Peacekeeping

The importance of the United Nations leading by example in the area of gender equality is essential. Australia is concerned at the significant decrease over the past 12 months in the share of women holding senior positions in United Nations peacekeeping, political and peacebuilding missions. We support the Secretary-General's call for a review of this situation, in consultation with UN-Women.

In addition, such issues must not be overlooked in mission drawdowns and during transitions from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. Australia supports the Secretary-General's calls for the embedding of sector- specific gender experts, including in post-conflict recovery programmes, in order to ensure that the rights of women and girls are protected.

“Thirdly, our child protection advisers are working closely with all civilian components, such as those dealing with human rights, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, rule of law, justice, protection of civilians coordinators, women protection advisers, gender and security sector reform to promote synergies and a child-sensitive approach to their work.”

“ As a key part of this unique partnership, our multidimensional peacekeeping operations are of course uniquely placed to contribute to the actual protection of children affected by conflict. They provide a common platform that combines political, justice, human rights, gender, child protection and other civilian expertise with military, police and corrections experts and myriad logistical and operational capabilities.”

The United States welcomes and supports the recommendations in the Secretary-General's report, particularly with regard to the need for all parties to conflict to make specific and time-bound commitments to cease acts of sexual violence and bring perpetrators to justice.

For example, the United States believes that it is crucial to increase women's participation in security forces involved in preventing conflict and building peace as one way to reduce conflict-related sexual violence. The United States funds and implements the Global Peace Operations Initiative, which has facilitated the training of 2,451 female peacekeepers worldwide.

My country welcomed the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), which defines the role of women in conflict prevention, conflict management and peacebuilding. The national action plans that Member States are called upon to draw up pursuant to that resolution seem to be the most effective means for attaining the goals of the resolution.

My country also supports the main initiatives launched by the United Nations to combat sexual violence in times of conflict, as set out in the report.

In addition to those measures, which are aimed at preventing violence against women in conflict, my country reiterates the urgent need to put an end to impunity if we are to ensure that every society in the thrall of conflict, wherever it may be, draws lessons from the atrocities committed against civilians and prevents such atrocities from being repeated.