Resolution 1325 (2000) remains our most important guideline in enhancing the role of women in
conflict prevention and settlement, post-conflict rehabilitation and the protection of women's
rights during conflicts. We must implement the resolution's provisions by creating equal
opportunities for women to participate actively in all peacekeeping and security efforts and in

It is important that gender mainstreaming in United Nations work, including in the field, yield
concrete results in the protection and advancement of women and girls in conflict and postconflict
societies. That requires balanced system-wide approaches that provide, first and foremost,
for the full participation of women themselves in those processes.

We are not suggesting the imposition of a quota for women in such processes; we want to promote
the greatest possible impact of their participation on outcomes and their implementation.
It is also essential to enhance women's participation and the consideration of women's needs in
peacebuilding and peacekeeping operations across the board. In many cases, for example, we

To achieve all of those objectives, professionals involved in mediation and peacebuilding should
have the tools they need to mainstream the gender perspective in their work. Reports of the United
Nations and of various early warning mechanisms would benefit from the identification and
analysis of empirical data disaggregated by gender and other key factors. Sources for such

That obliges the international community and, in particular, the Security Council to focus their
efforts on including women in peace processes to the greatest extent possible. To that end, a
number of creative ways to involve women in peace processes have been identified over the past
few years, and we must make a careful effort to document and promote such models so that they

Over the past eight years, the Security Council has closely followed the implementation of
resolution 1325 (2000). The report of the Secretary-General (S/2008/622) clearly indicates that the
overall peace and security architecture of the United Nations has been more sensitive to women's
needs in situations of armed conflict and post-conflict societies. However, a noticeable gap

It is indispensable to understand that gender equality is not the same as strict equality between
men and women; rather, women and men must have the same opportunities to exercise their
rights and meet their responsibilities. If we understand and support that principle, women will be
able to better play their role as essential agents in the promotion of peace and development.

In our view, it is critical to include women in negotiations and in the preparation of the strategies
and objectives of mediators. That will facilitate the analysis of men's and women's differing needs,
interests and links to power in a particular conflict situation, of the inequalities between them and
of their roles in society.

When we refer to violence against women in conflict zones, we must bear in mind the violence
and psychological terror visited upon Palestinian women suffering under Israeli occupation, in
brazen violation of all the principles of international law. We can all imagine the terrible suffering
of pregnant women who give birth at checkpoints because they are prevented from reaching

We recognize that the greatest share of responsibility for the implementation of the resolution lies
with Member States. Indeed, the United Nations cannot provide for greater female participation in
peacekeeping operations if Member States do not ensure that there are sufficient women
candidates for peacekeeping missions. One cannot expect the promotion of women's rights and