General Women, Peace and Security

In conclusion, with regard to developing such national action plans, Belgium wonders whether the Peacebuilding Commission could play a more significant role in the countries in which it is active. In the Central African Republic, the Commission, chaired by Belgium, has already striven as far as possible to ensure the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008).

If we make the effort to look beyond our New York bubble and cast an eye towards the situation on the ground, we are forced to recognize that the situation of women living in countries in conflict or emerging from it has not really improved since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) nine years ago. For Belgium, this status quo is unacceptable.

Fourthly, Belgium cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance and usefulness of developing national action plans for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Belgium is proud to announce that it developed such a plan of action last year and is ready to share its experience with any Member State that may be interested.

As far as Belgium is concerned, the situation is very simple. A year from now, we will celebrate the passage of 10 years since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). We therefore have one year left to fill the gap that exists between the programmes envisioned in New York or our capitals on the one hand, and, on the other, their financing and implementation on the ground.

Austria is committed to the objectives of resolution 1325 (2000). Our activities are firmly based on a national action plan adopted in August 2007. A working group made up of representatives of all ministries involved and the Austrian Development Agency reports annually to the Council of Ministers on measures undertaken under this action plan.

With the expansion of the monitoring and reporting mechanisms in resolution 1882 (2009) to situations where parties to armed conflict engage in rape and other sexual violence against children, a coherent and coordinated implementation of the mandates of both the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the special representative to address sexual violence in armed conflict will be crucial.

We welcome the considerable progress that has been made in strengthening the protection pillar of resolution 1325 (2000) with the adoption of resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence, as well as resolution 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict. Let me express our hope for a quick appointment of the special representative requested in resolution 1888 (2009).

Today's meeting will allow us to continue the review of the implementation of landmark resolution 1325 (2000). We would like to thank the delegation of Viet Nam for its efforts, which resulted in the adoption of resolution 1889 (2009) today. Furthermore, I would like to express my gratitude to Deputy Secretary- General Asha-Rose Migiro for her continued leadership and commitment to gender equality and women's participation.

Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). This opportunity should be used to define future priorities and to identify how to address the remaining and new challenges in fully implementing resolution 1325 (2000). A set of global indicators, as called for in the resolution adopted today, will complement this important work.

Austria is planning to continue its financial contributions to UNIFEM for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We also plan to host an experts meeting in Vienna in the first half of 2010. We welcome the Secretary-General's positive reply to a letter sent in August 2008 by women leaders, including Austria's then-Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik.