What can be done to close this gap? First, in regard to the UN level, we com...

What can be done to close this gap? First, in regard to the UN level, we commend UN Women for its work in leading the mainstreaming efforts to include, wherever possible, a gender perspective in UN activities and measuring progress made in implementing resolution 1325 against the indicators. It is crucial to constantly strive for more women in leading positions, also within the UN, and to give women a voice during all stages of peace processes. There is a clear link between women's participation in the early stages of preventive diplomacy, peace-making or peace-building and their presence in implementation mechanisms.