General Women, Peace and Security

And finally to promote the active participation of civil society in the implementation of 1325 resolution and the National Action Plan. As I have stressed before, Portugal remains available to engage with the UN and other international actors in sharing experiences and good practices that allow us to move forward in this decisive area.

As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), it is incumbent upon us to take stock of the progress made since its adoption a decade ago and identify concrete actions to reinforce the integration of gender equality perspectives in the framework of peace and security.

Resolution 1325 (2000) was a crucial milestone, which we must duly underscore because it was with the adoption of that resolution that this topic took its place on the agenda of the Security Council and was therefore no longer to be considered a matter of secondary importance. Instead, it took on a crucial and relevant role in efforts towards international peace and security.

As we gather to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the situation of women and girls in conflict situations remains far from satisfactory. The report of the Secretary-General on the occasion of the tenth anniversary notes that “Despite an apparent firm foundation and promise, 10 years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), significant achievements are difficult to identify or quantify.

Mr. President,
Ten years ago atrocities in Somalia, Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia made even the hardliners soft - at least softer. For the first time, they let this Council discuss and agree on key questions for sustainable peace:
What do women want?
What do women need?
How can women contribute?

Mr. President, Norway supports the women, peace and security agenda because we know it is the only way to sustainable peace and to free millions of women and children from the appalling suffering we see in too many current conflicts. The suffering and humiliation is a scar on humanity's face. We cannot tolerate this.

We believe that true peace can be sustained only when each individual human being achieves freedom, secures dignity and leads a fulfilled life. This is the ultimate aim of resolution 1325 (2000).

Let us look at the past 10 years as years of preparation, of building awareness of the breadth and depth of the problem, of putting in place the structures and the tools. But we must also note that these 10 years of preparation have been costly to women's health and well-being. Hence the urgency of action. This second decade must be the decade of action on resolution 1325 (2000). We cannot wait another 10 years for action.

My delegation wishes to express its sincere appreciation to you, Mr. President, for organizing this important open debate on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security.

One decade on from the adoption of the Security Council's groundbreaking resolution 1325 (2000), we are confident that we can take the next steps. We will remain committed to taking practical and pragmatic actions with our allies and our partners. We will remain active and engaged, and we look forward to continuing our efforts and cooperation beyond this anniversary.