New Zealand
Throughout those 10 years of conflict, peace, destruction, reconstruction and...
Throughout those 10 years of conflict, peace, destruction, reconstruction and change, women and girls have been the most affected, although I think we would also say that in those 10 years there have also been some significant advances. Some women and girls have benefited from greater involvement in peace processes, greater representation in key decision-making positions and a stronger focus on the prevention of violence. There have been major institutional achievements. For example, New Zealand strongly supported the establishment of UN Women, with Michelle Bachelet at its head, and we look to that organization to demonstrate leadership, including on this issue
The past 10 years have also demonstrated that much still needs to be done. Ra...
The past 10 years have also demonstrated that much still needs to be done. Rape is still used as a tool of war, as was recently and horrifically demonstrated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Women are still excluded from or not adequately represented in peace processes, their rights are curtailed and, all too often, they lack or are denied access to humanitarian and development assistance. Full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is needed to address those deficiencies.
New Zealand agrees with the Secretary-General's conclusion that the main fact...
New Zealand agrees with the Secretary-General's conclusion that the main factor impeding full implementation is the lack of a clearly framed, single, coordinated approach, complemented by meaningful indicators to track progress. There are many concrete ways to develop such a framework. In addition to those already mentioned by the Minister of International Cooperation of Canada on behalf of the Friends of Women, Peace and Security, I will highlight just two that New Zealand considers particularly important.
First, because implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is difficult to measu...
First, because implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is difficult to measure, we call on the Council to endorse and utilize the indicators outlined in the Secretary-General's report (S/2010/498). Some still require development, but that is best achieved through implementation, tracking and continued close engagement with civil society. And, by themselves, the indicators are not enough; the information they yield must then be analysed and incorporated into the Council's work. Given its expertise, UN Women will be well placed to lead this analysis, but it must also be able to interact regularly and directly with the Security Council.
Secondly, while there have been excellent policy developments on resolution 1...
Secondly, while there have been excellent policy developments on resolution 1325 (2000), they have rarely been translated into action on the ground. To ensure more action, the Security Council could better incorporate 1325 issues into its daily work, for example, when it discusses country situations, peacekeeping mandates or sanctions, or when it holds Arria Formula meetings. Further, an effective leadership system within the Council could be developed to ensure that 1325 issues are regularly integrated into the Council's work. Given the churn of non-permanent members, that responsibility could be jointly shared by a permanent and a non-permanent Council member. Better integration of 1325 issues does not just feel or sound good: it makes practical sense. Involving women in peace processes, stopping sexual and gender-based violence and guaranteeing the protection of women's rights will better ensure a lasting peace, which will, in turn, improve the Council's ability to maintain international peace and security.
Member States also have responsibilities for the implementation of 1325 (2000...
Member States also have responsibilities for the implementation of 1325 (2000) nationally and within their regions. Women constitute up to 30 per cent of New Zealand's contribution to United Nations and United Nations-mandated peace missions — among thehighest rates in the world. The New Zealand Defence Force pursues a diversity strategy that values the full integration of women, including at senior levels.
New Zealand's region is the Pacific, where women are playing critical roles i...
New Zealand's region is the Pacific, where women are playing critical roles in brokering and maintaining peace in places such as Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Timor-Leste. Despite their important role, however, women remain marginalized from formal negotiations, are seriously underrepresented in national decision-making processes and are still vulnerable to domestic violence.
As well as raising awareness of resolution 1325 (2000) in the Pacific, New Ze...
As well as raising awareness of resolution 1325 (2000) in the Pacific, New Zealand's aid programme identifies women and girls as a priority group for attention, supports initiatives to mitigate the exposure of women and girls to violence and specifically includes the need to support the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Elsewhere, New Zealand's Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan, Afghanistan, has several initiatives to ensure the full participation of women in our Provincial Reconstruction Team and in the Afghan National Security Forces which the Team supports. Likewise, in Timor-Leste, New Zealand is working with the National Police Force on projects to address high rates of gender-based violence.
But, like others, New Zealand can still do more, and it agrees that commitmen...
But, like others, New Zealand can still do more, and it agrees that commitments are required to ensure the advancement of the 1325 agenda. We therefore commit to developing a national plan of action on resolution 1325 (2000). We commit to mainstreaming issues faced by women with disabilities in our implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We commit to increasing the number of women in the higher ranks of our Defence Force and becoming more effective in retaining women in the Force throughout their careers. And we commit to working with others in the Pacific — countries and civil society — to ensure that resolution 1325 (2000) is better implemented.
We call on others to also make similar concrete commitments, including on the...
We call on others to also make similar concrete commitments, including on the needs of women with disabilities: commitments which, when combined with a more effective approach by the Council, will ensure full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).
That, in turn, will mean that, as Governments come and go and as conflicts br...
That, in turn, will mean that, as Governments come and go and as conflicts break out and abate, women and girls are protected and can fully participate in the promotion and maintenance of peace and security.