Finland
Nine years ago, the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000) for the p...
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...
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.
After a violent conflict, women are often the best experts in identifying the...
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 a...
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, pea...
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-Gener...
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 ha...
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 appoint...
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 t...
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.