Peacekeeping

Precisely for those reasons, India has contributed a female peacekeeping unit of 100 personnel, which is at present deployed in Liberia. That mission in Liberia stands out as the only one of its kind among the ongoing United Nations peacekeeping operations. We commend the work of the Secretary-General in mainstreaming the gender perspective in the United Nations recruitment process.

India has consistently held that greater participation by women in areas of conflict prevention, peace negotiations, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction is the sine qua non condition for lasting peace and security. As far as the United Nations is concerned, its achievements have been at best modest, in particular in terms of the deployment of women in peacekeeping forces.

What can Member States do? I will give the Council just a few examples. Germany has advocated the inclusion of gender advisers in all European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) missions. The mission of the European Union-led peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had, for the first time, such an adviser among its personnel. During Germany's presidency, gender advisers were part of all ESDP missions.

The United Nations plays a unique role in conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. However, during the 60 years of United Nations peacekeeping, no more than seven women have served as Special Representatives of the Secretary-General in the field. No woman has ever been nominated as a lead mediator in a peace process led by the United Nations. This has to change.

In conclusion, allow me to emphasize that, in an effort to ensure equality between men and women, Ecuador is working to identify the most appropriate way of setting up a national gender equality council. The challenges are numerous. But there is a reality that must be changed.

These three objectives are also those that Denmark is prioritizing in its new national action plan for implementing resolution 1325 (2000). In order to be able to monitor progress, we have developed indicators for each objective. Last year, Denmark revised its national action plan. The new plan for 2008- 2013 is based on experience from our first plan.

We align ourselves with the statement to be delivered later by the representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union. Here, I shall make additional remarks in my national capacity. Almost a decade has passed since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). We have witnessed much progress in the area of the empowerment of women.

The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is a collective endeavour. Along with States, the international community, including the United Nations, has an important and unique role to play in that regard. Every agency of the system should play its part in the context of a common and consistent approach.

As to the specific issue of sexual violence, my delegation welcomes the recent adoptions of resolutions 1882 (2009) and 1888 (2009), which provide for the strengthened implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008).

Thirdly, we must support and encourage the growing presence of women among the Blue Helmets and police officers in peacekeeping operations. We can all strive in this regard to develop women's units and enhanced expertise on gender issues within our own armed forces and police forces.