Implementation

We know that the global landscape is challenging, but the international community has made tangible gains in the past year, in partnership with United Nations. First, the women and peace and security national focal point network, spearheaded by Spain, will drive the coordination and implementation of the women and peace and security agenda at the national level. As a founding member of that network, the United Arab Emirates is committed to translating the women and peace and security agenda domestically.

Secondly, the League of Arab States and UN- Women hosted a ministerial conference in Cairo last month on women achieving peace and security in the Arab Region. That conference facilitated the implementation of the regional strategy and action plan on resolution 1325 (2000) and adopted a number of resolutions on financing and monitoring mechanisms in order to enhance accountability and ensure serious commitment to achieving the goals of the women and peace and security agenda.

Thirdly, the Security Council now hosts the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security, led by the United Kingdom and Spain, which focuses on country-specific situations in order to mainstream gender considerations. But it is not enough to merely turn the tide. As an international community, and particularly at the United Nations, we are attempting to shift how the system operates in order to place greater focus on conflict prevention and sustaining peace at the policy level. That is something that we will continue to strive to achieve as an international player committed to the full realization of the women and peace and security agenda.