Preventive actions in post-conflict countries, including comprehensive reform of judicial and law enforcement systems, are important as the only way to ensure the rule of law and better protection of the rights of women, particularly in protecting them from violence and increasing their participation in the law enforcement sector. My country believes that positive experience in that area must be mainstreamed and disseminated.
Kyrgyzstan welcomes the report of the Secretary-General (S/2011/598*) and his recommendations, including the strategic framework to clearly guide actions to implement resolution 1325 (2000) at the national, regional and global levels in the next 10 years.
Kyrgyzstan has made significant headway over the past two years in promoting the participation of women in the country's political life, conducting democratic reforms and peace-based initiatives. The 2010 national referendum resulted in the election of the first female president in Central Asia. Today, women occupy nearly one-third of the parliamentary seats.
In conclusion, I would like to point out that work has begun on a draft national strategy on achieving gender equality in the Kyrgyz Republic by 2020, as well as a draft national plan of action on achieving gender equality for the period 2012-2014. Those documents will stipulate further measures for strengthening the role of women in the area of peace and security, including in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).
Following the inter-ethnic conflict in southern Kyrgyzstan in 2010, special importance was given to supporting female initiatives in the area of conflict resolution, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction. In that difficult time, women activists joined together to form women's peacekeeping networks in order to put an end to conflict and violence and to prevent a recurrence of the tragic events.
Kyrgyzstan believes that United Nations peacekeeping operations serve as the main tool for maintaining peace in conflict zones. In that respect, my country supports the efforts to enhance the role of women in the field missions of peacekeeping operations. It would be relevant to expand the targeted training programme for women to relevant positions in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
The Security Council has an important role to play in dealing with peace and security matters internationally. States, however, bear the primary responsibility to protect their citizens from violence. It is in this regard that my delegation calls for more concerted efforts by the international community and the United Nations system to support national efforts to prevent and address the myriad issues surrounding conflicts.
Sexual abuse is indeed one of the most pervasive crimes of our time. It is imperative, therefore, that the international community support national systems and institutions — such as the police, prosecution and the judiciary — to combat this despicable crime. My delegation wishes to underscore the importance of education and communication as tools to prevent and combat violence generally.
Prevention is undoubtedly the cornerstone of any strategy to address the challenges that society faces. We note with satisfaction the various actions that have been undertaken by Member States, the United Nations system, civil society and other actors in implementing resolution 1325 (2000).
Last year, we commemorated 10 years since the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1325 (2000). That resolution, together with other international instruments, constitutes the basis for cooperation among all actors engaged in this field and contributes to the wider agenda of gender equality and empowerment of women.
