Participation

Creating an enabling environment for women's equal participation also requires a change in mentality and efforts to overcome existing gender stereotypes and prejudices. That, in turn, demands consistent efforts to involve male local activists, traditional leaders and, more generally, the male half of the communities concerned, including boys. Furthermore, it is of the utmost importance that sexual

As a member of the Group of Friends of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and the Group of Friends of Mediation, Lithuania concurs with the Secretary-General that the gender dimension of mediation must be clearly and consistently articulated. Women must be part of the process, as mediators and peace negotiators, as that makes it possible to take into account their needs for political, economic and social empowerment.

An important factor affecting women's greater participation in conflict resolution and post-conflict recovery is their safety and security. Sadly, women and girl activists and women's rights defenders are often subject to intimidation and violent attacks, including sexual violence. We must step up our efforts to provide protection for women human rights defenders and must tackle impunity with due severity and determination.

Women's civil society organizations are an important asset in this regard. We must ensure that their unique grass-roots perspective is taken into account as we rethink how gender expertise is structured and deployed in the United Nations system.

When sexual violence is not addressed in the early stages of mediation, such as in ceasefire agreements, it usually remains
ignored throughout the whole peace process. We therefore call on the Security Council and all relevant actors to increase
efforts to promote women's participation in peace negotiations and mediation and to meet the specific concerns of

The slow progress made in ensuring the adequate participation of women in peace talks and the inclusion of women's
and girls' rights in peace agreements remains worrisome. Of the nine peace agreements signed in 2012, only two contain
provisions in that regard — the same low percentage as in 2010. Peace accords that fail to ensure the engagement of

We fully agree with the statement made by Ms. Bachelet in the Security Council in April (see S/PV.6759) that we should build on women's role as agents of conflict resolution and sustained recovery, without focusing exclusively on the way conflict victimizes women. The role of women is important in the whole crisis cycle, from the prevention and resolution of conflict to peacebuilding, post-conflict reconciliation and reintegration.

The topic of today's debate is of particular importance. The sustainable political, social and economic development of a country is possible only with a strong civil society that is involved in all stages of decision-making, including in conflict prevention and resolution and peacebuilding.

The international community's involvement in scaling up women's community initiatives and improving their access to national and international dialogue and mediation processes is of particular relevance. The Security Council recognized as much in its presidential statement on this topic last year (S/PRST/2011/20).

Latvia participates in capacity-building in several conflict situations and post-conflict countries. Women's leadership, participation and economic empowerment are among the main priorities of our capacity- building initiatives. Latvia has shared its experience and implemented projects in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.