Canada (on behalf of the Human Security Network)

In this spirit, I thank the Secretary General for his report which outlines the United Nations System-wide action plan for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325. The Network applauds the efforts of the Secretary General and the UN system in this area and strongly welcomes this action plan which it commits to supporting in full.

Members of the Network thus strongly urge the Council to give full consideration to the report of the Secretary General containing the UN System-Wide Action Plan on the Implementation of Resolution 1325, and to implementing the recommendations therein.

We thank the Secretary-General for the Action Plan for the Implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security across the UN systems contained in document S/2005/636 of 10 October 2005. The report is very comprehensive and written with a view to strengthening commitment and accountability at the highest levels, as well as to allow for improved accountability, monitoring and reporting on progress of implementation of the UN system.

We are pleased to welcome the UN system-wide action plan, presented by the Secretary-General. It will help ensure closer attention to gender perspectives in conflict prevention and peacekeeping activities.

Italy

These are well known facts and the UN has taken steps to fight such patterns. Starting with Security Council resolution 1325 of 31 October 2000, and as recently as the latest report of the Secretary General, on Women and Peace and Security, published on October 10. Its action plan defines twelve fields of intervention, which are illustrated in the lengthy annexes to the report, indicating strategies, concrete steps, players and timetables.

Japan

Japan agrees with the point made in last year's presidential statement, comprehensive, coordinated and system-wide efforts are indispensable to full implementation of resolution 1325. It therefore welcomes the Secretary-General's system-wide action plan on implementation of that resolution, which was just presented by Ms. Mayanja. We will study the plan in greater detail in due course, but today I would like to make two preliminary comments.

Kenya

At the inter-governmental level, I would appeal for closer co-ordination. The idea of working through the High-Level Committee on Programmes with participation of all concerned organizations and components of the UN Secretariat, is a good one. Our experience in using a system of lead agencies; to ensure dialogue as envisaged in the report, has to be very carefully implemented. Institutional jealousies arise that can hamper long-term gain for women.

The same can be said for co-ordination within the United Nations itself. Appointing a group of focal points instead of one focal point may diminish the institutional rivalry that so frequently manifests itself in our work.

.... Kenya supports the recommendations by the Secretariat to biennialize reporting on implementation of the Action Plan. This can be interspersed with thematic reports which we agree will balance the implementation and policy-making cycles and make for a more rigorous implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000).

Liechtenstein

We commend the remarkable work undertaken by the 37 UN entities which have contributed to the elaboration of the system-wide action plan. The action plan provides a wealth of information on activities being carried out for women in conflict and post-conflict situations. This information should facilitate the review of the impact of resolution 1325. In order to make this possible, it will be necessary to provide for interaction and consultation with civil society, in particular women's non-governmental organizations. At the national level, such interaction could form the basis of the establishment of action plans for the implementation of the resolution, it would help raise awareness of the need to promote the active participation of women in the decision-making regarding all aspects of conflict prevention and resolution as well as peace-building.

The action plan provides a wealth of information on activities being carried out for women in conflict and post-conflict situations. This information should facilitate the review of the impact of resolution 1325. In order to make this possible, it will be necessary to provide for interaction and consultation with civil society, in particular women's non-governmental organizations.

Malaysia

This Council has clearly acknowledged the importance of bringing gender perspectives to the center of all United Nations efforts related to peace and security and has called for the appropriate actions under a number of thematic and cross-cutting areas. In this connection my delegation commends the efforts of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Women and Peace and Security, in partnership with Member States and non-governmental organizations in the preparation of the System-Wide Plan of Action that would offer greater focus on enhanced collaboration for the full implementation of the resolution. In this regard, my delegation has taken note with interest the action plan annexed to the report of the Secretary-General as contained in document S/2005/636.

Myanmar

I wish to commend the Secretary-General for submitting an action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325(2000) on women and peace and security across the United Nation system. I have noted that the action plan contains strategic programmes as well as quick impact strategies. We are happy to see that the plan has been structured around 12 important areas of action.

Philippines

The Philippines welcomes the establishment of a UN system-wide action plan to implement resolution 1325 which has been explained comprehensively by Ms. Mayanja, the Secretary General's Gender Adviser. We note that many of the components of this action are not entirely new and have already been operational for some time. What is new about the plan, however, is the orchestration of all the actions towards realizing 1325. This action plan is valuable not only in providing a coherent picture of our efforts in achieving 1325, but also in pinpointing areas that we might have missed and functions that could be overlapping. The system-wide action plan would therefore contribute much to the efficiency and accountability of the UN system on gender mainstreaming in the field of peace and conflict resolution.

Romania

States, UN, regional organizations and NGO's must work together in order to fill the gap that still exists between the discourse and diplomatic perspective, and the reality on the ground.

As a starting point in this direction stands the recent report of the Secretary General on women, peace and security, particularly the system-wide action plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325. We convey our appreciation to the Secretariat for such a unique and complex work that we believe it is a useful tool and framework of action, at the same time, for gender mainstreaming in all activities being carried out by the UN system.

Samoa (on behalf of Pacific Islands Forum)

United Nations peace operations must lead by example. We wish to see greater participation by women in peacekeeping missions and increased accountability for the implementation of gender mainstreaming in the United Nations as a whole.

South Africa

We note that progress has been made on a number of areas; however there is room for improvement especially in the area of mainstreaming gender consciousness in UN reporting and implementation systems. Mr. President, these goals of resolution 1325 can only become a reality, through better information, coordination and cooperation as well as strengthened commitment and accountability at all levels of the United Nations system. Enhanced cooperation with regional organisations and Member States, as well as civil society and women's national machineries is also essential for the success of its implementation.

My delegation... notes with appreciation, the UN System-Wide Action Plan for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 contained in the Report of the Secretary-General on women, peace and security S/2005/636. This working document identifies numerous actions that different role-players within the UN system can play in furthering its implementation and which can be used to monitor progress. We encourage immediate implementation of the SG's proposals so as to put this action plan into practice. Member States can also enhance the UN system-wide action plan by continuing to implement resolution 1325, including through the development of national action plans or other national level strategies.

Sri Lanka

Security Council Resolution 1325... sets-forth responsibilities that should be borne by the international community and Member States of the UN to ensure gender perspective and security for women in its multi-dimensional aspects related to peace, security and peace building.
It is timely that the United Nations re-doubled its efforts in taking immediate coherent, co-ordinated actions to translate the commitments made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as well as in the Security Council Resolution 1325.

....[I]t is essential that the Security Council... request the Secretary General to update, monitor and review the UN System-wide Action Plan, on an annual basis

Tanzania

We are encouraged by the adoption of a system-wide action plan on the implementation of the resolution. The action plan presents us with an implementation framework that will allow for co-ordination and collaboration amongst various UN bodies. It will also provide us with a monitoring framework upon which to measure the results.

Requisite resources, both financial and human, need to be made available for the successful implementation of the action plan.

United Kingdom (on behalf of EU)

We encourage the Secretary-General to continue to identify women candidates for senior level positions within the UN system, including as Special Representatives. As we move towards implementation, coordination within the UN will continue to be key. The many initiatives in areas such as training and capacity building must be mutually reinforcing, resources should be wisely used and ideas and expertise ought to be shared among stakeholders.

...One important way the UN can support women’s rights in post-conflict situations is by supporting legal systems to recognize and protect those rights. This is a significant role for the proposed new Rule of Law Assistance Unit. We hope the Unit not only helps the UN to give attention and resources to the establishment of the rule of law but also ensures women's access to and participation in justice.

...We welcome the UN system-wide action plan produced by the Secretary-General, which will help ensure closer attention to gender perspectives in conflict prevention and peacekeeping activities.

OSAGI

Since this resolution was adopted, a lot of progress has been made within the UN system itself, in terms of understanding how to incorporate gender concerns into all aspects of peace and security. Department-specific action plans on gender mainstreaming are being prepared; gender-sensitive guidelines and new tools in a variety of areas have been issued; staff is being trained.

As requested by the Security Council in its Presidential Statement S/PRST/2004/40, a system-wide action plan for implementing resolution 1325 has been developed, in cooperation with the Interagency Task Force on Women, Peace and Security. The plan, to which 37 UN entities contributed, is before you in the Secretary- General's report S/2005/636.

The objectives of the action plan, covering the period from 2005 to 2007, are to formulate concrete strategies, actions and programmes to advance the role of women; support efforts by Member States and civil society; and strengthen the commitment and accountability of the UN system at the highest levels.