Participation

Exactly a week ago, the Security Council resolution on Yemen (resolution 2014 (2011)) called upon all concerned parties to improve women's participation in conflict resolution and encouraged them to facilitate the equal and full participation of women at decision making levels.

Those of us from the continent, which has suffered so many conflicts, know and understand the terrible impact of war. We also know that women and girls suffer disproportionately — indirectly and directly — as victims of violent conflict.

The Security Council's consideration of the subject of women, peace and security 11 years ago, which resulted in the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), was a landmark event in the recognition of importance of women's equal participation and full involvement in the maintenance of peace and security, including in conflict management, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding.

The members of the Economic and Social Council also commit to providing the requisite guidance to the agencies, funds and programmes on implementing the actions required to implement resolution 1325 (2000), particularly those linked to the coordination of humanitarian action, the transition from relief to development and the promotion of the active role and participation of women in sustainable development

The Economic and Social Council devoted its 2010 annual ministerial review last year to the internationally agreed development goals and commitments in regard to gender equality and the empowerment of women. The ministerial declaration adopted by the Council broke new ground in that, for the first time, an intergovernmental body highlighted a number of crosscutting issues where action was expected to positively enhance gender-related goals.

Fifthly, promoting the full integration of women into the formal economy is also particularly relevant in post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding contexts, where new opportunities should be offered to women as part of the dividends of peace and as a way to consolidate social peace. The development and security pillars of the Organization are strongly interconnected in this respect.

We call upon the Security Council to intensify its efforts in the fight against impunity and to provide strong and effective leadership in strengthening the rule of law, with the ultimate aim of eradicating this abhorrent behaviour.

Those opportunities, however, can be enhanced significantly depending on how the international community sets its priorities for recovery and uses its strategies for peacebuilding. Those priorities should consist of specific national and international policies aimed at increasing women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution, mediation, peace negotiations and peacebuilding.

The adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1325 (2000) bears testimony to the progress made during the past decade in the area of women and peace and security. That landmark resolution has brought much-needed attention to the question of women's empowerment, which represents a priority for my country.