Peacekeeping

At the same time, women are still underrepresented in decision-making with regard to conflict resolution. Their initiatives and visions for peace and security are rarely heard during peace negotiations. In that regard, I would like to stress that the international community should use the potential of women as agents of preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

As an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping efforts, Ukraine has for years contributed women civilian police and military observers to the Organization's peacekeeping missions. We believe that the presence of women in United Nations missions can foster confidence and trust among local populations, which are critical elements in any peacekeeping mission.

We are also institutionalizing gender-based violence training in key institutions for training of security forces including those involved in peacekeeping missions.

We believe that the Security Council has a special responsibility to support women's participation in peace processes by ensuring a gender balance in United Nations peacekeeping missions. We welcome the fact that the Council has already recognized the important role of women in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

My delegation is pleased to state in this regard that Tunisia is about to finalize and adopt its national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). This plan will, among other things, encourage women's training in peacekeeping and peacebuilding so as to provide qualified personnel who could be deployed in field-based United Nations operations.

Moreover, women still have little access to decision-making positions. Their participation in peace and security processes remains far below desired levels, and the gender composition of peacekeeping missions is still unbalanced. In short, major gaps in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) remain to be addressed.

It should be recognized that today there is greater awareness of sexual violence in conflict, as well as an increased focus on addressing it.

We welcome the efforts ofthe senior Police Adviser of the DPKO, including her struggle to increase the number of female police officers in peace keeping operations since this also responds to operational needs on the ground. Sweden is committed to continuing to sustain at least the same proportion of female police officers in peace keeping operations as in the National Police Service.

The Secretary General's report shows once again, that enhancing women's participation is an efficient method to achieve security and development for local communities as a whole. Given the importance ofhaving women in leading positions we would strongly encourage the appointment of more female Special Representatives and deputies of missions. We welcome the targeted efforts to train and deploy more female mediators.

A concrete example is the upcoming appointment of a special ambassador for the work of implementing UNSCR 1325. Other concrete examples from the field include Sudan, where Sweden is contributing some 45 million SEK, via UNIFEM, to a variety of organisations promoting women's role and participation. Sweden also contributes to UNIFEM in Afghanistan with some 62 million SEK, including for support to the Afghan National Action Plan for Women.