Participation

As the Secretary-General notes in his report, rebuilding after a conflict offers an opportunity to create a virtuous cycle, starting from more inclusive peace processes. The report also draws an important link between women's participation and the wider question of gender equality. Women need to be included in all phases of peace processes and in post- conflict governance institutions.

The EU warmly welcomes the report of the Secretary General on Women's Participation in Peacebuilding and congratulates the Secretary General for setting out a strategic seven point Action Plan. As we mark this month the tenth anniversary of SC Resolution 1325 we need redouble everyone's efforts to increase women's participation at all stages and all levels of peace processes and peacebuilding efforts.

Furthermore, the success of any peacebuilding process also rests on its ability to ensure gender equality and the empowerment of women in the socio- economic and political spheres. It is important for the General Assembly and the Security Council to study and evaluate the Secretary-General's report (S/2010/466) on women's participation in peacebuilding, and the seven commitments underlying the proposed action plan.

In welcoming the Secretary General's second report before us today, i.e. Women's participation in Peacebuilding, my delegation would like to underline the attention given to the role of women in the peacebuilding. Women represent more than a half of the active population and carry an important part of the peacebuilding activities. Without an active participation of women it would not be possible to succeed in the peacebuilding efforts.

We are grateful for the Secretary-General's detailed overview of the progress achieved in the implementation of his agenda for action set out in the report on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of the conflict he issued a year ago (S/2009/304). In particular, we find valuable the many diverse examples from the field used to further clarify and support the report.

I would like to highlight the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding and his seven-point plan, which places women on truly equal footing with men and emphasizes their full participation in the peacebuilding process from the outset. As stated in the report, women's participation is crucial in shoring up the three pillars of lasting peace: economic recovery, social cohesion and political legitimacy.

First, Canada supports the seven-point action plan contained in the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466).

As we near the anniversary of resolution 1325, the importance of involving and empowering women in all stages of the conflict is very much on our minds. In this area, as in others, our main concern is sustainability. Our goal must be to help permanently improve women's place in society. It is with this in mind that we are studying the Secretary-General's report on women's participation in peacebuilding, for which we are grateful.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is of the view that mainstreaming women's participation in peacebuilding, addressing their post-conflict needs, increasing their engagement in post-conflict planning and governance, and enhancing their capacity to contribute to economic recovery and overall social stability are key issues in post-conflict societies.

We note with appreciation the efforts made so far to build national capacities in countries emerging from conflict. Much more needs to be done to create sustainable peace. The Movement believes strongly that these initiatives must be complementary.