Nepal

Resolution 1325 (2000) brought to the fore the importance of women as peacemakers and peacebuilders. The resolution was a historic shift from the traditional perspective, which saw women as passive recipients of the suffering produced by conflict. It rightly stressed the role of women as active participants with important and indispensable parts to play in peacemaking and peacebuilding. The resolution rightly urged Member States to mainstream the gender perspective by ensuring an increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in the areas of the prevention, management and resolution of conflict, post-conflict reconstruction and institution-building. On the eleventh anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), it is high time to take stock of our achievements, identify challenges and share experiences of successes and difficulties to ensure an enhanced level of effort and support for the effective implementation of the resolution. There have been many notable efforts in a broad range of areas by Member States, the United Nations system, and civil society organizations towards the resolution's implementation. Yet there are areas where our concerted efforts are needed. Countries emerging from conflict are in need of genuine partnership and cooperation from the international community to fill the gaps in the financial resources and human and technical expertise needed to rebuild their societies. The lofty goals and vision of resolution 1325 (2000) will remain unfulfilled if countries coming out of conflict are left without adequate financial and human resources and capacity-building.

We are ready and eager to collaborate with the international community for effective implementation of our national action plan. As enshrined in Nepal's Interim Constitution, one third of Parliament is represented by women. This political representation will be continued down to village-level elected bodies. Local peace committees are functioning in all districts with at least 33 per cent of participation of women, and are empowered to address post-conflict-related issues at the local level. Nepal has been implementing gender-based budgeting for some years, through which gender mainstreaming gets special attention in all development activities. We have introduced a policy of affirmative action in various areas, including the civil service, with a view to ensuring that women are placed at public sector decision-making levels. We are also committed to increasing the number of women in our army and police forces.