Participation

In addition, women are underrepresented in forums devoted to peacebuilding and the prevention and resolution of conflicts. The situation provides clear evidence that, throughout recent years, genuine political commitment to the issue has been lacking.

Resolution 1325 (2000) and the subsequent seven resolutions that compose the women and peace and security agenda highlight how emergency and conflict situations seriously exacerbate threats to the human rights, dignity and welfare of women and girls, and the vital role of the meaningful participation of women and girls in furthering international peace and security.

The main pillars of resolution 1325 (2000) are ensuring women’s increased participation in decision-making; their involvement in mechanisms aimed at preventing, managing and resolving conflicts; their engagement in peace negotiations and their mainstreaming into peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations, with an emphasis on training and raising awareness about sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), significant threats to global peace and security have emerged, the most prominent of which is the rise of violent extremism. The Balkans Regional Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, held in Tirana on 19 and 20 May 2015, recognized that women are both vulnerable to radicalization and have an important role to play in countering violent extremism.

The fight against sexual violence is not limited to the United Nations. At the regional level, the African Union has adopted a its own solidarity initiative to promote international consultations on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.

On the normative framework, the national action plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), adopted in 2011, provides for enhanced institutional gender capacities, which made it possible, starting that year, for eight women to participate in international peacekeeping operations.

In implementing resolution 1325 (2000), the Government of Albania identified and focused its efforts on several key objectives that take account of the need to enhance women’s leadership; increase the participation of women in political and public decisionmaking; increase the participation of women in the police and armed forces; and enhance the relevant programmes for professional training on gender issues and violence against women.

First, we must reinforce the participation of women and mainstream the gender perspective in conflict- resolution and peacekeeping operations. We must provide the necessary training for the mediators and envoys who participate in mediation and ceasefires and in achieving peace and preventive diplomacy.

Women in Argentina make up 16 per cent of the military component, and therefore one important recent milestone was the promotion of the first woman in our military to the rank of general. We have also promoted the presence of women in the army’s infantry and cavalry, which were closed to women until 2012.

Secondly, the women and peace and security agenda must be implemented across the military. Accordingly, the Australian Defence Force is deploying more women and increasing their number in senior decision-making roles; has introduced recruitment targets for women in non-traditional roles; and is developing a gender adviser and female engagement team capability.