Statement by Angola

The Secretary-General’s report (S/2016/822) provides key information on progress made following the high-level review, highlighting some headway made in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). More women are involved in peace talks, more peace agreements include provisions related to the special needs of women and girls in support of their rights, additional personnel are being trained to prevent and respond to sexual and other forms of violence against women, and more countries are implementing national action plans or related strategies. The establishment of national focal point networks for women and peace and security is step forward in strengthening the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda and in assisting Member States and regional organizations through the exchange of best practices and by improving coordination, funding and assistance programmes.

Since the holding more than a year ago of the open debate celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, and the high-level review, this is an occasion to assess the progress achieved so far. The global study on the resolution’s implementation highlighted the critical contribution of women to peace and security. We join the Executive Director of UN-Women in her call on Member States, regional organizations and the United Nations to do more to take forward the study’s recommendations and turn commitments into concrete action.

Following the review of resolution 1325 (2000), significant progress was made in formulating a national action plan, which has already been drafted by the Commission for Social Policy and is due to be approved soon by the Council of Ministers. The action plan sets out seven objectives, with specified activities, goals and indicators of performance aimed at increasing the participation of women and integrating gender equality into the prevention and resolution of conflicts; the training and empowerment of women, girls and boys focused on gender equality and gender-based violence, the promotion and protection of women’s and girls’ rights, their empowerment and education; the participation of civil society in preventing and eliminating gender-based violence; raising awareness and knowledge of the women and peace and security agenda in all ministerial departments, including a gender-perspective in the national budget with a view to fulfilling the commitments set out in resolution 1325 (2000); promoting women’s socioeconomic development in rural communities; increasing food security and contributing to poverty eradication.