Participation

In the context of the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) and of the third year of the Dutch national action plan, the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence jointly produced a publication entitled The Dutch Do's on Women, Peace and Security —

Finally, we are pleased to announce bilateral collaboration between the Netherlands and Spain in the development of more civilian and military gender capacity so as to increase operational readiness. We have a responsibility to arrive well prepared at our

At the same time, in a broader context, Luxembourg has just decided to fund a major project of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations that is aimed at strengthening the leadership and participation of women in peacebuilding activities in countries

Female peacekeepers and women protection advisors are crucial in this sense. Where they have been present, local populations have more readily reported on instances of sexual violence. Today's resolution unequivocally supports their presence and the need to mainstream them.

"My delegation would also wish to underscore the fact that peace, justice and security are interdependent. There can be no peace without the peace of mind that enables women to undertake their daily tasks, no justice without a national capacity to deliver justice, and no security without women's security.

"More women should be involved in peace mediation and peacebuilding processes. Decisions should not be made for women. Women must be part and parcel of a process that affects them. In that regard, Kenya's new constitutional requirement that no more than two-thirds of the members of elected or appointed bodies shall be of the same gender is a principle that can be emulated in order to mainstream women into such processes."

The Secretariat and the funds and programmes can do more. We believe that greater participation by women in the areas of conflict prevention, peace negotiations, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction is an essential prerequisite for lasting peace and security.

It is equally vital in that exercise that a privileged place be given to women themselves. As we have seen from experience, their perceptions and commitment are undeniable and unparalleled. Not to take that fact into account would mean to deprive ourselves of an advantage in the fight against the discrimination and violence of which women and girls are the chief victims.

However, our efforts will not produce the desired results without more sustained dialogue with all parties to a conflict. Among other things, such a dialogue come about by providing psychological support for victims and carrying out awareness-raising efforts among those involved. It is our belief that women themselves could play such roles.

The Nordic countries support the efforts of UN Women and the Department of Political Affairs in developing guidance for mediators on addressing sexual violence in peace negotiations. We also welcome and support their Joint Strategy on Gender and Mediation. We believe that it will be an effective tool for strengthening women's participation in peace processes and for providing expertise and guidance to the parties and the mediators.