A 1325 Call to Action, Australia, Sep 25 2010

Countries: 
Asia
Oceania

Australia is conscious that women and girls account for the vast majority of persons adversely affected by armed conflict. However, women also play a critical role in conflict prevention, resolution, and peace-building.

We give high priority to securing the full involvement of women in international peace and security efforts.

It is essential that obligations at international humanitarian and human rights law protecting women and girls are fulfilled to the letter.

All parties to armed conflict must commit to protect women and girls from gender-based and sexual violence.

Continued impunity for those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, including gender-based and sexual violence, is utterly unacceptable. These heinous crimes must be prosecuted.

Women must take their rightful place at the peace negotiation table.

Australia is a co-sponsor and proud supporter of Women, Peace and Security. At the tenth anniversary of Resolution 1325, we re-affirm our commitment by continuing to:

1. Ensure the protection needs of women and girls are met, including in complex emergencies.
2. Uphold and enforce a zero tolerance approach to sexual abuse and exploitation.
3. Train and deploy Australian peacekeepers to the highest professional standards.
4. Support UN nominations and recruitment policies promoting gender equality.
5. Ensure women in the Australian military are deployed to all operational theatres, selected for command positions, and promoted to star rank.
6. Increase the proportion of women in the Australian police force. [Currently thirty-two per cent of Australian police officers are female.]
7. Ensure Australia's laws and national security frameworks protect the human rights of women and girls in accordance with our international obligations.

Today, Australia hereby furthers our ongoing 1325 support by committing to:

1. Finalising Australia's National Action Plan on 1325.
2. Supporting access to justice, including women and girl-focused legal aid and law enforcement.
3. Strengthening the role of women in conflict prevention, resolution, and peace-building.
4. Increasing financial support to GenCAP and ProCAP.
5. Rolling-out the Analytical Inventory of Peacekeeping Practice for Addressing Conflict-related Sexual Violence.