Participation

Women's full participation — including in peacekeeping operations, national reconciliation processes and mediation — enhances the effectiveness and sustainability of development efforts and contributes to the prevention of conflict. But women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of decision-making. Their interests are often not, or insufficiently, reflected in peace agreements.

We believe that it is important that the United Nations lead by example to advance this agenda. The appointment of Mary Robinson as the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region of Africa is therefore a very important step in that respect. We welcome the Special Envoy's active engagement to involve women and ensure their participation in mediation efforts.

The need to protect women and girls must not overshadow the participation pillar of the women, peace and security agenda. My delegation is therefore pleased to see that resolution 2122 (2013), adopted earlier today, builds on the core elements of resolution 1325 (2000) and contains key commitments for several stakeholders to the full participation of women.

Turning to the first topic, let me emphasize that women should be involved and participate in the whole crisis cycle, from the prevention and resolution of conflict to reinstating justice and the rule of law in post-conflict settings. Women play a particular role in voicing women's rights and concerns early on and in preventing backsliding on women's rights in post-conflict governance.

There can be no real impact on women's rights on the ground if the United Nations and other international partners are not leading by example. Women should be adequately represented at different levels in peacekeeping and special political missions. Appropriate training on gender-specific issues should be provided for military, police and civilian personnel deployed to international peace operations.

There are three main issues that I would like to address today: first, women's participation at all levels of decision-making in conflict and post-conflict settings; secondly, United Nations gender expertise; and, thirdly, coordination within the United Nations and outside on women and peace and security in order to minimize costs and to maximize the impact on the ground.

In order to realize a more peaceful society, Japan intends to make its utmost effort to ensure women's participation and incorporate a women's perspective into each and every phase of conflict prevention, conflict settlement and peacebuilding, including election processes.

In order to protect women's rights and ensure women's participation in conflict-affected situations, security for those who serve to uphold the rule of law, such as police officers and judges, is a basic necessity. In that regard, gender-responsive transitional justice measures and justice system reforms need to be addressed.

In 2015, the Security Council will hold a high- level meeting to review the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

What distinguishes today's resolution from others is that it represents a pivot away from a narrow focus on women as victims and towards the more positive and liberating agenda of women's participation and women's leadership. Welcome attention is paid to the active role that women and women's groups can play in transforming conflict, insecurity and fragility. That aspect has been insufficiently highlighted.