IMplementation

Last year, therefore, when we reviewed the 15 years since the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), the Security Council recognized the urgent need to effectively implement all its provisions at the international, regional, subregional and national levels.

Senegal has also taken the innovative approach of translating resolution 1325 (2000) into the main popular languages of Senegal in order to facilitate ownership of its contents by the population and to promote capacity- building for women, for therein lies the success of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

Senegal has expressed its national commitment in favour of resolution 1325 (2000) at the West African subregional level, at the African continental level and at the

international level. With respect to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Senegal has participated actively in the planning, organization and monitoring of periodic regional conferences where experiences with the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) are shared. At the first such conference, organized in September 2010 in Dakar, the ECOWAS

Regional Action Plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) was adopted.

It was pursuant to this regional action plan that Senegal drew up its own national action plan for implementing resolution 1325 (2000), which revolves around three pillars. The first pillar is prevention, which involves setting up monitoring structures to better detect and fight against all forms of violence against women. The second pillar is participation, favouring the involvement of women in the conflict- prevention, management and resolution mechanisms and in traditional governance bodies. The third pillar is assistance and restructuring, which are primarily aimed at protecting the physical and mental health of women, their economic empowerment, specific support for women from vulnerable groups, and the launching of programmes and structures that take into account the specific needs of women in conflict and post- conflict phases.

It is in this spirit that many efforts are currently being made in Africa, where the commitment of regional organizations clearly shows that peace is inextricably linked with gender equality. In this respect, we welcome regular holding of consultative meetings among the member States of the African Union to assess regional mechanisms for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). The most recent of these meetings was held in Addis Ababa in December 2015 at the initiative of Mrs. Bineta Diop, African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, who is also the person who conceived, hosted and popularized the situation room I referred to earlier. We welcome her leadership and tireless efforts to guarantee the safety of women and children in countries affected by conflict in Africa.

Senegal also actively participates in other regional initiatives such as the intergenerational dialogues on peace and security involving women and girls. It is along the same lines that my country joined the wonderful Spanish initiative that my colleague Román Oyarzun Marchesi has so eloquently spoken about, namely, the establishment of the national focal point network for women, peace and security. The first meeting of that network took place on 23 September, with the participation of Senegal.