General Women, Peace and Security

Canada's long-standing support for the rights and well-being of women and girls in situations of conflict is reflected through our continuing active implementation of Council resolutions, including through strong advocacy work, significant international programming addressing sexual violence, support for civil society and efforts to strengthen international criminal justice mechanisms.

All the United Nations world conferences on women have recognized the interlinkage between gender equality, development and peace. In 1995, at the Fourth World Conference on Women, Member States devoted a section of the Beijing Platform for Action to women and armed conflict, noting that women and girls were particularly affected by armed conflict because of their status in society and their sex.

I thank you, Mr. President, and the delegation of Uganda for convening this important high-level meeting to mark the tenth anniversary of the historic resolution 1325 (2000). We thank the Secretary-General for his report contained in document S/2010/498, on women and peace and security, as well as his report contained in document S/2010/466, on women's participation in peacebuilding, which he presented to the Council a few days ago.

Uruguay believes that the women and peace and security agenda is a fundamental part of a larger agenda that inextricably links the situation of children in armed conflict and, of course, the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), great advances have been made on the women and peace and security agenda, in terms of both breadth and depth, in such a way that today it occupies an important place in the range of legal instruments, policies and concrete activities of this Organization in conflict and post-conflict situations.

The presidential statement that we hope will be adopted calls for another stock-taking in five years. But we better have more to report and we better have accomplished more between now and then, otherwise, there will be those who will lose faith in our international capacity to respond to such an overwhelming need – because, ultimately, we measure our progress by the improvements in the daily lives of people around the world.

Thank you very much, First Deputy Prime Minister, and I want to thank you and the Government of Uganda in its role as Council President for convening this important meeting on the occasion of the 10th anniversary.

So here we are at the 10th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and we're here to reaffirm the goals set forth in this historic resolution, but more than that, to put forth specific actions, as my colleague, the foreign minister of Austria, just did in such a commendable set of proposals.

I would like to thank Secretary General Ban for his leadership. He has defined a vision for women's empowerment and protection that is guiding this organization, and he is helping to build the institutions that can advance our collective mission.

And finally, I would like to honor our colleagues in civil society, many of whom are on the frontlines – literally on the battle lines – in the fight for gender equality in conflict zones around the world. Thanks in particular to Bineta Diop and Mary Robinson, co-chairs of the UN Civil Society Advisory Group for Women, Peace and Security, who have been tireless advocates for peace and for women's inclusion.