by example. We commend the Secretary-General for his efforts to increase the number of women in senior leadership positions, and we encourage him to break even more ground in the years to come. We welcome the call, in the resolution just adopted, to the Secretary-General to develop a strategy to that end. The Secretary General should ensure that all his envoys and representatives include women in all formal peace processes they lead. They should actively seek the views of women also outside of the formal negotiations. Furthermore, we encourage the United Nations, together with the World Bank and relevant regional organizations, to include a requirement for women's participation in the standards of post-conflict needs assessments and to track gender- specific budget allocations.

Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000). There has been progress in its implementation, but a lot of work remains to be done before our commitments are fulfilled. The unanimous decision by the General Assembly, in its resolution 63/311, to create a new gender entity was long awaited worldwide. Now we must set up the ambitious goal of having the new entity up and running by mid-2010. This will be a key step forward in enhancing the effective contribution by the United Nations to the promotion of women's rights and participation worldwide, including in conflict and post- conflict situations.

Secondly, there is need for increased high-level commitment to the resolution, both within the United Nations system and by the Member States. Here, the maw concern was the issue of gender architecture within the United Nations system, which now has been alleviated in part through the unanimous adoption of General Assembly resolution 63/311, calling among other things for a new and consolidated United Nations gender entity to be headed by an under-secretary- general. The Security Council could establish a working group on resolution 1325 (2000) and set an example by incorporating the gender perspective when discussing conflict.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing us with a progress report (S/2009/465) on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and for the recommendations contained therein. Ahead of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) in October 2010, we have an opportunity today in this open debate to advance women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution and in peacebuilding.

Armed conflict is devastating to any human being. However, it has disproportionate effects on women and girls. Their voices are silenced in conflict and their basic rights lost in the political and social deterioration that accompanies conflict. They become disempowered. A few days ago, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1888 (2009). That was another commendable endeavour to further strengthen the efforts of the international community to combat sexual violence in armed conflicts.

There is still, however, much action that can be taken by the international community to address the challenges faced by women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. We should continue to promote at all levels awareness of the Geneva Convention of 1949 on the protection of civilians. The international community should continue to devise strategies to ease the bleak and harsh reality faced every day, particularly by women and girls living in conflict and post-conflict situations.

Nonetheless, our strategies ultimately must not merely treat women and girls as victims; they should also be a central part of peace agreements. Women are key partners in the post-conflict transformation process. Women should be enabled and empowered to play an active role in the many spheres of post-conflict life beyond earning livelihoods by also participating in political and peacebuilding processes. That should be promoted in a systematic way.

The role of women in post-conflict situations is paramount. Women serve as one of the main building blocks and instruments of peace. Yet, due to continuing violence during conflict, women face physical, mental and social barriers in post-conflict situations that undermine their role in peace. The international community must recognize and address that challenge effectively. Towards that end, international support should meet the multidimensional needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations. That objective needs to be met with adequate funding.

The international community must help to restore peace in conflict areas with the participation of women. We commend the continued effort to incorporate a gender perspective in all policies and programmes of the United Nations system, facilitated by a strong gender entity within the United Nations. However, we note that gender-targeted projects in post-conflict areas remain limited. The United Nations should promote gender role modelling, taking into consideration the perspective of developing countries in post-conflict situations.

However, as the Secretary-General's report notes and as the distinguished speakers before me have also remarked today, much work remains to be done to achieve implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We note with concern that significant progress is still needed to ensure the equal and substantive participation of women at all levels in peace and security decision-making, particularly in negotiations in post-conflict situations. And we are deeply concerned that peace agreement negotiations and planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration continue to take place with little consideration of resolution 1325 (2000).

In discussing the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations under the general topic of implementing resolution 1325 (2000), it is critical to consider prevention of conflict situations, particularly in relation to the security implications of climate change. Unabated climate change risks increased violent conflict in many parts of the world, with its consequent impact on women and girls, potentially beyond the capacity of the international community to adequately respond.

But even women who have been violated have a voice. These are not merely voices of victims, but voices of citizens who want to contribute directly to conflict prevention, the maintenance of peace and post- conflict reconstruction in their countries. That is the second dimension: the empowerment of women in matters of peace and war.

We are concerned that despite several measures being undertaken in response to resolution 1325 (2000), progress in implementing it is still limited, and women and girls continue to suffer the brunt of war, particularly the devastating effects of sexual and gender-based violence. It is our expectation that the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General, as provided for in Security Council resolution 1888 (2009), will add impetus to the United Nations work in fighting the horrendous acts of violence committed against women and girls, as well as boys. We also expect that the appointment of the special representative will not shift resources from a holistic approach to the issue of women and peace and security, one of participation, protection and prevention. We deeply deplore the use of sex as a weapon of war and call for concerted efforts to end impunity.

In searching for practical ways forward, the Secretary-General's report rightly emphasizes the importance of national plans. Ireland is currently developing its own national action plan. As part of that process, we have embarked on a cross-learning initiative guided by the experiences of women and men in countries emerging from conflict. We are currently working in partnership with Liberia and Timor-Leste in a tripartite cross-learning exercise. Through that collaboration, our aim is to ensure the achievement of real and immediate change for women who have experienced conflict and who can and should be stakeholders in State-building and peacebuilding. A first cross-learning meeting was held in June 2009, a second is to be held in Timor-Leste this December and a third is proposed for Liberia in early 2010. A report on the process will be shared with the United Nations in advance of the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000).

Women and girls are often the primary victims of conflict and have specific needs in post-conflict situations, especially when they have been displaced, are refugees, or have been mistreated or maimed by anti-personnel landmines, as so rightly noted by Ms. Alberdi this morning. Those specific needs must be taken into account in assessing countries' requirements as they emerge permanently from conflict. In post-conflict situations, women must become important engines for peace and security in their communities. It is indeed critical that women be more involved in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts at all levels. The involvement of women in decision-making processes from the start should subsequently provide for their better participation in development efforts.

Luxembourg also stresses the important role that the Peacebuilding Commission could play in encouraging all parties, including States on its agenda, to provide for the participation of women in their peacebuilding strategies and to ensure that women's civil society organizations be effectively consulted and represented in country-specific configurations. We could also ensure that the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council launch a dialogue on the best way to address the negative impacts of conflict on women and consider how to involve women in full participation in peacebuilding efforts and post-conflict reconstruction.

Almost nine years have passed since the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000), during which it also adopted several resolutions and presidential statements on the protection of women during and after armed conflict, their participation in the prevention of conflict and post-conflict decision-making and their role in the economic and social spheres. However, we are still far from reaching the desired goals. Every field report and all the data indicate that women and children are increasingly the main victims of conflict, often being the main targets of combatants and armed groups who deliberately subject them to various forms of aggression, human rights violations and forced displacement. Unfortunately, those practices often continue after the end of conflict.

There is no doubt that the numerous resolutions and presidential statements that have been adopted by the Security Council constitute a major step towards protecting women and promoting their rights. However, it is not enough merely to adopt resolutions and statements; they must be implemented. That requires coordination and cooperation between the relevant bodies of the United Nations, civil society institutions, task forces of specialized agencies. Regional organizations and relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations to empower women in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development processes. That will make an effective contribution to States and to their implementation of legislation and activities to prevent gender-based violence and create an environment conducive to accountability and reporting on women's status. It is a source of concern that the promotion of the rights of women and gender equality is often not considered a priority in the aftermath of conflict. It is for that reason that we have emphasized the importance of women's development and empowerment on the national level and in all areas of life.

India has consistently held that greater participation by women in areas of conflict prevention, peace negotiations, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction is the sine qua non condition for lasting peace and security. As far as the United Nations is concerned, its achievements have been at best modest, in particular in terms of the deployment of women in peacekeeping forces. Women currently comprise only 8 per cent of United Nations police officers, and about 2 per cent of the military personnel, deployed in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Given the critical role of the United Nations in peacekeeping operations and peacebuilding in post-conflict countries, we firmly believe that the United Nations must lead by example.

The promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls in armed conflict continues to pose a pressing challenge. There should be no tolerance for gender-based violence. All cases of gender-based violence in an armed conflict must be investigated, and the perpetrators prosecuted. Let me assure the Council that India will continue to contribute positively to United Nations efforts to protect vulnerable groups, in particular women and children, in conflict and post-conflict societies. That needs to be done in a comprehensive manner and with the active involvement of all the departments and agencies of the United Nations. I would also like to stress that the international community needs to enhance cooperation by providing new and additional financial resources and by sharing experiences, expertise and capacity building in areas of justice and rule of law.

The Security Council's adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) marked a milestone in acknowledging the importance of mainstreaming the gender perspective at all stages of a peace process. That resolution also reflected the Council's interest in the situation of boys and girls in armed conflict, the protection of civilians and the prevention of conflict.

In conclusion, allow me to emphasize that, in an effort to ensure equality between men and women, Ecuador is working to identify the most appropriate way of setting up a national gender equality council. The challenges are numerous. But there is a reality that must be changed. Allow me, therefore, to reiterate the decision of the Government and the people of Ecuador to continue to cooperate with the international community to ensure the right of women to lives free from violence and to guarantee their full participation in mediation and negotiation processes, all aspects of peacekeeping operations, the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the post-conflict reconstruction process.

As we know, the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations are unique and, sadly, often overlooked. Today's adoption of resolution 1889 (2009) is a response to a significant body of research findings that reinforce what we have always known — achieving durable peace, recovery and development in post-conflict countries requires the meaningful participation of women in all aspects and at all levels of peace processes. Only a strong and sustained voice will allow women in post-conflict environments to transcend the status of victim and become empowered as agents of positive change. We call on the Security Council to ensure that their voices are heard loud and clear.

In particular, Canada would like to draw the Council's attention to the participation of women in peace processes and to a study by the United Nations Development Fund for Women, which has already been referred to today, concluding that the participation of women in negotiating delegations to peace talks has averaged approximately 7 per cent. Member States, the Secretariat and international peace mediators collectively share the responsibility to ensure that this number increases and that we systematically include women in all peace processes, formal and informal. Canada sincerely hopes that the Security Council and the Secretariat will ensure that this becomes a standard practice.

It is our belief that the equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes has a positive impact on the international security system, thus favouring the implementation of the objectives of the Security Council - maintaining peace and security. At the same time, it is of fundamental importance that we develop policies that envisage the promotion of the political, economic and social roles of women in post- conflict situations.

Portugal reaffirms its commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We adopted last August our national plan of action to contribute to the implementation of that document at the national, regional and international policy levels. The drafting of this national plan of action involved a one-year long participatory process, which encompassed wide- ranging governmental contributions together with broad and public consultations with universities, non- governmental organizations, media and other relevant civil society sectors and international networks.

Our national plan recognizes the specific impacts of contemporary wars on the lives of women and addresses the efforts to prevent, combat and mitigate these impacts. Our plan, which will extend to 2013, is built around the objectives of strengthening women's participation and representation in all efforts to promote peace and security; promoting gender mainstreaming in the sectors of security, such as peacekeeping missions and security system reform; justice and development aid; and reinforcing the protection of women and girls in conflict and post- conflict areas.

Allow me briefly to highlight five main objectives of our plan. It seeks, first, to increase women's participation and mainstream gender equality in all phases of peacebuilding processes and at all levels of decision-making; secondly, to promote capacity-building on gender equality and gender-based violence, as well as other aspects covered by resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), for all those involved in peacebuilding and development aid efforts; thirdly, to promote and protect women's human rights in conflict areas and post-conflict scenarios, taking into account the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence and the promotion of the empowerment of women; fourthly, to invest in and disseminate knowledge on issues concerning women, peace and security, including awareness-raising among decision- makers and the broader public; and lastly, to ensure the participation of civil society in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the national plan of action.

Furthermore, our national action plan emphasizes that women and girls are relevant and capable actors of change and development, and is based on the conviction that, first, it is critical that we overcome the traditional perspective of women and girls as being exclusively vulnerable victims in need of protection, and that, secondly, it is thus essential to implement measures that guarantee that this perspective will be taken into consideration at all levels of peacebuilding processes by the international and local actors involved.

The second point concerns the persistent lack of participation by women throughout the peace process, which is a core element of resolution 1325 (2000). As the Secretary-General's report expresses, a persistent cause of concern is that women continue to be virtually absent from the peace table and to be severely underrepresented as third-party mediators in most conflict-affected countries. It should be duly noted that since 1992, only 2.4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements were women and that no woman has ever been appointed as a chief mediator.

The African Union and subregional organizations offer several advantages in the pursuit of effective conflict prevention and resolution. Therefore, the Assembly of the African Union, in its efforts to promote the participation of women in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and security, has taken concrete steps and pledged that the organs of the AU and the regional economic communities and member States, using the frameworks of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), will integrate gender policies, programmes and activities on conflict and peace. That would ensure that women participate fully in conflict resolution and management processes.

In the context of peace and security, the Protocol stipulates that the States parties shall endeavour to put in place measures to ensure that women have equal representation and participation in key decision- making positions in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes by 2015, in accordance with resolution 1325 (2000). Furthermore, the Protocol specifies that States parties shall, during times of armed conflict, take such steps as are necessary to prevent and eliminate incidences of human rights abuses, especially of women and children, and also to ensure that the perpetrators of such abuses are brought to justice before courts of competent jurisdiction.

There is an urgent need to advocate more strongly for the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. We also believe that all actors to the binding resolution should devote their attention to ensuring sufficient resources, the capacity to address the challenges and empowerment through educational programmes so as to increase the awareness and understanding of how to find lasting solutions. We encourage Member States to finalize and concretize national action plans for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) that provide for the necessary training of women and men alike.

South Africa continues to support the work of the United Nations and of the African Union in promoting the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, as well as in protecting women and girls against sexual violence. From our experience in the SADC region, we have learned that it is important to build solidarity among all role players, particularly women, and therefore we remain committed to working within a consultative and collaborative framework to find peaceful and lasting solutions to conflicts.

To that end, we believe it important for women in local communities to be allowed to participate in finding solutions for the reconstruction and rebuilding of their countries. The importance of equal representation and participation of women in formal peace processes and at negotiating tables cannot be overemphasized.

In conclusion, my delegation will continue to support the work of the United Nations and of the African Union in promoting the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, as well as in protecting women and girls in post-conflict situations and their aftermath.

Uganda is committed to strengthening women's participation in the promotion of peace and security within the context of conflict prevention and resolution, eradicating sexual violence and ending impunity in conflict-prone situations. As Uganda is a country that has experienced an extended period of instability, the Government has set one of its priority goals as tracking progress on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Women's participation in Uganda's political life goes beyond elective office and has been extended to other spheres, including peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts, as stipulated by resolution 1325 (2000).

Uganda has an advanced, articulate and organized women's peace movement. Even before the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the Uganda Government had previously supported the efforts of women leaders, such as Ms. Betty Bigombe, who initially led the peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to end the conflict in northern Uganda. The Uganda Government also made provision for women's participation in the 2006-2008 peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army in Juba, in the southern Sudan.

Experience has also taught us that a simple increase in the number of women in talks is not sufficient and that in-depth consultations are still required to ensure that nothing is left out with regard to the legitimate concerns of women.

In conclusion, Uganda welcomes the adoption of resolution 1889 (2009), as it highlights this deficit and calls for a response to the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations for sustainable peace and security. We also encourage affected Member States to establish indicators to ensure that their national action plans for women's participation in post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding are implemented not only in a practical, effective and coherent fashion, but also in a way that allows for accountability. We look forward to the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) in 2010 as a significant milestone for Uganda's women and, indeed, for all women everywhere.

We would also like to commend the determined efforts of the Security Council members aimed at finding effective ways to protect women and to ensure their full participation in endeavours to maintain peace and security. In this regard, we express our support for Security Council resolution 1888 (2009), adopted last month under the presidency of the United States. Ukraine fully aligns itself with the statement delivered earlier by the representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union, and, in line with the Union, considers gender equality, gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women not only as important objectives, but also as the means to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and an essential part of the development agenda.

We believe that the Security Council has a special responsibility to support women's participation in peace processes by ensuring appropriate gender balance in United Nations peacekeeping missions. We welcome the fact that the Council has already recognized the important role of women in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding and has emphasized the importance of promoting an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes when addressing armed or other conflicts.

At the same time, women are still underrepresented in decision-making with regard to conflict. Their initiatives and visions for peace and security are rarely heard during peace negotiations. In this regard, I would like to stress that women should not be viewed primarily as victims of armed conflict; the international community should use the potential of women as agents of preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

Being an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping efforts, Ukraine has for years been contributing women civilian police and military observers to United Nations peacekeeping missions. We reiterate our readiness to continue working constructively with other Members States in order to ensure the protection of women in armed conflicts and women's participation in peace processes.

Nine years ago, the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000) for the protection of women, for their participation and for the promotion of their rights in conflict and post-conflict situations. Last year, the Council adopted resolution 1820 (2008), condemning sexual violence as a tactic of war, and last week it adopted resolution 1888 (2009) to further strengthen the United Nations response to sexual violence in conflict. We welcome recent developments and the resolution adopted today, resolution 1889 (2009), which draws our attention to the crucial question of women's empowerment and participation in conflict and post-conflict situations.

After a violent conflict, women are often the best experts in identifying the most crucial needs of their communities. Their experience, knowledge and determination are needed for the markets to start buzzing with life again, for the children to go to school and for the community to heal. Yet, women are still too often left out of the peace negotiations and the following processes where priorities and budgets for early recovery and peacebuilding are planned and decided upon. Finland emphasizes the right of women to fully participate in post-conflict peacebuilding.

We do not only need to make sure that we have women present at the table at all levels of decision- making. We should consider working towards agreeing on international standards regarding participation of women and men in peace and post-conflict processes. We also need to make sure that women can fully use their potential, skills and leadership to foster quick and sustainable recovery and peacebuilding. To that end, Finland, together with Liberia, convened the International Colloquium for Women's Empowerment, Leadership, Development and International Peace and Security in Monrovia last March.

We urge the United Nations to lead by example. We commend the Secretary-General for his efforts to increase the number of women in senior leadership positions, and we encourage him to break even more ground in the years to come. We welcome the call, in the resolution just adopted, to the Secretary-General to develop a strategy to that end. The Secretary General should ensure that all his envoys and representatives include women in all formal peace processes they lead. They should actively seek the views of women also outside of the formal negotiations. Furthermore, we encourage the United Nations, together with the World Bank and relevant regional organizations, to include a requirement for women's participation in the standards of post-conflict needs assessments and to track gender- specific budget allocations.

Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000). There has been progress in its implementation, but a lot of work remains to be done before our commitments are fulfilled. The unanimous decision by the General Assembly, in its resolution 63/311, to create a new gender entity was long awaited worldwide. Now we must set up the ambitious goal of having the new entity up and running by mid-2010. This will be a key step forward in enhancing the effective contribution by the United Nations to the promotion of women's rights and participation worldwide, including in conflict and post- conflict situations.

The recent adoption of resolution 1888 (2009) and its request for the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General to provide leadership and improve coherence and coordination of United Nations action against sexual violence in conflict was a major step forward. Ensuring full participation and rights of women and girls is the best way to prevent sexual violence, and the mandate of the new special representative should be put in place with that in mind.

Moreover, we need indicators for tracking what has or has not been done. In that regard, we are delighted that the new resolution sets a timeline for the development of global indicators. However, indicators need to be complemented with a mechanism for monitoring compliance and with the political will to make the cost of non-compliance much higher than it is today. Ultimately, the cost of excluding women from peacemaking and peacebuilding is peace itself.

In particular, Iceland has supported the extraordinary work of the International Women's Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian- Israeli Peace. This is an organization where women from opposite sides of the conflict, together with a group of women from the international community, have managed to find viable ways to promote peace and peaceful alternatives to conflict

Thirdly, there was a strong call to the United Nations system and Member States to use the tenth anniversary as an impetus to get serious about implementation. The Secretary-General should insist on accountability for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) by the United Nations system. To increase the focus on results, the High-level Steering Group chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General, should focus on the implementation of 1325 (2000). More women should be appointed as special representatives and envoys of the Secretary-General, and gender advisers should be accorded a higher status to ensure that gender mainstreaming does not become sidetracked.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing us with a progress report (S/2009/465) on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and for the recommendations contained therein. Ahead of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) in October 2010, we have an opportunity today in this open debate to advance women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution and in peacebuilding.

Nonetheless, our strategies ultimately must not merely treat women and girls as victims; they should also be a central part of peace agreements. Women are key partners in the post-conflict transformation process. Women should be enabled and empowered to play an active role in the many spheres of post-conflict life beyond earning livelihoods by also participating in political and peacebuilding processes. That should be promoted in a systematic way.

During our deliberations on this issue last year, Indonesia recognized the need to facilitate the full and effective participation of women in all stages of peace processes and peacebuilding. Indonesia supports more women playing key roles in peacekeeping missions, including as military and police personnel. For its part, Indonesia has sent female personnel as military observers, staff officers and members of our contingents in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The international community must help to restore peace in conflict areas with the participation of women. We commend the continued effort to incorporate a gender perspective in all policies and programmes of the United Nations system, facilitated by a strong gender entity within the United Nations. However, we note that gender-targeted projects in post-conflict areas remain limited. The United Nations should promote gender role modelling, taking into consideration the perspective of developing countries in post-conflict situations.

Even nine years after the adoption of the very important landmark resolution 1325 (2000), we cannot fail to see that many innocent women and children live under fear and want in conflict and post-conflict situations. Clearly, much remains to be done. Japan therefore welcomes today's debate and the decision of the Council to adopt resolution 1889 (2009). Today I would like to address three issues: the role of women, the protection of women and empowering women.

First, it is vitally important to ensure that women's perspectives and the particular needs of women and girls are reflected at every stage of the peace process. We need to promote the full and equal engagement of women from the earliest stages of the process of peace negotiations and peacebuilding, because that is the most effective way to prevent the recurrence of conflict.

Thirdly, we need to focus not only on protection but also on the empowerment of women, who could be strong promoters of the peacebuilding process. We must find a way to ensure the empowerment of women in post- conflict situations, by improving their socio-economic conditions. This can be achieved b promoting access to health services, education, vocational training, income generation activities and land and property rights. Unless we succeed in creating such conditions, I am afraid that it difficult to consolidate peace and prevent the recurrence of another conflict.

One good example is cited in the Secretary- General's latest report: the project is funded through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security to deliver health care, education and counselling to women and girls in Nepal who have been left vulnerable by conflict in that country. In closing, I would like to recall the suggestion I made on a prior occasion when we discussed this issue: to compile a handbook with a list of good practices on women's participation in the process of reconciliation and peacebuilding. I very much hope that appropriate follow-up can be made by the Secretariat.

Mr. Wenaweser (Liechtenstein): I thank you, Sir, for presiding over the meeting today and your delegation for organizing this open debate with a focus on post-conflict situations. As a strong supporter of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), Liechtenstein agrees with the assessment reflected in the concept paper prepared by your delegation (S/2009/490) that much has been achieved but that enormous challenges remain. Nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the participation of women in conflict resolution, in particular in formal peace processes, is still little more than rhetoric and their protection from violent crimes is still elusive.

Resolution 1325 (2000) calls for an increase in the participation of women at decision-making levels in conflict resolution and peace processes. According to data made available to the Council by the United Nations Development Fund for Women, only 2.4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements are women and no woman has ever been appointed as a chief mediator.

Thus our efforts to guarantee the full and equal participation of women — as well-intentioned as they may have been — have clearly been insufficient. We hope that the input given during this debate today will lead, nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), to significant improvements.

Some years ago, the Liechtenstein delegation headed a group of like-minded ambassadors aimed at increasing the presence of women in positions such as special envoys and special representatives in particular. The success of this cooperation with the then Secretary-General was very modest, despite regular expressions of good intentions.

Member States and the relevant intergovernmental bodies must pursue strategies to ensure an increase in women's participation in peace negotiations and mediation, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction. That would strengthen the perception that women are stakeholders — as opposed to mere victims or aid recipients. e welcome the efforts of the Secretary- General to appoint more women to senior positions in general, in particular in field missions, and we see those efforts as a personal commitment on his part.

In preparation for the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), we need concrete action. Hence, we welcome the establishment of a United Nations steering committee to enhance the visibility of and to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system regarding the preparations for the anniversary. Liechtenstein, for its part, will support the project of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, launched by Switzerland and to be supported, it is hoped, by other Member States, which will produce in time for the anniversary a report that provides a substantive overview of the work of the Council. That report will demonstrate both the achievements and the remaining gaps and challenges, and we hope that it can also serve as a model for implementation in other areas.

Likewise, equally strong measures are needed to increase the participation of women in post-conflict recovery efforts and peace processes, since that would increase the effectiveness of such efforts. Indeed, we should not forget that women in post-conflict countries are not merely victims of war, but also agents of change towards modernization and transformation, making immense contributions to sustainable peace and prosperity.

That is why Turkey has given its strong support to projects aimed at ensuring increased participation by women in all areas of social and political life. In other words, we believe that the empowerment of women in its entirety should be at the core of all our efforts. In that respect, let me cite our approach in Afghanistan. We continue to support various programmes devoted to empowering women in politics and governance, while undertaking many other projects aimed at providing equal and modern education opportunities to girls.

We welcome the considerable progress that has been made in strengthening the protection pillar of resolution 1325 (2000) with the adoption of resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence, as well as resolution 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict. Let me express our hope for a quick appointment of the special representative requested in resolution 1888 (2009). It is our understanding that this new special representative to address sexual violence in armed conflict will fully take into account the important aspects of prevention on the one hand, and women's participation, on the other, when carrying out his or her mandate.

Austria will continue to advocate for an increase in the number of women appointed to senior United Nations positions both at Headquarters and, in particular, in field missions. We highly welcome the efforts of the Secretary-General in this regard. Having three female special representatives and six deputy special representatives serving in missions in various conflict areas is already a major step ahead. We hope to see this positive trend continue and urge all special representatives and envoys to make full use of the potential of women in peace processes, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

For example, mindful of the particular needs of women at the local level, we are promoting the establishment and enhancement of women's community councils, which are spaces for discussion in departments and municipalities, created to increase their participation and increase the visibility of the role that they play in development in their regions. This tool links women to the Government's policies and programmes, promotes development with gender equity and encourages or strengthens gender mainstreaming processes at the regional level.

In that connection, we are advancing the rural women's agenda, which includes actions to enhance respect for and guarantee the effective enjoyment of rural women's rights. The Office of the Adviser on Women's Equality, a governmental entity, has launched a project to increase the visibility of and enhance the situation of indigenous women, young women and girls, as part of the policy entitled “Women: Builders of Peace and Development”. To that end, three regional laboratories and a central forum have been established to create spaces for dialogue and raise awareness about the importance of the efforts being made by women in their communities. The space created for dialogue between the Office of the Adviser and the indigenous women participating in the three laboratories is contributing to the development of a joint programme of work that includes efforts being made by women in their own areas. The goal is to develop an affirmative action plan for indigenous peoples, with an emphasis on women.

That link between the impact of war on women and the possibility of using the potential of women in peace negotiations and reconstruction is precisely what we must focus on in our implementation of the resolution. Resolution 1325 (2000) is the very backbone of Security Council resolutions on women and peace and security, highlighting the necessity of addressing the issue of women as peacebuilders as well as victims of war. Women's empowerment and respect for women's rights are among the prerequisites for sustainable peace and stable, democratic development.

Let me highlight three key areas for future work in this field. First, we must work to achieve greater active participation of women in peacebuilding and reconstruction. Secondly, we must enhance recognition of the special needs and rights of women and girls before, during and after armed conflict. Thirdly, we must provide for the protection of girls and women against violence, including gender-based violence such as rape and sexual abuse, and we must end impunity for gender-related crimes. Allow me in this respect to take this opportunity to welcome the Council's adoption last week of resolution 1888 (2009), which Denmark co-sponsored.

These three objectives are also those that Denmark is prioritizing in its new national action plan for implementing resolution 1325 (2000). In order to be able to monitor progress, we have developed indicators for each objective. Last year, Denmark revised its national action plan. The new plan for 2008- 2013 is based on experience from our first plan. Among the lessons learned is that we need to ensure the full cooperation of all stakeholders in the peacekeeping and security processes, in all phases and at all levels. In the new Danish plan, a stronger emphasis is placed on using the untapped potential of women and on involving them actively and on an equal basis in peacebuilding processes and decision-making at all levels and with a focus on visibility at the country level.

Denmark fully agrees with the recommendations of the Secretary-General on ensuring accountability. We also emphasize the stated need for concerted efforts to collect data. At the end of the day, it is results that count. It is the responsibility of the United Nations system, as well as of national Governments, to increase the visibility of the results of initiatives undertaken to ensure that the resolution has a genuine impact on the role and status of girls and women in conflict. We hope that we will soon come much closer to full and equal participation of women in peace processes, at all levels of negotiation and decision- making, and that we can not only effectively protect the rights of women but also dramatically reduce and eventually eliminate sexual violence. We have cases that show that progress is possible. Rwanda is an excellent example of how a country can emerge successfully from conflict when women enjoy equal rights and decision-making power. Resolution 1325 (2000), if and when it is effectively implemented in other conflict situations, can provide similar, positive results.

However, as the Secretary-General's report notes and as the distinguished speakers before me have also remarked today, much work remains to be done to achieve implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We note with concern that significant progress is still needed to ensure the equal and substantive participation of women at all levels in peace and security decision-making, particularly in negotiations in post-conflict situations. And we are deeply concerned that peace agreement negotiations and planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration continue to take place with little consideration of resolution 1325 (2000).

But even women who have been violated have a voice. These are not merely voices of victims, but voices of citizens who want to contribute directly to conflict prevention, the maintenance of peace and post- conflict reconstruction in their countries. That is the second dimension: the empowerment of women in matters of peace and war.

We therefore welcome resolution 1888 (2009), which the Council adopted last week, as well as resolution 1889 (2009), which was adopted today and which the Netherlands would have wished to sponsor. That is because those resolutions give women more of a voice in these matters — for example, through the country reports to the Security Council. They also give us new tools, such as the set of indicators that the Secretary-General is requested to submit for use at the global level to track implementation. These can be very useful for monitoring progress and for results-oriented planning.

Furthermore, we welcome the fact that, in the resolution adopted this morning, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Support Office are encouraged to systematically include women in peacebuilding efforts and to improve the participation of women in political and economic decision-making from the earliest stages of the peacebuilding process. But enhancing the role of women in matters of peace and war is not limited in its impact to countries in which conflicts take place or have taken place, it also has consequences for the other Members of the United Nations.

This also implies working closely with civil society in our countries, as we are doing in the Netherlands. We have had a very positive experience in working together with non-governmental organizations, both in developing and implementing and monitoring our national action plan.

We are concerned that despite several measures being undertaken in response to resolution 1325 (2000), progress in implementing it is still limited, and women and girls continue to suffer the brunt of war, particularly the devastating effects of sexual and gender-based violence. It is our expectation that the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General, as provided for in Security Council resolution 1888 (2009), will add impetus to the United Nations work in fighting the horrendous acts of violence committed against women and girls, as well as boys. We also expect that the appointment of the special representative will not shift resources from a holistic approach to the issue of women and peace and security, one of participation, protection and prevention. We deeply deplore the use of sex as a weapon of war and call for concerted efforts to end impunity.

Women's involvement is necessary to ensure the legitimacy of the decision-making process, to encourage a broad base of participation, to make sustainable peace and development possible and to protect women and girls. The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), as well as of subsequent resolutions on women and peace and security, is a necessary tool for promoting the involvement of women. We also wish to underscore that we can produce a positive impact on the lives of women and children by implementing these resolutions in tandem with the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The United Nations must set an example in its advocacy of women's participation by the appointment of more women to senior leadership positions in the Organization, including in areas dealing with conflict resolution and peacebuilding. At the grass-roots level, we need to address the causes of the lack of women's participation in peace processes, and to empower women's groups socially, politically and economically. We further recommend that Security Council members meet with local women's groups during all missions that the Council undertakes.

The participation of women in post-conflict peacebuilding processes can be analyzed from the standpoint both of the United Nations system and of the State. In the first case, it is essential to address the issue of gender from the planning stage of activities in the field and to sustain it in all phases of reconstruction and peacebuilding. To that end, it is necessary to improve the information systems of the various United Nations agencies and programmes so as to have a full understanding of the situation of women in a given place. At the same time, the cooperation of Member States is required in order to increase the participation of women in the field as civilian, military or police personnel.

From the viewpoint of the State, it is important that the role of women in post-conflict reconstruction activities be incorporated into national implementation plans for resolution 1325 (2000). That involves not only the deployment of a larger number of women in the field, but also acknowledgement of the effective role that women can perform in all stages of that process, including as mediators in peace processes. The empowerment of women is fundamental to increasing their participation in reconstruction. The new institutions should take into account the interests and needs of women, and ensure their access to all entities that guarantee the enjoyment of their rights. However, at the same time, it is necessary to invest in the education and training of women so that they can play a role in the institutions thus established. That is particularly important in the case of political parties, electoral processes, judicial systems and security institutions.

The role of troop-contributing countries in that task is very important; in conjunction with the various United Nations programmes and agencies, those countries are in a position to advance joint initiatives to improve the lives of the women in missions in which they participate. Thus, for example, together with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Argentina is currently organizing a workshop on gender and human rights aimed at raising the gender awareness of the Haitian authorities and people.

The emergence of extremist groups in a number of areas and the adoption of legislation legitimizing discriminatory practices restrict women's full enjoyment of their rights. Refugee camps and camps for internally displaced persons, where they exist, sometimes become zones of insecurity for women, instead of serving as the islands of relative tranquility they are supposed to be. We cannot deny that women's and girls' access to access health services and education is weak, or ignore the difficulties they experience in seeking to benefit from judicial mechanisms, all of which favour the entrenchment of impunity. Furthermore, women's participation in the negotiation of peace agreements remains weak, thus preventing their specific needs from being taken adequately into account.

Peacebuilding is first and foremost a responsibility and a challenge that fall to States. In countries emerging from conflict situations, priorities are numerous and all are urgent. In such a context, the situation of women and girls must be an absolute priority. We must first ensure the establishment of an adequate legislative, regulatory and judicial framework for addressing the violation of women's rights and the fight against impunity, while restoring and making accessible health services and psychological care. Awareness-raising and the training of parties regarding their obligations, as well as the creation of special community programmes, will help to overcome socio- cultural inertia and other obstacles to the empowerment of women. The systematic inclusion of the gender issue in security sector and justice reform is also a necessity.

Thus, ceasefire and peace agreements, as well as disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion programmes, must fully incorporate the specific needs of women and girls. Who better than women themselves to plead this cause? We must therefore guarantee their effective participation in all stages of the peace process. To that end and to enable them, where appropriate, to have the necessary tools at hand, peacetime national policies must incorporate the training of women in negotiation and mediation techniques and the peaceful settlement of disputes. In the long term and given the reality of the growing feminization of poverty and social and economic inequality, there is a need to provide greater opportunities in the education of girls, livelihood training and job creation for women, including former combatants. Overall, States must take ownership of the concept of women and peace and security. The adoption of action plans towards the improved implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) at the national level is crucial in that respect.

As to the specific issue of sexual violence, my delegation welcomes the recent adoptions of resolutions 1882 (2009) and 1888 (2009), which provide for the strengthened implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). The Council should continue to call for increased female participation in contingents, for the appointment of more women as mediators, special envoys and special representatives, and for the inclusion in reports of more information on the particular needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations. We cherish the hope that the establishment of the composite gender entity by the General Assembly will add momentum to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). None these actions, however, will be viable if they are not backed by human capacity-building and adequate financing. The commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) should offer us all an opportunity to reiterate our firm commitment and genuine political will to contribute to the emancipation of women in general and the effective liberation of those who, often the innocent victims of conflict, must also endure the harsh conditions of personal rehabilitation and national reconciliation.

I might begin with a personal recollection. Almost 17 years ago, in December 1992, I went to the former Yugoslavia as a member of the EU mission to investigate the rape of women during the Balkan conflict. The experience left a deep imprint on all who participated. It was the end of any illusion that barbarity is confined to faraway places. There, in the heart of Europe on the threshold of the twenty-first century, rape was once again an instrument of war. In an article written with a colleague after that mission, we discussed a number of aspects of what had happened. We included the following point: “A distribution of roles whereby men negotiate peace in Geneva while women devise aid programmes for victims is fundamentally unacceptable.”

Overall, the Secretary-General's report (S/2009/465) makes for sober reading. There are some bright spots, in particular on the training front, and all successes deserve recognition and commendation. But the statistics — to take just one example, only 2.4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements since 1992 have been women — tell their own story.

Women and girls are often the primary victims of conflict and have specific needs in post-conflict situations, especially when they have been displaced, are refugees, or have been mistreated or maimed by anti-personnel landmines, as so rightly noted by Ms. Alberdi this morning. Those specific needs must be taken into account in assessing countries' requirements as they emerge permanently from conflict. In post-conflict situations, women must become important engines for peace and security in their communities. It is indeed critical that women be more involved in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts at all levels. The involvement of women in decision-making processes from the start should subsequently provide for their better participation in development efforts.

Luxembourg also stresses the important role that the Peacebuilding Commission could play in encouraging all parties, including States on its agenda, to provide for the participation of women in their peacebuilding strategies and to ensure that women's civil society organizations be effectively consulted and represented in country-specific configurations. We could also ensure that the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council launch a dialogue on the best way to address the negative impacts of conflict on women and consider how to involve women in full participation in peacebuilding efforts and post-conflict reconstruction.

My country strives for the systematic incorporation of the gender dimension in its cooperation projects in order to better to respond to the Millennium Development Goals, and fully backs the peace initiatives taken by local women's groups and the exhaustive work of non-governmental organizations to ensure the equal participation of women in post-conflict situations. We welcome the participation in this debate of the representative of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.

We are currently conducting field consultations for a National Action Plan on Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) in various regions of the Philippines. These consultations will culminate in a national consultation in Manila on 19 October 2009. The Philippine Action Plan on resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) will be the blueprint that various stakeholders will use to ensure that women are able to participate meaningfully in all peace processes and in decision-making on peace and security issues in both the formal and the informal realms.

It took a whole nine years after the passage of the landmark resolution 1325 (2000) for the Council to request a study on women's participation and inclusion in peacebuilding in the aftermath of a conflict. My delegation believes that such a report is long overdue and should therefore be given the promptest attention, if the United Nations is to urgently address the situation of the millions of women affected by the ravages of war.

Further, and perhaps most importantly, Afghan women now play an active role in the socio-political life of Afghanistan. Women have been appointed to high governmental posts and comprise a guaranteed percentage of representation in local and national governing bodies alike. In the most recent election, women ran for positions in provincial councils in greater numbers than ever before, and there were even two female candidates for President. More than 60,000 women were trained and volunteered as observers, poll workers and ballot counters. And, despite the increasingly turbulent security situation, more than 2 million women across the country came out to vote. Despite these positive developments, Afghan women do not enjoy the freedom and security they deserve. In order to fully satisfy our promise to the women of Afghanistan, we need to understand the roots of the problems as well as the situations today that frustrate our efforts.

The Government of Afghanistan is committed to representing the interests of all Afghans, male and female, young and old. We are encouraging Afghan women to take a proactive and vocal role in their future, as that is essential to re-weaving the economic, social and political fabric of Afghanistan. Above all, in our political pursuit of national reconciliation, we must not break the promise that we made to ourselves and to Afghan women in 2001. We cannot betray women's rights and security in exchange for a shallow peace in Afghanistan, because, in doing so, we would betray our own hope for a stable future. Instead, we must unite around the ideal of equal justice and rights for all.

We align ourselves with the statement to be delivered later by the representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union. Here, I shall make additional remarks in my national capacity. Almost a decade has passed since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). We have witnessed much progress in the area of the empowerment of women. Women have been trained in leadership, and there has been an increase in the number of female peacekeeping personnel. The Security Council has, for its part, contributed to significant advancements on the issues of women and children that are on its agenda. It has adopted resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence in armed conflict, under the umbrella issue of women and peace and security, as well as resolution 1882 (2009) that addresses, among other matters, the problem of sexual violence against girls.

These commitments are commendable, but we are of the belief that putting words into action is the only way that we can approach the resolution of remaining issues. And those issues are many. As many situations on the agenda of the Security Council have shown, women still have a long way to go in order to fulfill the empowerment goals as well as to fully realize their human rights, not only in armed conflict but in times of peace as well. Women still do not enjoy equal participation or full involvement in mediation and negotiation processes. Nor have they participated equally in post-conflict reconstruction processes. Notwithstanding these shortfalls, what concerns us most is the telling failure that women and girls are still not guaranteed safety even in camps for refugees and internally displaced persons.

As reported by UNIFEM, there is a substantial gap in financing women's needs in post-conflict situations. How did that happen? The answer is clear: women have not been included from the very beginning of peace processes, especially in peace negotiations. It is essential that we reach the goal of having at least 30 per cent of the members of the official negotiating delegations whom we appoint be women, so that the needs of women in post-conflict peacebuilding are recognized and are addressed from the very beginning.

Women are not only victims of conflicts but powerful agents for peace and security. Therefore, the empowerment of women to fulfil this potential is of the utmost importance. The system of granting microcredits to women has proved successful within the context of development cooperation. Empowering women would also help in security sector reform as well as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes. Women need to be included in peace negotiations and in decision-making processes for rebuilding countries and societies after they have been torn apart by war. Only by including the gender perspective in these efforts can a thorough, sustainable and all-inclusive peace be achieved.

What can Member States do? I will give the Council just a few examples. Germany has advocated the inclusion of gender advisers in all European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) missions. The mission of the European Union-led peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had, for the first time, such an adviser among its personnel. During Germany's presidency, gender advisers were part of all ESDP missions. Also, the deployment of female soldiers enhanced the success of operations. For example, the presence of female soldiers to check women and children at checkpoints proved to de-escalate the situation on the ground. In Cambodia, Germany supports a project of the Ministry of Women's and Veteran's Affairs that focuses on capacity-building and gender mainstreaming. Finally, all German police and military personnel must undergo gender training.

Almost nine years have passed since the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000), during which it also adopted several resolutions and presidential statements on the protection of women during and after armed conflict, their participation in the prevention of conflict and post-conflict decision-making and their role in the economic and social spheres. However, we are still far from reaching the desired goals. Every field report and all the data indicate that women and children are increasingly the main victims of conflict, often being the main targets of combatants and armed groups who deliberately subject them to various forms of aggression, human rights violations and forced displacement. Unfortunately, those practices often continue after the end of conflict.

We strongly condemn the plethora of ongoing rampant acts of violence and aggression against women and girls during and after armed conflict, including those taking place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and other regions. Libya would also like to underscore the importance of promoting the role of women in the political, social and economic spheres during peacetime, as women are the main guarantors in preventing the outbreak of conflict, anarchy and insecurity and the ensuing crimes and human rights violations.

Libya has therefore launched several initiatives to empower women and enhance their role in African countries. In cooperation with Nigeria and Cuba, we have established a South-South health-care programme. In 2006, we launched the Al-Qadhafi programme for African youth, women and children, which places particular emphasis on health care, education, vocational training and human rights. Based on our belief in the important role of women in civic peace and development, our laws provide for full equality between men and women. Women in Libya face no obstacle to being legally employed, and Libyan women serve in senior posts in the army, police and judicial system.

In 2004, the African Union adopted an action plan at Ouagadougou that gave special priority to the empowerment of women, their access to the workplace, their effective participation in the adoption of poverty- reduction strategies, the mainstreaming of gender issues in all poverty-reduction programmes and policies and the promotion of employment and equal opportunities for men and women in the area of employment. That plan included the following proposals for implementation. First, women should be encouraged to participate in free enterprise activities through the provision of primary skills training and by increasing their access to credit and capital. Secondly, a culture of free enterprise should be supported by providing assistance to women entrepreneurs. Thirdly, support should be mobilized for the implementation of legislation that provides for equal rights between men and women with respect to land ownership, including guarantees for women's rights to credit, inheritance and ownership, counselling and services.

During the past year much thought has been given in the Security Council to the issue of women and peace and security. We responded to gender concerns through resolution 1820 (2008) last year. The recently adopted resolution 1888 (2009) and resolution 1889 (2009), adopted today, all contribute to strengthening a process that began with the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). That resolution pioneered the recognition of the needs of women as victims of conflict and of the role they can play as protagonists in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Despite these efforts, women's participation remains marginal, as pointed out by the Secretary- General in his report (S/2009/465). Resolution 1325 (2000) paved the way for future developments. Its broad scope is one of its main strengths, but it has also made it more difficult to address some key challenges effectively. Its weak implementation framework and the absence of adequate follow-up mechanisms has limited progress and made it slow and uneven.

In order to re-energize its implementation, we still need to consolidate a global strategy with clear targets and adequate benchmarks for measuring progress. In this regard, resolution 1889 (2009), adopted today, calls for greater empowerment of women in the evaluation of needs and in planning in post-conflict situations. That is certainly a step in the right direction.

As highlighted in the Secretary-General's report, and as reflected in the text of this new resolution, we need to promote a multisectoral and, above all, inclusive approach. In addition to enhancing the gender perspective in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, women's participation in the international community's efforts should be strengthened, especially in the areas of prevention and protection. In this regard, my delegation supports the appeal to the Secretary-General to design a strategy that includes a more equitable representation of women in decision-making posts as special representatives, special envoys and heads of mission, among other positions. My delegation also supports the concept of complementing the Security Council's response with measures to increase women's access to justice, health, education and social protection, especially for survivors of abuse and exploitation.

The fight against sexual violence is one thing; the broader question of the role of women and their place in peace negotiations, peacebuilding and reconstruction processes is quite another. Resolution 1325 (2000) is and must remain, in our view, the key instrument guiding our actions in this area. However, as far as the implementation of this resolution goes — excuse me for speaking frankly, Mr. President — the international community really has nothing to be proud of. We must keep our eyes on the bigger picture.

What can we do in one year? Probably a great deal more than we imagine. First, several essential measures can be taken easily, almost overnight, and at very little cost to the United Nations. Such measures might include, for example, increasing the number of women in United Nations mediation teams and in particular the appointment of a female chief negotiator. Similarly, a gender adviser should be appointed in the Department of Political Affairs.

As we know, the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations are unique and, sadly, often overlooked. Today's adoption of resolution 1889 (2009) is a response to a significant body of research findings that reinforce what we have always known — achieving durable peace, recovery and development in post-conflict countries requires the meaningful participation of women in all aspects and at all levels of peace processes. Only a strong and sustained voice will allow women in post-conflict environments to transcend the status of victim and become empowered as agents of positive change. We call on the Security Council to ensure that their voices are heard loud and clear.

In particular, Canada would like to draw the Council's attention to the participation of women in peace processes and to a study by the United Nations Development Fund for Women, which has already been referred to today, concluding that the participation of women in negotiating delegations to peace talks has averaged approximately 7 per cent. Member States, the Secretariat and international peace mediators collectively share the responsibility to ensure that this number increases and that we systematically include women in all peace processes, formal and informal. Canada sincerely hopes that the Security Council and the Secretariat will ensure that this becomes a standard practice.

Canada also warmly welcomes the recommendations set out in the Secretary-General's recent report (S/2009/465) on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). In particular, Canada would like to echo the Secretary-General's calls for an effective monitoring and accountability mechanism with respect to all aspects of resolution 1325 (2000), in particular the participation of women in peace processes.

The second point concerns the persistent lack of participation by women throughout the peace process, which is a core element of resolution 1325 (2000). As the Secretary-General's report expresses, a persistent cause of concern is that women continue to be virtually absent from the peace table and to be severely underrepresented as third-party mediators in most conflict-affected countries. It should be duly noted that since 1992, only 2.4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements were women and that no woman has ever been appointed as a chief mediator.

The Republic of Korea urges Member States and the Untied Nations to take more vigorous initiatives to ensure that women are engaged in all levels of decision-making. In that regard, we commend Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's response to the call in resolution 1325 (2000) to increase the number of women in senior positions within the United Nations, especially in peacekeeping operations. It is encouraging to see three women heads of mission, six women deputies in the field and five female under- secretaries-general and assistant secretaries-general in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. We encourage the Secretary-General to further strengthen this positive trend, and we hope that his efforts are emulated in peace negotiations and reconstruction processes at the country level by ensuring the full participation of women.

Subregionally, gender equality and the empowerment of women are among the founding principles of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and are enshrined in the SADC Treaty. We have been greatly honoured by the leadership and important contribution of women in recent peace processes and negotiations in our region. On 17 August 2008, the SADC heads of State signed the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, which has been hailed as an important step towards the empowerment of women, the elimination of discrimination and the achievement of gender equality and equity.

To that end, we believe it important for women in local communities to be allowed to participate in finding solutions for the reconstruction and rebuilding of their countries. The importance of equal representation and participation of women in formal peace processes and at negotiating tables cannot be overemphasized.

The primary responsibility for preventing and protecting women and girls in conflict situations and their aftermath should not lie with the international community alone. That would assist in promoting local ownership in peace processes. South Africa remains committed to the full and effective implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009). We in the international community have an obligation to women to ensure that their rights are protected and that their place in all aspects of the peace process is assured.

It is for this reason that Uganda remains concerned that the contribution of women to peacebuilding is far from satisfactory, which can be attributed to their being excluded from the decision- making process on the one hand and, on the other, to inadequate financing of their requirements. This, in the long run, compromises efforts to attain sustainable peace and security.

We believe that the Security Council has a special responsibility to support women's participation in peace processes by ensuring appropriate gender balance in United Nations peacekeeping missions. We welcome the fact that the Council has already recognized the important role of women in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding and has emphasized the importance of promoting an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes when addressing armed or other conflicts.

At the same time, women are still underrepresented in decision-making with regard to conflict. Their initiatives and visions for peace and security are rarely heard during peace negotiations. In this regard, I would like to stress that women should not be viewed primarily as victims of armed conflict; the international community should use the potential of women as agents of preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

Being an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping efforts, Ukraine has for years been contributing women civilian police and military observers to United Nations peacekeeping missions. We reiterate our readiness to continue working constructively with other Members States in order to ensure the protection of women in armed conflicts and women's participation in peace processes.

After a violent conflict, women are often the best experts in identifying the most crucial needs of their communities. Their experience, knowledge and determination are needed for the markets to start buzzing with life again, for the children to go to school and for the community to heal. Yet, women are still too often left out of the peace negotiations and the following processes where priorities and budgets for early recovery and peacebuilding are planned and decided upon. Finland emphasizes the right of women to fully participate in post-conflict peacebuilding.

We do not only need to make sure that we have women present at the table at all levels of decision- making. We should consider working towards agreeing on international standards regarding participation of women and men in peace and post-conflict processes. We also need to make sure that women can fully use their potential, skills and leadership to foster quick and sustainable recovery and peacebuilding. To that end, Finland, together with Liberia, convened the International Colloquium for Women's Empowerment, Leadership, Development and International Peace and Security in Monrovia last March.

The United Nations plays a unique role in conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. However, during the 60 years of United Nations peacekeeping, no more than seven women have served as Special Representatives of the Secretary-General in the field. No woman has ever been nominated as a lead mediator in a peace process led by the United Nations. This has to change. We, the United Nations Member States, need to ensure that the change takes place.

We urge the United Nations to lead by example. We commend the Secretary-General for his efforts to increase the number of women in senior leadership positions, and we encourage him to break even more ground in the years to come. We welcome the call, in the resolution just adopted, to the Secretary-General to develop a strategy to that end. The Secretary General should ensure that all his envoys and representatives include women in all formal peace processes they lead. They should actively seek the views of women also outside of the formal negotiations. Furthermore, we encourage the United Nations, together with the World Bank and relevant regional organizations, to include a requirement for women's participation in the standards of post-conflict needs assessments and to track gender- specific budget allocations.

Iceland maintains a strong commitment to resolution 1325 (2000), being one of the few countries that have adopted a national action plan pursuant to the resolution. The Icelandic Government has decided to focus its work related to resolution 1325 (2000) on post-conflict reconstruction and women's access to peace negotiations, being convinced that the inclusion of women in peace processes is a security issue essential to sustainable peace.

Last summer, Iceland organized an international conference on resolution 1325 (2000), entitled “Women Negotiating Peace”, which highlighted how best to ensure that women are included in formal and informal peace processes. Allow me to contribute to this discussion by recapitulating some of the main issues addressed at the Reykjavik conference. Four themes were predominant.

Thirdly, there was a strong call to the United Nations system and Member States to use the tenth anniversary as an impetus to get serious about implementation. The Secretary-General should insist on accountability for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) by the United Nations system. To increase the focus on results, the High-level Steering Group chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General, should focus on the implementation of 1325 (2000). More women should be appointed as special representatives and envoys of the Secretary-General, and gender advisers should be accorded a higher status to ensure that gender mainstreaming does not become sidetracked.

Nonetheless, our strategies ultimately must not merely treat women and girls as victims; they should also be a central part of peace agreements. Women are key partners in the post-conflict transformation process. Women should be enabled and empowered to play an active role in the many spheres of post-conflict life beyond earning livelihoods by also participating in political and peacebuilding processes. That should be promoted in a systematic way.

During our deliberations on this issue last year, Indonesia recognized the need to facilitate the full and effective participation of women in all stages of peace processes and peacebuilding. Indonesia supports more women playing key roles in peacekeeping missions, including as military and police personnel. For its part, Indonesia has sent female personnel as military observers, staff officers and members of our contingents in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Security Council, in accordance with its mandate should continue to address the root cause of violence against women in armed conflict. At the same time, the role of women should continue to be promoted in sustaining peace following conflict. For those reasons, Indonesia very much welcomes the Council's adoption of resolution 1889 (2009) earlier today.

First, it is vitally important to ensure that women's perspectives and the particular needs of women and girls are reflected at every stage of the peace process. We need to promote the full and equal engagement of women from the earliest stages of the process of peace negotiations and peacebuilding, because that is the most effective way to prevent the recurrence of conflict.

We are also encouraged by the commitment of the Secretary-General to increase the number of women in decision-making positions, as confirmed by the Deputy Secretary-General this morning. We urge other heads of international organizations and regional organizations to do the same and appoint more women as high-level mediators and members of negotiating teams. Secondly, we must extend support to women suffering from the consequences of conflict by working to provide them with greater physical security. The Security Council has mandated many United Nations peacekeeping operations to respond to violence against civilians, but the Council has not fully succeeded in meeting the high expectations.

Mr. Wenaweser (Liechtenstein): I thank you, Sir, for presiding over the meeting today and your delegation for organizing this open debate with a focus on post-conflict situations. As a strong supporter of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), Liechtenstein agrees with the assessment reflected in the concept paper prepared by your delegation (S/2009/490) that much has been achieved but that enormous challenges remain. Nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the participation of women in conflict resolution, in particular in formal peace processes, is still little more than rhetoric and their protection from violent crimes is still elusive.

Resolution 1325 (2000) calls for an increase in the participation of women at decision-making levels in conflict resolution and peace processes. According to data made available to the Council by the United Nations Development Fund for Women, only 2.4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements are women and no woman has ever been appointed as a chief mediator.

Member States and the relevant intergovernmental bodies must pursue strategies to ensure an increase in women's participation in peace negotiations and mediation, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction. That would strengthen the perception that women are stakeholders — as opposed to mere victims or aid recipients. e welcome the efforts of the Secretary- General to appoint more women to senior positions in general, in particular in field missions, and we see those efforts as a personal commitment on his part.

Likewise, equally strong measures are needed to increase the participation of women in post-conflict recovery efforts and peace processes, since that would increase the effectiveness of such efforts. Indeed, we should not forget that women in post-conflict countries are not merely victims of war, but also agents of change towards modernization and transformation, making immense contributions to sustainable peace and prosperity.

Austria will continue to advocate for an increase in the number of women appointed to senior United Nations positions both at Headquarters and, in particular, in field missions. We highly welcome the efforts of the Secretary-General in this regard. Having three female special representatives and six deputy special representatives serving in missions in various conflict areas is already a major step ahead. We hope to see this positive trend continue and urge all special representatives and envoys to make full use of the potential of women in peace processes, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

Denmark fully agrees with the recommendations of the Secretary-General on ensuring accountability. We also emphasize the stated need for concerted efforts to collect data. At the end of the day, it is results that count. It is the responsibility of the United Nations system, as well as of national Governments, to increase the visibility of the results of initiatives undertaken to ensure that the resolution has a genuine impact on the role and status of girls and women in conflict. We hope that we will soon come much closer to full and equal participation of women in peace processes, at all levels of negotiation and decision- making, and that we can not only effectively protect the rights of women but also dramatically reduce and eventually eliminate sexual violence. We have cases that show that progress is possible. Rwanda is an excellent example of how a country can emerge successfully from conflict when women enjoy equal rights and decision-making power. Resolution 1325 (2000), if and when it is effectively implemented in other conflict situations, can provide similar, positive results.

Furthermore, we welcome the fact that, in the resolution adopted this morning, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Support Office are encouraged to systematically include women in peacebuilding efforts and to improve the participation of women in political and economic decision-making from the earliest stages of the peacebuilding process. But enhancing the role of women in matters of peace and war is not limited in its impact to countries in which conflicts take place or have taken place, it also has consequences for the other Members of the United Nations.

The United Nations must set an example in its advocacy of women's participation by the appointment of more women to senior leadership positions in the Organization, including in areas dealing with conflict resolution and peacebuilding. At the grass-roots level, we need to address the causes of the lack of women's participation in peace processes, and to empower women's groups socially, politically and economically. We further recommend that Security Council members meet with local women's groups during all missions that the Council undertakes.

From the viewpoint of the State, it is important that the role of women in post-conflict reconstruction activities be incorporated into national implementation plans for resolution 1325 (2000). That involves not only the deployment of a larger number of women in the field, but also acknowledgement of the effective role that women can perform in all stages of that process, including as mediators in peace processes. The empowerment of women is fundamental to increasing their participation in reconstruction. The new institutions should take into account the interests and needs of women, and ensure their access to all entities that guarantee the enjoyment of their rights. However, at the same time, it is necessary to invest in the education and training of women so that they can play a role in the institutions thus established. That is particularly important in the case of political parties, electoral processes, judicial systems and security institutions.

The emergence of extremist groups in a number of areas and the adoption of legislation legitimizing discriminatory practices restrict women's full enjoyment of their rights. Refugee camps and camps for internally displaced persons, where they exist, sometimes become zones of insecurity for women, instead of serving as the islands of relative tranquility they are supposed to be. We cannot deny that women's and girls' access to access health services and education is weak, or ignore the difficulties they experience in seeking to benefit from judicial mechanisms, all of which favour the entrenchment of impunity. Furthermore, women's participation in the negotiation of peace agreements remains weak, thus preventing their specific needs from being taken adequately into account.

Thus, ceasefire and peace agreements, as well as disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion programmes, must fully incorporate the specific needs of women and girls. Who better than women themselves to plead this cause? We must therefore guarantee their effective participation in all stages of the peace process. To that end and to enable them, where appropriate, to have the necessary tools at hand, peacetime national policies must incorporate the training of women in negotiation and mediation techniques and the peaceful settlement of disputes. In the long term and given the reality of the growing feminization of poverty and social and economic inequality, there is a need to provide greater opportunities in the education of girls, livelihood training and job creation for women, including former combatants. Overall, States must take ownership of the concept of women and peace and security. The adoption of action plans towards the improved implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) at the national level is crucial in that respect.

As to the specific issue of sexual violence, my delegation welcomes the recent adoptions of resolutions 1882 (2009) and 1888 (2009), which provide for the strengthened implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). The Council should continue to call for increased female participation in contingents, for the appointment of more women as mediators, special envoys and special representatives, and for the inclusion in reports of more information on the particular needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations. We cherish the hope that the establishment of the composite gender entity by the General Assembly will add momentum to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). None these actions, however, will be viable if they are not backed by human capacity-building and adequate financing. The commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) should offer us all an opportunity to reiterate our firm commitment and genuine political will to contribute to the emancipation of women in general and the effective liberation of those who, often the innocent victims of conflict, must also endure the harsh conditions of personal rehabilitation and national reconciliation.

I might begin with a personal recollection. Almost 17 years ago, in December 1992, I went to the former Yugoslavia as a member of the EU mission to investigate the rape of women during the Balkan conflict. The experience left a deep imprint on all who participated. It was the end of any illusion that barbarity is confined to faraway places. There, in the heart of Europe on the threshold of the twenty-first century, rape was once again an instrument of war. In an article written with a colleague after that mission, we discussed a number of aspects of what had happened. We included the following point: “A distribution of roles whereby men negotiate peace in Geneva while women devise aid programmes for victims is fundamentally unacceptable.”

Overall, the Secretary-General's report (S/2009/465) makes for sober reading. There are some bright spots, in particular on the training front, and all successes deserve recognition and commendation. But the statistics — to take just one example, only 2.4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements since 1992 have been women — tell their own story.

Generally speaking, Luxembourg fully endorses the Secretary-General's recommendations in his report (S/2009/465) on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). My country especially welcomes the recommendation that the Security Council energetically pursue a strategy aimed at increasing the participation of women in all peace processes, especially within the framework of peace negotiations and mediation.

We are currently conducting field consultations for a National Action Plan on Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) in various regions of the Philippines. These consultations will culminate in a national consultation in Manila on 19 October 2009. The Philippine Action Plan on resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) will be the blueprint that various stakeholders will use to ensure that women are able to participate meaningfully in all peace processes and in decision-making on peace and security issues in both the formal and the informal realms.

The enormous international efforts, including those of the United Nations, to promote the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) and of the relevant presidential statements of the Security Council have produced positive results. Of primary significance is the greater recognition that the maintenance of peace and security requires measures to meet the needs of women. It is also necessary to ensure their full and equal participation in reconciliation and negotiation processes, in all stages of peacekeeping, in the management of humanitarian aid and in post- conflict reconstruction.

These commitments are commendable, but we are of the belief that putting words into action is the only way that we can approach the resolution of remaining issues. And those issues are many. As many situations on the agenda of the Security Council have shown, women still have a long way to go in order to fulfill the empowerment goals as well as to fully realize their human rights, not only in armed conflict but in times of peace as well. Women still do not enjoy equal participation or full involvement in mediation and negotiation processes. Nor have they participated equally in post-conflict reconstruction processes. Notwithstanding these shortfalls, what concerns us most is the telling failure that women and girls are still not guaranteed safety even in camps for refugees and internally displaced persons.

As reported by UNIFEM, there is a substantial gap in financing women's needs in post-conflict situations. How did that happen? The answer is clear: women have not been included from the very beginning of peace processes, especially in peace negotiations. It is essential that we reach the goal of having at least 30 per cent of the members of the official negotiating delegations whom we appoint be women, so that the needs of women in post-conflict peacebuilding are recognized and are addressed from the very beginning.

Women are not only victims of conflicts but powerful agents for peace and security. Therefore, the empowerment of women to fulfil this potential is of the utmost importance. The system of granting microcredits to women has proved successful within the context of development cooperation. Empowering women would also help in security sector reform as well as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes. Women need to be included in peace negotiations and in decision-making processes for rebuilding countries and societies after they have been torn apart by war. Only by including the gender perspective in these efforts can a thorough, sustainable and all-inclusive peace be achieved.

The Security Council's adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) marked a milestone in acknowledging the importance of mainstreaming the gender perspective at all stages of a peace process. That resolution also reflected the Council's interest in the situation of boys and girls in armed conflict, the protection of civilians and the prevention of conflict.

Currently, there are 13 full-time gender advisers in United Nations peacekeeping operations, including integrated missions. Every United Nations mission should have a well-trained, full-time gender adviser whose work is systematically integrated throughout the operation and who has stable resources to carry out his or her functions. By now, this should be standard practice. We also welcome the call for the appointment of women protection advisers, issued in resolution 1889 (2009), adopted earlier today.

Our national plan recognizes the specific impacts of contemporary wars on the lives of women and addresses the efforts to prevent, combat and mitigate these impacts. Our plan, which will extend to 2013, is built around the objectives of strengthening women's participation and representation in all efforts to promote peace and security; promoting gender mainstreaming in the sectors of security, such as peacekeeping missions and security system reform; justice and development aid; and reinforcing the protection of women and girls in conflict and post- conflict areas.

South Africa continues to support the work of the United Nations and of the African Union in promoting the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, as well as in protecting women and girls against sexual violence. From our experience in the SADC region, we have learned that it is important to build solidarity among all role players, particularly women, and therefore we remain committed to working within a consultative and collaborative framework to find peaceful and lasting solutions to conflicts.

The primary responsibility for preventing and protecting women and girls in conflict situations and their aftermath should not lie with the international community alone. That would assist in promoting local ownership in peace processes. South Africa remains committed to the full and effective implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009). We in the international community have an obligation to women to ensure that their rights are protected and that their place in all aspects of the peace process is assured.

In conclusion, my delegation will continue to support the work of the United Nations and of the African Union in promoting the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, as well as in protecting women and girls in post-conflict situations and their aftermath.

The question before us today is a complex one. In response to the increased targeting of women and other civilians that has become a shameful instrument of contemporary warfare, the international community has done a lot, but much still remains to be done. The Security Council has adopted several resolutions on the protection of children and civilians in armed conflict, wherein it urged all parties to take special measures to protect women and girls from rape and other forms of sexual violence.

It is important that the Secretary-General's reports to the Council dealing with specific conflict situations and developments in the field also incorporate gender perspectives in addressing various aspects of conflict analysis and conflict resolution. It is also important to be sure that personnel involved in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations have appropriate training on the protection, rights and particular needs of women. Security Council resolutions setting up or extending peacekeeping operations should provide a clear mandate to address the protection of women and girls affected by conflict against all sexual violence, abduction, enforced prostitution, trafficking and threats imposed by military, paramilitary and other groups.

Nine years ago, the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000) for the protection of women, for their participation and for the promotion of their rights in conflict and post-conflict situations. Last year, the Council adopted resolution 1820 (2008), condemning sexual violence as a tactic of war, and last week it adopted resolution 1888 (2009) to further strengthen the United Nations response to sexual violence in conflict. We welcome recent developments and the resolution adopted today, resolution 1889 (2009), which draws our attention to the crucial question of women's empowerment and participation in conflict and post-conflict situations.

There is still, however, much action that can be taken by the international community to address the challenges faced by women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. We should continue to promote at all levels awareness of the Geneva Convention of 1949 on the protection of civilians. The international community should continue to devise strategies to ease the bleak and harsh reality faced every day, particularly by women and girls living in conflict and post-conflict situations.

We should also ensure that peacekeepers have adequate capacity to carry out provisions related to gender issues. Moreover, it is important that provisions on sexual violence within the mandates of peacekeeping missions be in line with other provisions, such as protection of civilians; they should be developed with a clear and comprehensive concept. Mandatory training for all peacekeeping personnel on addressing sexual violence should be continued and supported.

Even nine years after the adoption of the very important landmark resolution 1325 (2000), we cannot fail to see that many innocent women and children live under fear and want in conflict and post-conflict situations. Clearly, much remains to be done. Japan therefore welcomes today's debate and the decision of the Council to adopt resolution 1889 (2009). Today I would like to address three issues: the role of women, the protection of women and empowering women.

We are also encouraged by the commitment of the Secretary-General to increase the number of women in decision-making positions, as confirmed by the Deputy Secretary-General this morning. We urge other heads of international organizations and regional organizations to do the same and appoint more women as high-level mediators and members of negotiating teams. Secondly, we must extend support to women suffering from the consequences of conflict by working to provide them with greater physical security. The Security Council has mandated many United Nations peacekeeping operations to respond to violence against civilians, but the Council has not fully succeeded in meeting the high expectations.

The Council should continue to explore how United Nations missions can better protect women and children in conflict, with adequate resources, training and logistical support. We would like the importance of protection of women to be fully incorporated into training programmes for peacekeepers and peacebuilding experts on the ground, before they are deployed. It is important to attach higher priority to the protection of women in mission planning and to strengthen gender units through the placement of gender advisers.

Thirdly, we need to focus not only on protection but also on the empowerment of women, who could be strong promoters of the peacebuilding process. We must find a way to ensure the empowerment of women in post- conflict situations, by improving their socio-economic conditions. This can be achieved b promoting access to health services, education, vocational training, income generation activities and land and property rights. Unless we succeed in creating such conditions, I am afraid that it difficult to consolidate peace and prevent the recurrence of another conflict.

Mr. Wenaweser (Liechtenstein): I thank you, Sir, for presiding over the meeting today and your delegation for organizing this open debate with a focus on post-conflict situations. As a strong supporter of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), Liechtenstein agrees with the assessment reflected in the concept paper prepared by your delegation (S/2009/490) that much has been achieved but that enormous challenges remain. Nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the participation of women in conflict resolution, in particular in formal peace processes, is still little more than rhetoric and their protection from violent crimes is still elusive.

Ms. Alberdi and Ms. Amin for their briefings and their contributions to our debate. Since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) in 2000, there has been progress across a broad range of issues related to the protection and promotion of women's and girls' rights in conflict- affected situations, particularly in terms of raising awareness of the challenges that they face. Thanks to the efforts of the international community, a strong understanding of the need for gender equality and women's empowerment as prerequisites for international peace and security is slowly taking hold.

In the peacebuilding process, entities of the Colombian State are working together to ensure the inclusion of a gender-based perspective, as well as full participation by women in violence prevention. Furthermore, we have developed guidelines for assistance to displaced persons, taking a gender-based approach. The objective of the guidelines is to assist in consolidating public policy aimed at displaced persons, in order to provide effective assistance that meets the specific needs of women and addresses the impact of displacement on them. The guidelines were based on three guiding principles: participation, a rules-based approach and a gender-based approach. They are structured around three phases: prevention and protection, emergency humanitarian assistance, and socio-economic stabilization.

Let me highlight three key areas for future work in this field. First, we must work to achieve greater active participation of women in peacebuilding and reconstruction. Secondly, we must enhance recognition of the special needs and rights of women and girls before, during and after armed conflict. Thirdly, we must provide for the protection of girls and women against violence, including gender-based violence such as rape and sexual abuse, and we must end impunity for gender-related crimes. Allow me in this respect to take this opportunity to welcome the Council's adoption last week of resolution 1888 (2009), which Denmark co-sponsored.

We are concerned that despite several measures being undertaken in response to resolution 1325 (2000), progress in implementing it is still limited, and women and girls continue to suffer the brunt of war, particularly the devastating effects of sexual and gender-based violence. It is our expectation that the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General, as provided for in Security Council resolution 1888 (2009), will add impetus to the United Nations work in fighting the horrendous acts of violence committed against women and girls, as well as boys. We also expect that the appointment of the special representative will not shift resources from a holistic approach to the issue of women and peace and security, one of participation, protection and prevention. We deeply deplore the use of sex as a weapon of war and call for concerted efforts to end impunity.

We need to ensure the promotion and enjoyment of human rights for all people, and in particular women and girls living in situations of conflict. Access to education, health and other humanitarian assistance is a basic human right; we thus strongly condemn those parties to conflict who destroy schools, health facilities and humanitarian supplies, and those who prevent girls' and women's access to education. The Security Council must consider taking actions against such parties, including targeted sanctions, and must insist on people's unhindered access to humanitarian personnel and humanitarian assistance.

Furthermore, as part of the conflict-resolution and peacebuilding process, the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission must ensure that resources are provided to restore the rule of law and strengthen the judicial and law-enforcement systems. Mechanisms also have to be in place to take to task all those who have been involved in violations of human rights.

Mr. Matussek (Germany): Germany aligns herself with the statement made by Sweden on behalf of the European Union. As a member of the Group of Friends of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), we attach great importance to the issue of women and peace and security. I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for holding this open debate. Women and children need to be protected from violence. Every day, we bear witness to unspeakable atrocities. This is especially the case in post-conflict situations in which police protection does not exist and judicial systems lie in shatters. Institutions need to be rebuilt, but protection cannot wait until the systems are fully functional. Protection must take place from the very first minute of peacebuilding — for the benefit of the victims but also for the benefit of the whole community, since rape and sexual violence destroy the very components of societies. Thus, sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the protection of the most vulnerable, namely, women and children.

We strongly condemn the plethora of ongoing rampant acts of violence and aggression against women and girls during and after armed conflict, including those taking place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and other regions. Libya would also like to underscore the importance of promoting the role of women in the political, social and economic spheres during peacetime, as women are the main guarantors in preventing the outbreak of conflict, anarchy and insecurity and the ensuing crimes and human rights violations.

As highlighted in the Secretary-General's report, and as reflected in the text of this new resolution, we need to promote a multisectoral and, above all, inclusive approach. In addition to enhancing the gender perspective in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, women's participation in the international community's efforts should be strengthened, especially in the areas of prevention and protection. In this regard, my delegation supports the appeal to the Secretary-General to design a strategy that includes a more equitable representation of women in decision-making posts as special representatives, special envoys and heads of mission, among other positions. My delegation also supports the concept of complementing the Security Council's response with measures to increase women's access to justice, health, education and social protection, especially for survivors of abuse and exploitation.

The Security Council's adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) marked a milestone in acknowledging the importance of mainstreaming the gender perspective at all stages of a peace process. That resolution also reflected the Council's interest in the situation of boys and girls in armed conflict, the protection of civilians and the prevention of conflict.

Belgium also wishes to thank your delegation, Mr. President, for having taken the initiative to organize this very important debate. With regard to the fight against sexual violence, this past year will be a landmark in the annals of the United Nations. In just over one year, the Security Council has adopted resolution 1820 (2008), expanded the follow-up mechanisms of resolution of 1612 (2005) and recently, with the adoption of resolution 1888 (2009), provided the United Nations with practical tools to tackle sexual violence in the field.

Belgium, which had the privilege of participating in the drafting and adoption of resolution 1820 (2008) while it held a seat on the Security Council, welcomes the cohesion and vision the Council has demonstrated in this field throughout this period. We hope for the swift appointment of the new special representative of the Secretary-General on sexual violence and establishment of the team of experts called for in resolution 1888 (2009). We are ready to assist these two mechanisms in carrying out their missions.

In conclusion, with regard to developing such national action plans, Belgium wonders whether the Peacebuilding Commission could play a more significant role in the countries in which it is active. In the Central African Republic, the Commission, chaired by Belgium, has already striven as far as possible to ensure the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). It would take but a small additional effort to develop a national action plan in partnership with the national authorities, and Belgium is prepared to help.

Canada co-sponsored both resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence in conflict. Both resolutions elaborate on resolution 1325 (2000) by outlining a number of concrete steps to be taken to address sexual violence more systematically. Canada welcomes the call for the nomination of a special representative of the Secretary-General to provide strategic leadership and to strengthen United Nations coordination mechanisms in order to address sexual violence.

Currently, there are 13 full-time gender advisers in United Nations peacekeeping operations, including integrated missions. Every United Nations mission should have a well-trained, full-time gender adviser whose work is systematically integrated throughout the operation and who has stable resources to carry out his or her functions. By now, this should be standard practice. We also welcome the call for the appointment of women protection advisers, issued in resolution 1889 (2009), adopted earlier today.

I should like to say A few words on the peacebuilding front. The Peacebuilding Commission holds much promise for involving women and girls in designing and then operationalizing post-conflict strategies. In accordance with resolution 1820 (2008), each of the four countries currently on the agenda have strategies for engaging women in governance, security sector reform, human rights institutions and other key areas of post-conflict reconstruction. As chair of the Commission's country configuration for Sierra Leone, Canada has worked with the Government of Sierra Leone and its international partners to ensure that gender equality and the empowerment of women are core components of peacebuilding efforts in that country.

Finally, we would also like to raise the issue of bringing violators to justice with respect to sexual violence. As we all know, this type of violence remains rampant in conflict-affected areas. Too often, these crimes go unpunished and therefore perpetuate the cycle of sexual violence. To this end, Canada reiterates the call made in resolution 1888 (2009) for a team of rapidly deployable experts on sexual violence and suggests that a United Nations justice rapid-response mechanism be considered as we move towards the implementation of this commitment.

It is undeniable that situations of conflict have a great impact on women. They are too often victims of violence and of sexual violence used as a weapon of war. And at the same time, they very often become the main providers of economic security and survival to their families. There is thus the need to ensure that, in post-conflict situations, we also build on their experiences.

Allow me briefly to highlight five main objectives of our plan. It seeks, first, to increase women's participation and mainstream gender equality in all phases of peacebuilding processes and at all levels of decision-making; secondly, to promote capacity-building on gender equality and gender-based violence, as well as other aspects covered by resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), for all those involved in peacebuilding and development aid efforts; thirdly, to promote and protect women's human rights in conflict areas and post-conflict scenarios, taking into account the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence and the promotion of the empowerment of women; fourthly, to invest in and disseminate knowledge on issues concerning women, peace and security, including awareness-raising among decision- makers and the broader public; and lastly, to ensure the participation of civil society in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the national plan of action.

The first concerns sexual violence. We are all aware of how serious the situation is and how difficult it can be to reverse the extent and impact of sexual violence. In that regard, my delegation welcomes resolution 1888 (2009), adopted just five days ago, which identifies specific steps that the United Nations and Member States should take to prevent or respond to sexual violence. We expect that the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General and the rapid deployment of an expert team will make significant contributions to our efforts to end sexual violence.

South Africa continues to support the work of the United Nations and of the African Union in promoting the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, as well as in protecting women and girls against sexual violence. From our experience in the SADC region, we have learned that it is important to build solidarity among all role players, particularly women, and therefore we remain committed to working within a consultative and collaborative framework to find peaceful and lasting solutions to conflicts.

Uganda's action plan focuses on the relevant legal and policy framework, improved access to health facilities and medical treatment for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, women in leadership and decision-making, the elimination of gender-based violence in society and, finally, budget allocations for the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) and the Goma Declaration. As we do this, our experience has taught us that the full and effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and, indeed, of all other resolutions complementary to it, must begin at the earliest stages of post-conflict peacebuilding; otherwise, it will not yield optimum results.

The question before us today is a complex one. In response to the increased targeting of women and other civilians that has become a shameful instrument of contemporary warfare, the international community has done a lot, but much still remains to be done. The Security Council has adopted several resolutions on the protection of children and civilians in armed conflict, wherein it urged all parties to take special measures to protect women and girls from rape and other forms of sexual violence.

However, in spite of all international efforts, women continue to be the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict, targeted for the most brutal forms of sexual violence. In addition to that, women also experience the trauma of losing relatives and friends in times of armed conflict and of having to take responsibility for the care of surviving family members. They also constitute the majority of refugees and displaced persons.

It is important that the Secretary-General's reports to the Council dealing with specific conflict situations and developments in the field also incorporate gender perspectives in addressing various aspects of conflict analysis and conflict resolution. It is also important to be sure that personnel involved in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations have appropriate training on the protection, rights and particular needs of women. Security Council resolutions setting up or extending peacekeeping operations should provide a clear mandate to address the protection of women and girls affected by conflict against all sexual violence, abduction, enforced prostitution, trafficking and threats imposed by military, paramilitary and other groups.

Nine years ago, the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000) for the protection of women, for their participation and for the promotion of their rights in conflict and post-conflict situations. Last year, the Council adopted resolution 1820 (2008), condemning sexual violence as a tactic of war, and last week it adopted resolution 1888 (2009) to further strengthen the United Nations response to sexual violence in conflict. We welcome recent developments and the resolution adopted today, resolution 1889 (2009), which draws our attention to the crucial question of women's empowerment and participation in conflict and post-conflict situations.

Mr. President, you have chosen a very pertinent focus for this open debate on women and peace and security. Building sustainable peace requires much more than the mere absence of violence. Restoration of the rule of law, the local economy and basic services should be the priority in any post-conflict situation. This should happen alongside meeting the obvious need to ensure everyone's physical safety and security, which includes freedom from fear of sexual violence or harassment.

The recent adoption of resolution 1888 (2009) and its request for the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General to provide leadership and improve coherence and coordination of United Nations action against sexual violence in conflict was a major step forward. Ensuring full participation and rights of women and girls is the best way to prevent sexual violence, and the mandate of the new special representative should be put in place with that in mind.

Armed conflict is devastating to any human being. However, it has disproportionate effects on women and girls. Their voices are silenced in conflict and their basic rights lost in the political and social deterioration that accompanies conflict. They become disempowered. A few days ago, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1888 (2009). That was another commendable endeavour to further strengthen the efforts of the international community to combat sexual violence in armed conflicts.

We should also ensure that peacekeepers have adequate capacity to carry out provisions related to gender issues. Moreover, it is important that provisions on sexual violence within the mandates of peacekeeping missions be in line with other provisions, such as protection of civilians; they should be developed with a clear and comprehensive concept. Mandatory training for all peacekeeping personnel on addressing sexual violence should be continued and supported.

It is totally unacceptable that perpetrators of sexual and other serious violence against women and girls are shielded by a culture of impunity. The culture of impunity is a direct threat to women's security, and it also hinders women in playing the vital role they might otherwise play in post-conflict peacebuilding efforts. We need to redouble our efforts to end impunity by assisting countries in strengthening political leadership and the rule of law. Targeted sanction measures should be effectively utilized. We hope that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to be appointed soon in accordance with resolution 1888 (2009) will take a strong lead in addressing this serious issue.

This is a major challenge the Council must address. We are therefore pleased that resolution 1889 (2009), just adopted, stressed this aspect: the importance of empowering women and girls in responding to their particular needs in post-conflict situations. In that regard, I would like to emphasize that the human security approach that Japan has been advocating for more than 10 years provides valuable guidelines both to protect people's lives and dignity from serious threats and to empower them to realize their full potential.

We have witnessed an alarming increase in sexual violence in various conflicts around the world. The victims are often women and children. Cessation of hostilities does not guarantee an end to sexual violence — sometimes quite the opposite. The influx of returning refugees and displaced persons, the presence of large numbers of demobilized ex-combatants, the widespread lack of economic opportunity and the general breakdown in social norms all contribute to increased levels of sexual violence in post-conflict settings. Such gender-based violence is often exacerbated by the absence of effective judicial institutions and impunity as a result thereof. Both resolution 1325 (2000) and resolution 1820 (2008) emphasize the responsibility of all States to put an end to such impunity and to prosecute those responsible for war crimes, including acts of gender violence.

We therefore welcome the call on the Secretary- General, in resolution 1888 (2009), to offer upon request expertise that can be deployed rapidly to assist national authorities to strengthen the rule of law. That is a very important step and is fully in keeping with the principle of complementarity, one of the main pillars of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose jurisdiction kicks in only when States are unable or unwilling to prosecute at the national level. Today, the ICC is addressing sexual violence in several situations with which it is seized and thus is contributing to the fight against impunity.

As mentioned in the Secretary-General's reports, there are many ongoing projects and programmes aimed at protecting women and girls against gender- based violence and other kinds of risks and challenges. However, despite the progress made so far, we cannot fail to note that much remains to be done, particularly in the area of implementation. As today's debate and the report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/465) have shown us, there remain many structural and institutional impediments that we should overcome in order to meet the challenges before us.

Today's meeting will allow us to continue the review of the implementation of landmark resolution 1325 (2000). We would like to thank the delegation of Viet Nam for its efforts, which resulted in the adoption of resolution 1889 (2009) today. Furthermore, I would like to express my gratitude to Deputy Secretary- General Asha-Rose Migiro for her continued leadership and commitment to gender equality and women's participation. We are grateful for her statement today. We are equally grateful for the valuable input of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, Ms. Rachel Mayanja, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Ms. Inés Alberdi. We were also very happy to listen to the presentation by Ms. Asha Hagi Elmi Amin from the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.

We welcome the considerable progress that has been made in strengthening the protection pillar of resolution 1325 (2000) with the adoption of resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence, as well as resolution 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict. Let me express our hope for a quick appointment of the special representative requested in resolution 1888 (2009). It is our understanding that this new special representative to address sexual violence in armed conflict will fully take into account the important aspects of prevention on the one hand, and women's participation, on the other, when carrying out his or her mandate.

With the expansion of the monitoring and reporting mechanisms in resolution 1882 (2009) to situations where parties to armed conflict engage in rape and other sexual violence against children, a coherent and coordinated implementation of the mandates of both the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the special representative to address sexual violence in armed conflict will be crucial. Progress is, however, also urgently needed on other pillars of resolution 1325 (2000). Austria sees great value in focusing this debate on responding to the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations for sustainable peace and security. Investing in women means investing into the future, and ensuring women's and girls access to education is one of the cornerstones of their empowerment.

Additionally, the State has made efforts to ensure access to justice and special protection for women victims of displacement and sexual violence perpetrated by illegal groups. The Office of the General Prosecutor is promoting a comprehensive action strategy to uphold the fundamental rights of women victims. The programme is based on a specific methodology to address the impact of this phenomenon on Colombian women.

Let me highlight three key areas for future work in this field. First, we must work to achieve greater active participation of women in peacebuilding and reconstruction. Secondly, we must enhance recognition of the special needs and rights of women and girls before, during and after armed conflict. Thirdly, we must provide for the protection of girls and women against violence, including gender-based violence such as rape and sexual abuse, and we must end impunity for gender-related crimes. Allow me in this respect to take this opportunity to welcome the Council's adoption last week of resolution 1888 (2009), which Denmark co-sponsored.

There are two dimensions to this subject. The first one is women and girls as victims of violence. As the discussion in the Security Council last week again made clear (see S/PV.6195), such violence is often employed as a weapon of war. That necessitates a different way of operating in crisis management and peacekeeping. For instance, military patrols need to take place between villages and water points at the crack of dawn to protect women fetching water. We also need to be aware that brutal forms of violence against women in sudden outbreaks of violence can be early warning signs of instability.

As far as our bilateral cooperation with other countries is concerned, let me give the Council two examples. Burundi and the Netherlands collaborate in the integration of elements of resolution 1325 (2000) into the ethics training course for Burundi's uniformed services. And in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Netherlands supports the establishment of collective funding arrangements to address sexual and gender-based violence under the stabilization plan for that country, in collaboration with its Government and with other donors.

We are concerned that despite several measures being undertaken in response to resolution 1325 (2000), progress in implementing it is still limited, and women and girls continue to suffer the brunt of war, particularly the devastating effects of sexual and gender-based violence. It is our expectation that the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General, as provided for in Security Council resolution 1888 (2009), will add impetus to the United Nations work in fighting the horrendous acts of violence committed against women and girls, as well as boys. We also expect that the appointment of the special representative will not shift resources from a holistic approach to the issue of women and peace and security, one of participation, protection and prevention. We deeply deplore the use of sex as a weapon of war and call for concerted efforts to end impunity.

Argentina is among those countries that have made progress in developing an implementation plan for resolution 1325 (2000) in the defense sector. At the same time, it is drafting a national plan that addresses all the areas included in that instrument, and has incorporated specific policies for the implementation of resolution 1820 (2008) on sexual violence against women in situations of armed conflict.

In that regard, it is crucial to work within the State to put an end to gender violence. There is no potential for empowerment in a climate of violence. We therefore welcome the adoption of resolution 1888 (2009) with the broad support of United Nations Members, and believe that its implementation will be an effective step towards the eradication of impunity.

Nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) and one year after the adoption of 1820 (2008), and despite the Security Council's repeated recommendations and appeals, post-conflict situations regrettably remain marked by the ongoing devastating impact of armed conflict on women and children. Sexual violence and recurrent violations of women's rights are genuine sources of concern, given their deep physical, psychological and economic impact on victims and their respective communities.

As to the specific issue of sexual violence, my delegation welcomes the recent adoptions of resolutions 1882 (2009) and 1888 (2009), which provide for the strengthened implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). The Council should continue to call for increased female participation in contingents, for the appointment of more women as mediators, special envoys and special representatives, and for the inclusion in reports of more information on the particular needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations. We cherish the hope that the establishment of the composite gender entity by the General Assembly will add momentum to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). None these actions, however, will be viable if they are not backed by human capacity-building and adequate financing. The commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) should offer us all an opportunity to reiterate our firm commitment and genuine political will to contribute to the emancipation of women in general and the effective liberation of those who, often the innocent victims of conflict, must also endure the harsh conditions of personal rehabilitation and national reconciliation.

We know that, in this time of asymmetric warfare, the use of sexual violence against women and girls as a weapon of war is a source of even more fundamental and pernicious concern. It is a weapon that is intended to humiliate and destroy women, both as individuals and as the heart and soul of social order and the foundation of family and community life. It should then follow that, within the peace and reconstruction processes, women's voices must be indispensable in all phases. Women are often the primary figures in the education and upbringing of our children, and, therefore, the primary carriers of the effects of conflict through the generations. Without their voice of stability and sense of community, children grow up knowing only war as their livelihood. Our present debate must not just be an occasion to celebrate the role of women. It must be a celebration of a shift in the international community's approach to post-conflict situations, from narrow humanitarian and relief activities to more comprehensive efforts towards sustainable peace. This means a greater focus on the concerns and roles of women in bridging the gap between conflict and post-conflict development. For my delegation, gender sensitivity in a post-conflict environment would mean paying due attention to women's access to employment opportunities and productive assets, such as land, capital, education and training and health services. It also means looking at the role of women in ensuring food security in the community, and making conditions at refugee settlements a priority. In short, the rehabilitative approach to post-conflict situations involves a serious consideration of the short- to long-term development needs of the community concerned.

The enormous international efforts, including those of the United Nations, to promote the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) and of the relevant presidential statements of the Security Council have produced positive results. Of primary significance is the greater recognition that the maintenance of peace and security requires measures to meet the needs of women. It is also necessary to ensure their full and equal participation in reconciliation and negotiation processes, in all stages of peacekeeping, in the management of humanitarian aid and in post- conflict reconstruction.

Over the past eight years, we have kept those promises to the best of our ability. The Afghan Constitution guarantees equal rights to women and representation in the Government. Afghanistan has endorsed the Millennium Development Goals, is a signatory to the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, fully supports the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), and has put in place a legal and political framework that protects and promotes the rights of women. Beyond these legal initiatives, Afghan women have seen tangible improvements in their daily lives, including improved access to education, health care and basic infrastructure. Afghanistan's national action plan for women ensures that women and girls receive equal access to these resources.

Secondly, extremist ideologies of oppression have primarily threatened women over the past 30 years. Throughout the 1990s, the Taliban and other armed groups engaged in severe violence against women. Crimes against women, including sexual violence and forced marriage, were justified and protected by extremists. Unfortunately, as long as insecurity and extremism persist, Afghanistan cannot be freed from this perversion of perspective and action regarding women.

We align ourselves with the statement to be delivered later by the representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union. Here, I shall make additional remarks in my national capacity. Almost a decade has passed since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). We have witnessed much progress in the area of the empowerment of women. Women have been trained in leadership, and there has been an increase in the number of female peacekeeping personnel. The Security Council has, for its part, contributed to significant advancements on the issues of women and children that are on its agenda. It has adopted resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence in armed conflict, under the umbrella issue of women and peace and security, as well as resolution 1882 (2009) that addresses, among other matters, the problem of sexual violence against girls.

What can the United Nations do? Security Council resolution 1888 (2009) and resolution 1889 (2009), adopted today, are yet another milestone in the fight against sexual violence and for the empowerment of women for the maintenance of peace and security. We now have a whole range of tools available to prevent sexual violence and to respond rapidly to situations in which violence occurs. The new composite gender entity that the General Assembly has decided to establish as part of system-wide coherence will help to coordinate these and all other instruments that already exist within the United Nations. I echo the presidency of the European Union in calling upon the Secretary- General and his Deputy to quickly start working on the establishment of this entity.

There is no doubt that the numerous resolutions and presidential statements that have been adopted by the Security Council constitute a major step towards protecting women and promoting their rights. However, it is not enough merely to adopt resolutions and statements; they must be implemented. That requires coordination and cooperation between the relevant bodies of the United Nations, civil society institutions, task forces of specialized agencies. Regional organizations and relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations to empower women in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development processes. That will make an effective contribution to States and to their implementation of legislation and activities to prevent gender-based violence and create an environment conducive to accountability and reporting on women's status. It is a source of concern that the promotion of the rights of women and gender equality is often not considered a priority in the aftermath of conflict. It is for that reason that we have emphasized the importance of women's development and empowerment on the national level and in all areas of life.

During the past year much thought has been given in the Security Council to the issue of women and peace and security. We responded to gender concerns through resolution 1820 (2008) last year. The recently adopted resolution 1888 (2009) and resolution 1889 (2009), adopted today, all contribute to strengthening a process that began with the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). That resolution pioneered the recognition of the needs of women as victims of conflict and of the role they can play as protagonists in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Despite these efforts, women's participation remains marginal, as pointed out by the Secretary- General in his report (S/2009/465). Resolution 1325 (2000) paved the way for future developments. Its broad scope is one of its main strengths, but it has also made it more difficult to address some key challenges effectively. Its weak implementation framework and the absence of adequate follow-up mechanisms has limited progress and made it slow and uneven.

It is a matter of deep regret that the international community has to repeatedly debate the issue of sexual and other forms of violence against women and girls in situations of armed conflict. That abhorrent behaviour has to be unequivocally, unambiguously and resolutely condemned, whether it is perpetrated by parties to armed conflicts, peacekeeping personnel, including its civilian component, or humanitarian actors.

The promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls in armed conflict continues to pose a pressing challenge. There should be no tolerance for gender-based violence. All cases of gender-based violence in an armed conflict must be investigated, and the perpetrators prosecuted. Let me assure the Council that India will continue to contribute positively to United Nations efforts to protect vulnerable groups, in particular women and children, in conflict and post-conflict societies. That needs to be done in a comprehensive manner and with the active involvement of all the departments and agencies of the United Nations. I would also like to stress that the international community needs to enhance cooperation by providing new and additional financial resources and by sharing experiences, expertise and capacity building in areas of justice and rule of law.

Ecuador has taken due note of the first report (S/2009/362) of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 1820 (2008), which refers to various efforts by States to eradicate this evil. Despite the significant efforts led by the Secretary- General and the Security Council, Ecuador believes that it is urgent to achieve greater cooperation among the principal organs of the United Nations, bearing in mind that the General Assembly is the universal body charged with providing a normative framework to guide the decisions of all States.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is respectful of the norms of international law and the commitments undertaken in that context. Violations of women's human rights, given their many social, economic and political implications, undermine human coexistence and constitute serious crimes that compromise the dignity of women, as established in various instruments of international law. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirms its clear and firm commitment to promoting and respecting women's human rights and its support for the elimination of all forms of violence against women, including sexual violence.

Thirdly, we must support and encourage the growing presence of women among the Blue Helmets and police officers in peacekeeping operations. We can all strive in this regard to develop women's units and enhanced expertise on gender issues within our own armed forces and police forces.

Currently, there are 13 full-time gender advisers in United Nations peacekeeping operations, including integrated missions. Every United Nations mission should have a well-trained, full-time gender adviser whose work is systematically integrated throughout the operation and who has stable resources to carry out his or her functions. By now, this should be standard practice. We also welcome the call for the appointment of women protection advisers, issued in resolution 1889 (2009), adopted earlier today.

The adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) represented a landmark in the promotion and protection of human rights. It not only brought to the attention of this organ the pressing issues of gender equality and the empowerment of women, but it also made clear that women have a role to play in conflict situations, besides that of victims, as peacemakers and peacekeepers.

Our national plan recognizes the specific impacts of contemporary wars on the lives of women and addresses the efforts to prevent, combat and mitigate these impacts. Our plan, which will extend to 2013, is built around the objectives of strengthening women's participation and representation in all efforts to promote peace and security; promoting gender mainstreaming in the sectors of security, such as peacekeeping missions and security system reform; justice and development aid; and reinforcing the protection of women and girls in conflict and post- conflict areas.

The Republic of Korea urges Member States and the Untied Nations to take more vigorous initiatives to ensure that women are engaged in all levels of decision-making. In that regard, we commend Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's response to the call in resolution 1325 (2000) to increase the number of women in senior positions within the United Nations, especially in peacekeeping operations. It is encouraging to see three women heads of mission, six women deputies in the field and five female under- secretaries-general and assistant secretaries-general in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. We encourage the Secretary-General to further strengthen this positive trend, and we hope that his efforts are emulated in peace negotiations and reconstruction processes at the country level by ensuring the full participation of women.

In addition to the two women directly on the peace team, Uganda facilitated women's attendance at various meetings that were held during that process. In addition, during the talks a gender adviser was seconded to the Office of the Special Envoy to LRA- Affected Areas. This was the result of collaboration between UNIFEM and the United Nations Department of Political Affairs. Uganda also ensured that close reference was made to resolution 1325 (2000) in the Implementation Protocols on reconciliation and accountability; comprehensive solutions; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; and the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement that were signed by both parties, as well as the Uganda Government's eventual peace recovery development plan for northern Uganda, which was launched in July 2009 to ensure that women equally enjoy the opportunities and benefits of the planned interventions.

It is important that the Secretary-General's reports to the Council dealing with specific conflict situations and developments in the field also incorporate gender perspectives in addressing various aspects of conflict analysis and conflict resolution. It is also important to be sure that personnel involved in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations have appropriate training on the protection, rights and particular needs of women. Security Council resolutions setting up or extending peacekeeping operations should provide a clear mandate to address the protection of women and girls affected by conflict against all sexual violence, abduction, enforced prostitution, trafficking and threats imposed by military, paramilitary and other groups.

We believe that the Security Council has a special responsibility to support women's participation in peace processes by ensuring appropriate gender balance in United Nations peacekeeping missions. We welcome the fact that the Council has already recognized the important role of women in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding and has emphasized the importance of promoting an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes when addressing armed or other conflicts.

The presence of women in United Nations missions can foster confidence and trust among the local population, which are critical elements in any peacekeeping mission. In performing their tasks, women are perceived to be compassionate, unwilling to opt for force over reconciliation and ready to listen and learn, and they are widely seen as contributors to an environment of stability and morality that fosters the progress of peace.

At the same time, women are still underrepresented in decision-making with regard to conflict. Their initiatives and visions for peace and security are rarely heard during peace negotiations. In this regard, I would like to stress that women should not be viewed primarily as victims of armed conflict; the international community should use the potential of women as agents of preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

The United Nations plays a unique role in conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. However, during the 60 years of United Nations peacekeeping, no more than seven women have served as Special Representatives of the Secretary-General in the field. No woman has ever been nominated as a lead mediator in a peace process led by the United Nations. This has to change. We, the United Nations Member States, need to ensure that the change takes place.

During our deliberations on this issue last year, Indonesia recognized the need to facilitate the full and effective participation of women in all stages of peace processes and peacebuilding. Indonesia supports more women playing key roles in peacekeeping missions, including as military and police personnel. For its part, Indonesia has sent female personnel as military observers, staff officers and members of our contingents in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

We should also ensure that peacekeepers have adequate capacity to carry out provisions related to gender issues. Moreover, it is important that provisions on sexual violence within the mandates of peacekeeping missions be in line with other provisions, such as protection of civilians; they should be developed with a clear and comprehensive concept. Mandatory training for all peacekeeping personnel on addressing sexual violence should be continued and supported.

We welcome the fact that three women are now serving as heads of missions. Women are playing indispensable roles in some peacekeeping operations. One example is the Indian women's formed police unit in Liberia, which is very impressive. The Peacebuilding Commission, for its part, has incorporated a gender perspective in its country-specific peacebuilding strategies.

We are also encouraged by the commitment of the Secretary-General to increase the number of women in decision-making positions, as confirmed by the Deputy Secretary-General this morning. We urge other heads of international organizations and regional organizations to do the same and appoint more women as high-level mediators and members of negotiating teams. Secondly, we must extend support to women suffering from the consequences of conflict by working to provide them with greater physical security. The Security Council has mandated many United Nations peacekeeping operations to respond to violence against civilians, but the Council has not fully succeeded in meeting the high expectations.

The Council should continue to explore how United Nations missions can better protect women and children in conflict, with adequate resources, training and logistical support. We would like the importance of protection of women to be fully incorporated into training programmes for peacekeepers and peacebuilding experts on the ground, before they are deployed. It is important to attach higher priority to the protection of women in mission planning and to strengthen gender units through the placement of gender advisers.

Some years ago, the Liechtenstein delegation headed a group of like-minded ambassadors aimed at increasing the presence of women in positions such as special envoys and special representatives in particular. The success of this cooperation with the then Secretary-General was very modest, despite regular expressions of good intentions.

Member States and the relevant intergovernmental bodies must pursue strategies to ensure an increase in women's participation in peace negotiations and mediation, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction. That would strengthen the perception that women are stakeholders — as opposed to mere victims or aid recipients. e welcome the efforts of the Secretary- General to appoint more women to senior positions in general, in particular in field missions, and we see those efforts as a personal commitment on his part.

Austria will continue to advocate for an increase in the number of women appointed to senior United Nations positions both at Headquarters and, in particular, in field missions. We highly welcome the efforts of the Secretary-General in this regard. Having three female special representatives and six deputy special representatives serving in missions in various conflict areas is already a major step ahead. We hope to see this positive trend continue and urge all special representatives and envoys to make full use of the potential of women in peace processes, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

Austria is committed to the objectives of resolution 1325 (2000). Our activities are firmly based on a national action plan adopted in August 2007. A working group made up of representatives of all ministries involved and the Austrian Development Agency reports annually to the Council of Ministers on measures undertaken under this action plan. Gender and human rights training have been included more systematically in the predeployment training of police and military personnel participating in peacekeeping operations. Additionally, Austria, together with UNIFEM, supports women's networks in the western Balkans and preparatory work for national action plans in the region.

These three objectives are also those that Denmark is prioritizing in its new national action plan for implementing resolution 1325 (2000). In order to be able to monitor progress, we have developed indicators for each objective. Last year, Denmark revised its national action plan. The new plan for 2008- 2013 is based on experience from our first plan. Among the lessons learned is that we need to ensure the full cooperation of all stakeholders in the peacekeeping and security processes, in all phases and at all levels. In the new Danish plan, a stronger emphasis is placed on using the untapped potential of women and on involving them actively and on an equal basis in peacebuilding processes and decision-making at all levels and with a focus on visibility at the country level.

There are two dimensions to this subject. The first one is women and girls as victims of violence. As the discussion in the Security Council last week again made clear (see S/PV.6195), such violence is often employed as a weapon of war. That necessitates a different way of operating in crisis management and peacekeeping. For instance, military patrols need to take place between villages and water points at the crack of dawn to protect women fetching water. We also need to be aware that brutal forms of violence against women in sudden outbreaks of violence can be early warning signs of instability.

As far as military operations are concerned, a study by Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in the provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan showed, among other things, that the effectiveness of the International Security Assistance Force in cooperating with, and winning the trust of, the Afghan population is improved if the armed forces of troop-contributing nations include more women. Incorporating more women into armed forces is an important element of a coherent and comprehensive approach to the issue that we are discussing today. A seminar being organized by Spain and the Netherlands, to take place on 13 and 14 October in Madrid, will focus on how to make progress in that respect.

The role of troop-contributing countries in that task is very important; in conjunction with the various United Nations programmes and agencies, those countries are in a position to advance joint initiatives to improve the lives of the women in missions in which they participate. Thus, for example, together with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Argentina is currently organizing a workshop on gender and human rights aimed at raising the gender awareness of the Haitian authorities and people.

The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is a collective endeavour. Along with States, the international community, including the United Nations, has an important and unique role to play in that regard. Every agency of the system should play its part in the context of a common and consistent approach. The United Nations must continue to work to strengthen cooperation with regional, subregional and national organizations, including civil society and other local actors. The Security Council must continue to ensure that the specific needs of women and girls are taken into account in its peacekeeping mandates and in the effective implementation of its relevant resolutions and statements.

As to the specific issue of sexual violence, my delegation welcomes the recent adoptions of resolutions 1882 (2009) and 1888 (2009), which provide for the strengthened implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). The Council should continue to call for increased female participation in contingents, for the appointment of more women as mediators, special envoys and special representatives, and for the inclusion in reports of more information on the particular needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations. We cherish the hope that the establishment of the composite gender entity by the General Assembly will add momentum to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). None these actions, however, will be viable if they are not backed by human capacity-building and adequate financing. The commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) should offer us all an opportunity to reiterate our firm commitment and genuine political will to contribute to the emancipation of women in general and the effective liberation of those who, often the innocent victims of conflict, must also endure the harsh conditions of personal rehabilitation and national reconciliation.

Women and girls are often the primary victims of conflict and have specific needs in post-conflict situations, especially when they have been displaced, are refugees, or have been mistreated or maimed by anti-personnel landmines, as so rightly noted by Ms. Alberdi this morning. Those specific needs must be taken into account in assessing countries' requirements as they emerge permanently from conflict. In post-conflict situations, women must become important engines for peace and security in their communities. It is indeed critical that women be more involved in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts at all levels. The involvement of women in decision-making processes from the start should subsequently provide for their better participation in development efforts.

The enormous international efforts, including those of the United Nations, to promote the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) and of the relevant presidential statements of the Security Council have produced positive results. Of primary significance is the greater recognition that the maintenance of peace and security requires measures to meet the needs of women. It is also necessary to ensure their full and equal participation in reconciliation and negotiation processes, in all stages of peacekeeping, in the management of humanitarian aid and in post- conflict reconstruction.

Secondly, the reconstruction process requires comprehensive efforts to meet people's basic needs in food, housing, health care, education, dealing with psychological shocks, restoration of infrastructure and consolidation of social institutions, including the important role of the family. The State and society need to pay full attention to both civilian women and those who served in armed forces or were otherwise involved in military activities.

We align ourselves with the statement to be delivered later by the representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union. Here, I shall make additional remarks in my national capacity. Almost a decade has passed since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). We have witnessed much progress in the area of the empowerment of women. Women have been trained in leadership, and there has been an increase in the number of female peacekeeping personnel. The Security Council has, for its part, contributed to significant advancements on the issues of women and children that are on its agenda. It has adopted resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence in armed conflict, under the umbrella issue of women and peace and security, as well as resolution 1882 (2009) that addresses, among other matters, the problem of sexual violence against girls.

What can Member States do? I will give the Council just a few examples. Germany has advocated the inclusion of gender advisers in all European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) missions. The mission of the European Union-led peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had, for the first time, such an adviser among its personnel. During Germany's presidency, gender advisers were part of all ESDP missions. Also, the deployment of female soldiers enhanced the success of operations. For example, the presence of female soldiers to check women and children at checkpoints proved to de-escalate the situation on the ground. In Cambodia, Germany supports a project of the Ministry of Women's and Veteran's Affairs that focuses on capacity-building and gender mainstreaming. Finally, all German police and military personnel must undergo gender training.

There is no doubt that the numerous resolutions and presidential statements that have been adopted by the Security Council constitute a major step towards protecting women and promoting their rights. However, it is not enough merely to adopt resolutions and statements; they must be implemented. That requires coordination and cooperation between the relevant bodies of the United Nations, civil society institutions, task forces of specialized agencies. Regional organizations and relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations to empower women in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development processes. That will make an effective contribution to States and to their implementation of legislation and activities to prevent gender-based violence and create an environment conducive to accountability and reporting on women's status. It is a source of concern that the promotion of the rights of women and gender equality is often not considered a priority in the aftermath of conflict. It is for that reason that we have emphasized the importance of women's development and empowerment on the national level and in all areas of life.

India has consistently held that greater participation by women in areas of conflict prevention, peace negotiations, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction is the sine qua non condition for lasting peace and security. As far as the United Nations is concerned, its achievements have been at best modest, in particular in terms of the deployment of women in peacekeeping forces. Women currently comprise only 8 per cent of United Nations police officers, and about 2 per cent of the military personnel, deployed in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Given the critical role of the United Nations in peacekeeping operations and peacebuilding in post-conflict countries, we firmly believe that the United Nations must lead by example.

Precisely for those reasons, India has contributed a female peacekeeping unit of 100 personnel, which is at present deployed in Liberia. That mission in Liberia stands out as the only one of its kind among the ongoing United Nations peacekeeping operations. We commend the work of the Secretary-General in mainstreaming the gender perspective in the United Nations recruitment process. We hope that that process will be institutionalized at the earliest possible time, and that we will achieve a gender balance in the United Nations system, especially in the field, where is it most urgently required. There is also great need to ensure greater representation of women in high decision- making positions at the United Nations.

In conclusion, allow me to emphasize that, in an effort to ensure equality between men and women, Ecuador is working to identify the most appropriate way of setting up a national gender equality council. The challenges are numerous. But there is a reality that must be changed. Allow me, therefore, to reiterate the decision of the Government and the people of Ecuador to continue to cooperate with the international community to ensure the right of women to lives free from violence and to guarantee their full participation in mediation and negotiation processes, all aspects of peacekeeping operations, the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the post-conflict reconstruction process.

However, in spite of all international efforts, women continue to be the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict, targeted for the most brutal forms of sexual violence. In addition to that, women also experience the trauma of losing relatives and friends in times of armed conflict and of having to take responsibility for the care of surviving family members. They also constitute the majority of refugees and displaced persons.

We have witnessed an alarming increase in sexual violence in various conflicts around the world. The victims are often women and children. Cessation of hostilities does not guarantee an end to sexual violence — sometimes quite the opposite. The influx of returning refugees and displaced persons, the presence of large numbers of demobilized ex-combatants, the widespread lack of economic opportunity and the general breakdown in social norms all contribute to increased levels of sexual violence in post-conflict settings. Such gender-based violence is often exacerbated by the absence of effective judicial institutions and impunity as a result thereof. Both resolution 1325 (2000) and resolution 1820 (2008) emphasize the responsibility of all States to put an end to such impunity and to prosecute those responsible for war crimes, including acts of gender violence.

In the peacebuilding process, entities of the Colombian State are working together to ensure the inclusion of a gender-based perspective, as well as full participation by women in violence prevention. Furthermore, we have developed guidelines for assistance to displaced persons, taking a gender-based approach. The objective of the guidelines is to assist in consolidating public policy aimed at displaced persons, in order to provide effective assistance that meets the specific needs of women and addresses the impact of displacement on them. The guidelines were based on three guiding principles: participation, a rules-based approach and a gender-based approach. They are structured around three phases: prevention and protection, emergency humanitarian assistance, and socio-economic stabilization.

Additionally, the State has made efforts to ensure access to justice and special protection for women victims of displacement and sexual violence perpetrated by illegal groups. The Office of the General Prosecutor is promoting a comprehensive action strategy to uphold the fundamental rights of women victims. The programme is based on a specific methodology to address the impact of this phenomenon on Colombian women.

The emergence of extremist groups in a number of areas and the adoption of legislation legitimizing discriminatory practices restrict women's full enjoyment of their rights. Refugee camps and camps for internally displaced persons, where they exist, sometimes become zones of insecurity for women, instead of serving as the islands of relative tranquility they are supposed to be. We cannot deny that women's and girls' access to access health services and education is weak, or ignore the difficulties they experience in seeking to benefit from judicial mechanisms, all of which favour the entrenchment of impunity. Furthermore, women's participation in the negotiation of peace agreements remains weak, thus preventing their specific needs from being taken adequately into account.

Women and girls are often the primary victims of conflict and have specific needs in post-conflict situations, especially when they have been displaced, are refugees, or have been mistreated or maimed by anti-personnel landmines, as so rightly noted by Ms. Alberdi this morning. Those specific needs must be taken into account in assessing countries' requirements as they emerge permanently from conflict. In post-conflict situations, women must become important engines for peace and security in their communities. It is indeed critical that women be more involved in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts at all levels. The involvement of women in decision-making processes from the start should subsequently provide for their better participation in development efforts.

We know that, in this time of asymmetric warfare, the use of sexual violence against women and girls as a weapon of war is a source of even more fundamental and pernicious concern. It is a weapon that is intended to humiliate and destroy women, both as individuals and as the heart and soul of social order and the foundation of family and community life. It should then follow that, within the peace and reconstruction processes, women's voices must be indispensable in all phases. Women are often the primary figures in the education and upbringing of our children, and, therefore, the primary carriers of the effects of conflict through the generations. Without their voice of stability and sense of community, children grow up knowing only war as their livelihood. Our present debate must not just be an occasion to celebrate the role of women. It must be a celebration of a shift in the international community's approach to post-conflict situations, from narrow humanitarian and relief activities to more comprehensive efforts towards sustainable peace. This means a greater focus on the concerns and roles of women in bridging the gap between conflict and post-conflict development. For my delegation, gender sensitivity in a post-conflict environment would mean paying due attention to women's access to employment opportunities and productive assets, such as land, capital, education and training and health services. It also means looking at the role of women in ensuring food security in the community, and making conditions at refugee settlements a priority. In short, the rehabilitative approach to post-conflict situations involves a serious consideration of the short- to long-term development needs of the community concerned.

These commitments are commendable, but we are of the belief that putting words into action is the only way that we can approach the resolution of remaining issues. And those issues are many. As many situations on the agenda of the Security Council have shown, women still have a long way to go in order to fulfill the empowerment goals as well as to fully realize their human rights, not only in armed conflict but in times of peace as well. Women still do not enjoy equal participation or full involvement in mediation and negotiation processes. Nor have they participated equally in post-conflict reconstruction processes. Notwithstanding these shortfalls, what concerns us most is the telling failure that women and girls are still not guaranteed safety even in camps for refugees and internally displaced persons.

On the positive side, there have been some remarkable accomplishments by the many dedicated actors who pursue the promotion and protection of women's and girls' rights, including the efforts of civil society organizations. On the other hand, we are still short on some institutional mechanisms and action. In this respect, the upcoming establishment of a steering committee to enhance coordination within the United Nations system ahead of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the resolution is welcome.

I should like to say A few words on the peacebuilding front. The Peacebuilding Commission holds much promise for involving women and girls in designing and then operationalizing post-conflict strategies. In accordance with resolution 1820 (2008), each of the four countries currently on the agenda have strategies for engaging women in governance, security sector reform, human rights institutions and other key areas of post-conflict reconstruction. As chair of the Commission's country configuration for Sierra Leone, Canada has worked with the Government of Sierra Leone and its international partners to ensure that gender equality and the empowerment of women are core components of peacebuilding efforts in that country.

The adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) represented a landmark in the promotion and protection of human rights. It not only brought to the attention of this organ the pressing issues of gender equality and the empowerment of women, but it also made clear that women have a role to play in conflict situations, besides that of victims, as peacemakers and peacekeepers.

Allow me briefly to highlight five main objectives of our plan. It seeks, first, to increase women's participation and mainstream gender equality in all phases of peacebuilding processes and at all levels of decision-making; secondly, to promote capacity-building on gender equality and gender-based violence, as well as other aspects covered by resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), for all those involved in peacebuilding and development aid efforts; thirdly, to promote and protect women's human rights in conflict areas and post-conflict scenarios, taking into account the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence and the promotion of the empowerment of women; fourthly, to invest in and disseminate knowledge on issues concerning women, peace and security, including awareness-raising among decision- makers and the broader public; and lastly, to ensure the participation of civil society in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the national plan of action.

In the context of peace and security, the Protocol stipulates that the States parties shall endeavour to put in place measures to ensure that women have equal representation and participation in key decision- making positions in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes by 2015, in accordance with resolution 1325 (2000). Furthermore, the Protocol specifies that States parties shall, during times of armed conflict, take such steps as are necessary to prevent and eliminate incidences of human rights abuses, especially of women and children, and also to ensure that the perpetrators of such abuses are brought to justice before courts of competent jurisdiction.

The primary responsibility for preventing and protecting women and girls in conflict situations and their aftermath should not lie with the international community alone. That would assist in promoting local ownership in peace processes. South Africa remains committed to the full and effective implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009). We in the international community have an obligation to women to ensure that their rights are protected and that their place in all aspects of the peace process is assured.

It is important that the Secretary-General's reports to the Council dealing with specific conflict situations and developments in the field also incorporate gender perspectives in addressing various aspects of conflict analysis and conflict resolution. It is also important to be sure that personnel involved in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations have appropriate training on the protection, rights and particular needs of women. Security Council resolutions setting up or extending peacekeeping operations should provide a clear mandate to address the protection of women and girls affected by conflict against all sexual violence, abduction, enforced prostitution, trafficking and threats imposed by military, paramilitary and other groups.