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RESOLUTION 1325
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Angolan
Statement on Women, Peace and Security
Mr. Lucas, Permanent Representative, Angola, Security Council Open
Debate on women, peace and security, 28 October 2004
Today, the Security Council is meeting four years after the adoption
of its important resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security.
It is an occasion on which to assess the progress achieved and the
gaps and challenges remaining in the implementation of the resolution.
The presence of distinguished personalities at the meeting attests
to the importance of this debate and of the subject matter we are
addressing. Resolution 1325 (2000) deals with fundamental issues relating
to the Security Council’s mandate and the wider concerns of
the international community.
The main thrust of the resolution regards the participation and involvement
of women in our collective efforts for the maintenance and promotion
of peace and security, the protection of women and girls from human
rights abuses — which constitute the most abhorrent and condemnable
aspect of present-day conflict — and the mainstreaming of gender
perspectives in issues directly related to conflict and post-conflict
situations. Those are the main subjects dealt with by resolution 1325
(2000), which the Security Council, the United Nations system, States,
civil society and other actors must address in order to advance the
fundamental role that women can and should play in ensuring a more
peaceful, just and equitable world.
The Security Council’s adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) reflected
a three-fold reality. First, it recognized women’s potential
in contributing to the prevention of conflict. In their communities,
women are the most reliable source of information about mounting tensions
and signs of instability, not to
mention signs of gender violence, and if their views are taken into
account, they can play a decisive role in providing early warning
of conflict.
In the report before us (S/2004/814), the Secretary-General acknowledges
the unique role played by indigenous women in conflict resolution
as mediators and peace-builders and, in that context, expresses his
intention to develop a strategy and an action plan to increase the
attention focused on gender perspectives in conflict prevention and
to ensure that women’s contributions, needs and priorities are
included in conflict-prevention strategies and earlywarning efforts.
The second reality is that women and girls are the most conspicuous
victims of violence in situations of armed conflict, as a result of
non-compliance by parties to conflict with international humanitarian,
human rights, refugee and criminal law. Indeed, there has been international
recognition of the seriousness of genderbased violence and a growing
international commitment to ensure accountability. Key challenges
confronting States and the international community include the need
to apply increased pressure on parties to armed conflict to cease
such violence, to bring to justice the perpetrators of such crimes
against women, to ensure the effective prosecution of gender-based
violence and to end impunity.
The third reality is the need to mainstream gender perspectives in
relation to issues directly related to conflict and post-conflict
situations. The adoption of
the resolution provided an impetus to include gender concerns as a
regular part of peacekeeping mission mandates, and gender advisers
have been included in every multidimensional peacekeeping operation.
The development of a comprehensive strategy and action plan for mainstreaming
gender perspectives into peacekeeping operations, in particular in
the planning of new operations, as stated in the Secretary-General’s
report, would translate into reality this important policy principle,
embodied in resolution 1325 (2000).
We still have a long way to go towards fully implementing resolution
1325 (2000), and the remaining challenges must be addressed by all
stakeholders. Member States, the Security Council, the United Nations
system and civil society organizations must pool their efforts, enhance
coordination and adopt creative approaches to advocacy, education
and mobilization in all areas relating to the resolution. Civil society
and its organizations are already playing an
important role in this respect, and that potential should be further
enhanced. The role of women’s networks in improving conditions
for women is well known; if properly supported, they can play an increasingly
important role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding and in ensuring
access to justice for all women.
Monitoring and reporting on implementation are crucial issues in making
resolution 1325 (2000) fully operational. The recommendations contained
in the Secretary-General’s report give particular emphasis to
that issue by establishing provisions for monitoring and reporting
on all areas related to the resolution. The Secretary-General expresses
his intention to routinely incorporate gender perspectives in all
thematic and
country reports to the Security Council and to continue to closely
monitor the progress made.
Taking account of proposals made during the open debate last year
(see S/PV.4852), we are of the view that the Security Council should
consider
establishing a mechanism to monitor the progress accomplished on this
very important issue.
In conclusion, I would like to express my country’s commitment
to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). In July this
year, an Angolan
delegation met with experts from the Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women to discuss Angola’s first report
to the Committee.
The Angolan Vice-Minister for Family and the Promotion of Women, in
a statement to the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-eighth
session, declared:
"Despite the recognition given to Angolan women for their efforts
and their involvement in peace promotion, they seldom have an equal
participation in decisions that lead to peace. Nor do they participate
in conflict resolution. Even so, women are often the first to reach
across ethnic and religious divides in order to rebuild communities
and families torn apart due to violence.”
Nonetheless, Angolan women are making great strides. They are showing
remarkable will and determination to overcome their present situation,
and we are convinced that they will be successful in a relatively
short period of time.
The Declaration of heads of State or Government of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) committed SADC member States to ensuring
equal representation of women and men in the process of decision-making
at all levels and in SADC’s structures, and to attain, by 2005,
30 per cent representation by women in political structures and decision-making
bodies. It is our hope that that Declaration will be translated into
reality and will provide a decisive boost for women’s emancipation
in Southern Africa, and in Angola in particular.
With the electoral process due to take place in 2006, Angolan women
will have a unique opportunity to claim their fair share in the decision-making
structures of the country — an endeavour to which we believe
they are equal.
Finally, we are pleased to express our full support for the presidential
statement that the President of the Security Council will deliver
later on behalf of the
Council, which contains important proposals for the further implementation
of resolution 1325 (2000).
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