Estonia

The Security Council debate today and the numerous initiatives related to resolution 1325 all over the world confirm that women are no longer an invisible or irrelevant aspect of armed conflicts. Women have the right to be protected in conflicts, and can and should be able to contribute to peace processes. However, despite the progress made' since 2000, these principles still need to be translated better into reality at the global, regional and national levels.

I have the pleasure to note that last week Estonia adopted its national action plan for the implementation of the Security Council resolution 1325. Over the next four years the plan will help systernatise and enhance our activities both at the national level and in regional and international organisations.

First, it includes steps to increase gender related expertise, as well as general awareness and support for the inclusion of gender perspective in crisis management at all levels through enhanced training. Second, the plan includes measures to expand the possibilities for women's participation in international civilian and military missions and increasing the share of women occupying posts related to peace and securiity.To name only a few, these include analysing the variables influencing women's participation in military, police and international missions and targeted information and recruitment campaigns.

Finally, Estonia continues to actively support the implementation of resolution 1325 in the European Union, NATO as well as the OSCE.

Estonia welcomes the steps to increase the coherence and accountability in implementing resolution 1325, including taking forward the set of indicators to track its implementation, and calls for their swift operationalisation. We further welcome the call for the development of a strategic framework to guide the UN's implementation of the resolution in the next decade, which would include concrete targets and indicators to ensure the consistency and systematic evaluation of this process. The establishment of a working group for the review of the progress made would, alongside a global set of indicators, also contribute to a more thorough analysis and the definition offurther goals with regard to women, peace and security.

Finally, let me note our appreciation of the work of Ms Margot Wallstrom, the Secretary General's Special Representative, and offer my congratulations to Under-Secretary General in charge of UN Women, Ms Michelle Bachelet, whose leadership as the Under-Secretary General in charge of UN Women will be of crucial importance to the implementation of resolution 1325, including the contribution ofUN Women to the work of the Security Council on women, peace and security.