Reconstruction and Peacebuilding

Furthermore, we welcome the fact that, in the resolution adopted this morning, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Support Office are encouraged to systematically include women in peacebuilding efforts and to improve the participation of women in political and economic decision-making from the earliest stages of the peacebuilding process.

As far as military operations are concerned, a study by Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in the provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan showed, among other things, that the effectiveness of the International Security Assistance Force in cooperating with, and winning the trust of, the Afghan population is improved if the armed forces of troop-contributing nations include more wom

But even women who have been violated have a voice. These are not merely voices of victims, but voices of citizens who want to contribute directly to conflict prevention, the maintenance of peace and post- conflict reconstruction in their countries. That is the second dimension: the empowerment of women in matters of peace and war.

Women and girls are often the primary victims of conflict and have specific needs in post-conflict situations, especially when they have been displaced, are refugees, or have been mistreated or maimed by anti-personnel landmines, as so rightly noted by Ms. Alberdi this morning. Those specific needs must be taken into account in assessing countries' requirements as they emerge permanently from conflict.

Luxembourg also stresses the important role that the Peacebuilding Commission could play in encouraging all parties, including States on its agenda, to provide for the participation of women in their peacebuilding strategies and to ensure that women's civil society organizations be effectively consulted and represented in country-specific configurations.

Libya has therefore launched several initiatives to empower women and enhance their role in African countries. In cooperation with Nigeria and Cuba, we have established a South-South health-care programme. In 2006, we launched the Al-Qadhafi programme for African youth, women and children, which places particular emphasis on health care, education, vocational training and human rights.

We welcome the fact that three women are now serving as heads of missions. Women are playing indispensable roles in some peacekeeping operations. One example is the Indian women's formed police unit in Liberia, which is very impressive. The Peacebuilding Commission, for its part, has incorporated a gender perspective in its country-specific peacebuilding strategies.

This is a major challenge the Council must address. We are therefore pleased that resolution 1889 (2009), just adopted, stressed this aspect: the importance of empowering women and girls in responding to their particular needs in post-conflict situations.

Thirdly, we need to focus not only on protection but also on the empowerment of women, who could be strong promoters of the peacebuilding process. We must find a way to ensure the empowerment of women in post- conflict situations, by improving their socio-economic conditions. This can be achieved b promoting access to health services, education, vocational training, income generation activities and land and property rights.

One good example is cited in the Secretary- General's latest report: the project is funded through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security to deliver health care, education and counselling to women and girls in Nepal who have been left vulnerable by conflict in that country.