Peacekeeping

Pakistan is equally conscious of the importance of the gender sensitization of peacekeeping troops and is complying with this important aspect by incorporating the two United Nations standard generic training modules in its training doctrine.

As the largest troop-contributing country, Pakistan fully recognizes the important role of women in peacekeeping operations. We are proud of our women who have served as police officers, doctors and nurses in difficult and dangerous operations in Africa and the Balkans. Currently, we have 58 women deployed in five peacekeeping missions, including 38 in the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operationin Darfur.

Ten years after the adoption of 1325 - at the NATO Ministerial Council meeting earlier this month - I called for including 1325 in NATO's concept of operation. We obviously have a job to do, to make the military men take this seriously. As Minister of Defence, I note that all of the UN force commanders are men. It is high time to rectify this.

For Norway's own sake, beyond what we have already done, I hereby announce that we immediately take on the following commitments:

1. We continue to increase the number of female Norwegian soldiers and officers, both in our standing military forces and our contributions to international operations. The next two commanders of Norway's national command in Afghanistan will be women.

3.We will contribute experts on gender and gender-based violence to international peacekeeping operations. Last week we deployed such a team of experts from Norway's national police to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH.

2. Recognizing that we also have a way to go, I will now make sure our military operations rest on a gender analysis and adjust our operational demands accordingly. We will strengthen gender education of our armed forces and our police. And we will introduce a new system of reporting on gender and the role of women in field missions, starting in December with the Norwegian led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Maymaneh in Afghanistan.

With 373 female peacekeepers, Nigeria ranks first among troop-contributing countries in the number of women among its military and police personnel wearing the Blue Helmet in ongoing peacekeeping operations. We believe that female peacekeepers have a comparative advantage when liaising with local communities on matters such as sexual exploitation, abuse and violence.

Secondly, while there have been excellent policy developments on resolution 1325 (2000), they have rarely been translated into action on the ground. To ensure more action, the Security Council could better incorporate 1325 issues into its daily work, for example, when it discusses country situations, peacekeeping mandates or sanctions, or when it holds Arria Formula meetings.

Member States also have responsibilities for the implementation of 1325 (2000) nationally and within their regions. Women constitute up to 30 per cent of New Zealand's contribution to United Nations and United Nations-mandated peace missions — among thehighest rates in the world. The New Zealand Defence Force pursues a diversity strategy that values the full integration of women, including at senior levels.

The Netherlands is committed to strengthening partnerships with men through financial support of training efforts. An active role for women is essential in interventions aimed at ending conflicts and increase security, stability and human security globally. But is not enough. We need the partnership of men.