Participation

The AU Gender Policy also calls for the mobilization of women leaders to participate in peace mediation and related processes and in post-conflict processes. It also calls for the AU to work jointly with relevant United Nations bodies on measures to track violations against women and girls during conflict and to find lasting solutions to abuses.

I think I have to conclude my statement here. There are many proposals that are discussed in the written text that I provided to the Secretariat. But I would like to thank all the women who have played leadership roles in resolving conflicts in Africa, from Mozambique, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the ongoing conflicts in Somalia and in the Sudan.

Key areas of success for the improvement of the lives of women have been in the spheres of political participation, education, and health. As we finalize results for our second parliamentary election, we recall that last month, millions of Afghans went to the polls to make their voices heard. In these recent elections, 406 out of 2,556 candidates were women.

The Afghan people have suffered immensely for more than 30 years under foreign invasions, civil wars and Taliban rule. In the 1990s Afghan women were the targets of brutality and widespread violence, including gender based violence and oppression. The Taliban completely removed women from all aspects of public life, depriving them of such fundamental rights as education, and participation in both the economic and political sectors.

Resolution 1325 is not about rescuing women. It is not only about helping women who are struggling to overcome conflict, but about recognizing the unique role ofwomen as peacemakers, and creating opportunities for women to excel in leadership roles. What better place in the world to demonstrate the importance ofthis issue than Afghanistan. Afghan women are not damsels in distress. They have been victimized, but are not helpless victims.

On the tenth anniversary of Resolution 1325, it is important to take a step back to gain a more global perspective and to celebrate how far we have come as well as recognize areas for improvement in terms of the participation and protection of women in situations of conflict. There have been ten years of overwhelmingly strong consensus around this resolution.

Fifth and finally, post-conflict peace building cannot be truly successful without ensuring that women are an equal part of the process. They need to be routinely involved in conflict resolution, post-conflict peacebuilding and governance in order to achieve sustainable peace.

The Security Council welcomes the important role of the Peacebuilding Commission in promoting and supporting an integrated and coherent approach to peacebuilding, including women's participation. The Council reiterates its support for the work of the Commission, and expresses its willingness to make greater use of the Peacebuilding Commission's advisory role.

The Security Council stresses the importance of women's equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, including peacebuilding. The Council reiterates the importance of addressing women's peacebuilding needs and their involvement in the development and implementation of post-conflict strategies.

Last but not least, we wish to underline the importance of mainstreaming women's participation in peacebuilding efforts, as well as increasing opportunities for women to engage in decision-making and economic recovery.