Participation

Our annual debate on women and peace and security is built upon various premises, among them, first, that women in conflict are often victims and shoulder multiple consequences of conflict, and secondly, that despite being vulnerable, in many instances women in conflict have continued to demonstrate their transformative role and their potential for creating sustainable peace.

In this context, our efforts in waging peace should nurture an environment that accommodates the contribution of women to conflict prevention. That would mean, among other things, enhancing women's participation in decision-making processes, building a culture of peace that respects life, and promoting a way of life that values non-violence and dialogue and is characterized by cooperation and social responsibility.

The United Nations is being asked to do more with regard to women and peace and security, including through the mainstreaming of the gender perspective in the United Nations system and United Nations peacekeeping missions. We commend the work of the Secretary-General in mainstreaming the gender perspective in the United Nations recruitment process.

What can be done to close this gap? First, in regard to the UN level, we commend UN Women for its work in leading the mainstreaming efforts to include, wherever possible, a gender perspective in UN activities and measuring progress made in implementing resolution 1325 against the indicators.

Third, with regard to the national level: Last year the German Government presented its third report to Parliament on its implementation of SR resolution 1325. It contains, inter alia, projects on gender training, including for UN peacekeepers, prevention of sexual violence, enabling women's participation in peace-processes as well as their unhindered access to justice.

The PRST to be adopted today clearly recognizes once again the significant role of women in prevention, conflict resolution and post conflict rebuilding. Including women in peace initiatives is not a benevolent act, we see it as a key requirement to any lasting, sustainable peace. Women's participation will strengthen the capacity to resolve conflict and build security and justice systems that protect the human rights of all.

The Security Council reached a consensus more than a decade ago in recognizing, through the adoption on 31 October 2000 of resolution 1325 (2000), the decisive role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding. In its presidential statement S/PRST/2001/31, the Council made commitments on this issue.

As members know, two years ago Gabon underwent a political transition that was outstandingly led by two women, one the President of the Senate and the other the President of the Constitutional Court.

An important aspect of our debate is the link between preventive diplomacy and the Council's initiatives to promote the role of women in peace processes. More than 10 years of continued efforts to implement resolution 1325 (2000) have revealed the limits of a reactive approach.