While SADC acknowledges that women and civil society organizations have been the driving
force behind our efforts and achievements, we are committed to continue to strengthen efforts to
address the challenges of peace and security for women. We therefore welcome the seriousness
with which the Security Council continues to address the question. In that connection, SADC

SADC takes this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for his report contained in document
S/2008/622, which provides an assessment of measures taken to enhance the implementation of
resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security. We also take note of the assessment on the
progress made in the protection of women against sexual and gender-based violence. The report

In our resolve to mainstream a gender perspective into all aspects of our lives, SADC heads of
State signed the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development on 17 August 2008. That instrument
has been hailed as an important step towards the empowerment of women, the elimination of
discrimination and the achievement of gender equality and equity. In the context of peace and

In conclusion, I wish to state that SADC remains committed to the full and effective
implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We, as the international community, have an
obligation to women the world over to ensure that their rights are promoted and their place in all
aspects of the peace process is assured. It is their equal participation and their full involvement

Gender equality and the empowerment of women is one of the founding principles of SADC and
is enshrined in the SADC Treaty of 1992. We have been greatly honoured by the leadership and
important contributions of women in recent peace processes and negotiations in our region. We
also take pride in the fact that, throughout our history, the women of Southern Africa have played

Furthermore, the Protocol specifies that, in time of armed conflict, States parties shall take such
steps as are necessary to prevent and eliminate incidents of human rights abuses, especially of
women and children, and ensure that the perpetrators of such abuses are brought to justice before
a court of competent jurisdiction. Sexual violence in conflict situations is inextricably linked to

From our experience in SADC, we have learned that it is important to build solidarity among all
stakeholders, particularly women. We therefore remain committed to working within a
consultative and collaborative framework to find peaceful solutions to conflicts. To that end, we
believe it would be important for women in local communities to be allowed to participate in

Women can make an even greater contribution to conflict prevention and settlement in all their
aspects. In post-conflict rehabilitation, we must make broader use of the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women as a fundamental document. We must
also devote greater attention to gender mainstreaming in United Nations efforts to reduce poverty

We welcome the concrete steps taken by the United Nations system to guarantee the exercise of
women's rights. We believe that there is a need to make more active use of the expertise of the
Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women. At the same time, we note that the
Secretary-General's report does not provide a comprehensive response to the Council's earlier

The United Nations should, as a priority, respond to systematic mass violence against women and
children. Equal attention should be given to all categories of such violence in conflicts. Of serious
concern are cases in which women and children are killed or injured, including as a result of the
indiscriminate or excessive use of force. Unfortunately, recent examples of that can be found in