Participation

We also welcome the fact that this year's annual report of the Secretary-General (S/2012/732) provides us with valuable information on the issue and updates us on the progress in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Against that backdrop, I would like to underscore the following four points with regard to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and women's participation in that regard.

This year marks the twelfth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security. While the achievements of the past decade have been remarkable, there remain persistent gaps and challenges, including the low level of women's participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding processes.

Thirdly, my delegation would like to underline the crucial role played by women's civil society organizations in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes. Their special expertise, skills and capacities have been critical to building confidence between parties and to integrating a gender perspective in transition structures.

Secondly, we need to pay more attention to the role and participation of women in post-conflict settings. It is regrettable that, of the nine peace agreements signed in 2011, only two contain specific provisions on women, peace and security. That means that we are missing invaluable opportunities to enhance women's political participation and empowerment in transition periods.

This open debate, Mr. President, is an excellent and timely opportunity for the Council to express its strong support for the efforts of individual women and women's networks and organizations that are doing so much for peace and security from the grassroots to the international level. Portugal naturally aligns itself with the statement of the European Union that will be made later on.

This Council has adopted a Presidential Statement encouraging efforts to strengthen the capacities of women's organizations to engage in conflict prevention and mediation. Portugal strongly supports these specific efforts by Members States and the UN. In this regard, we welcome DPKO and UN Women's efforts to give technical support to women's organizations at local and regional level to strengthen women's civil society groups.

Every effort must be made to promote women's full and equal participation in electoral processes, as candidates and as voters, and to eliminate discriminatory or legal barriers against women's participation. Lack of access to education but also the fight against violence and in particular sexual violence should also be addressed in this context.

Another key aspect of the Council's work in the implementation of resolution 1325 is its monitoring of women's participation in political processes in post-conflict situations. In this context, it is important to invite USG Michelle Bachelet (as it was done during the past 2 years) to regularly brief the Council on women's political participation in concrete situations in its agenda.

UNSC Resolution 1325 made an important contribution to the normative framework for the protection of women and girls in armed conflict. It elevates women from being hapless victims of conflict situations to equal stakeholders in prevention and resolution of conflicts, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction. Women are true agents of change.

Today's debate underlines the important role of women's civil society organizations in prevention and resolution of armed conflict, as well as follow up peace-building processes.