Indonesia

At the outset, please allow me to join the previous speakers in expressing the appreciation of the Government of Indonesia for the convening of this open debate on women, peace and security. I would also like to thank the Executive Director of UN-Women and the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations for their important briefings. Let me begin by quoting the message of Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon that “sustainable peace is possible only with women's full participation — their perspectives, their leadership, their daily, equal presence wherever we seek to make and keep the peace”.

While we have covered significant ground towards fully implementing resolution 1325 (2000), progress has yet to be made in implementing some key aspects of that resolution. We recognize that decisive action must be taken in the following areas. First, the number of women involved as United Nations peacekeepers needs to be increased in the future. Secondly, the security, legal and justice infrastructure required to ensure the safety and security of women in many conflict and post- conflict settings needs to be strengthened. Thirdly, the level of participation of women in peace negotiations, preventive efforts and key decision-making processes related to peace and security needs to be enhanced. In light of those objectives, Indonesia has taken steps at various levels towards their achievement. For example, women personnel have been actively involved as military and police observers in Indonesia's contingents in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, the action plan will focus on creating greater awareness of the role of women in conflict resolution and eacebuilding processes, on strengthening the capacity of various stakeholders within Government and civil society organizations, and on building a strong participation in and ownership of the plan to ensure accountability in its implementation. In that regard, the role of UN-Women is greatly appreciated in providing technical assistance and advocacy in our process to develop the action plan. Indonesia is also conducting schools of peace for women programmes in post-conflict areas, where the principle of non-violence has been introduced and capacity-building activities are being implemented. Those programmes will ultimately empower and enable women to become equal partners in achieving peace, rather than merely suffering as victims of conflict.

First, States should prepare a national action plan to ensure implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) as part of their national agenda, strategy and commitment. That should be accomplished through detailed national policies. Secondly, States must undertake bureaucratic reform, in particular security sector reform, to support the prevention and resolution of conflicts from the inter-faith and women's perspectives. Thirdly, States should ensure the protection of the rights of women as victims of conflict and promote their empowerment and participation at all levels of the decision-making process, especially in peacebuilding efforts.