Participation

Mr. Wenaweser (Liechtenstein): I thank you, Sir, for presiding over the meeting today and your delegation for organizing this open debate with a focus on post-conflict situations. As a strong supporter of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), Liechtenstein agrees with the assessment reflected in the concept paper prepared by your delegation (S/2009/490) that much has been achieved but that enormous challenges remain.

Member States and the relevant intergovernmental bodies must pursue strategies to ensure an increase in women's participation in peace negotiations and mediation, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction. That would strengthen the perception that women are stakeholders — as opposed to mere victims or aid recipients.

In preparation for the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), we need concrete action. Hence, we welcome the establishment of a United Nations steering committee to enhance the visibility of and to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system regarding the preparations for the anniversary.

We strongly condemn the plethora of ongoing rampant acts of violence and aggression against women and girls during and after armed conflict, including those taking place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and other regions.

Libya has therefore launched several initiatives to empower women and enhance their role in African countries. In cooperation with Nigeria and Cuba, we have established a South-South health-care programme. In 2006, we launched the Al-Qadhafi programme for African youth, women and children, which places particular emphasis on health care, education, vocational training and human rights.

In 2004, the African Union adopted an action plan at Ouagadougou that gave special priority to the empowerment of women, their access to the workplace, their effective participation in the adoption of poverty- reduction strategies, the mainstreaming of gender issues in all poverty-reduction programmes and policies and the promotion of employment and equal opportunities for men and women in the area of employment.

Almost nine years have passed since the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000), during which it also adopted several resolutions and presidential statements on the protection of women during and after armed conflict, their participation in the prevention of conflict and post-conflict decision-making and their role in the economic and social spheres. However, we are still far from reaching the desired goals.

Thirdly, we need to focus not only on protection but also on the empowerment of women, who could be strong promoters of the peacebuilding process. We must find a way to ensure the empowerment of women in post- conflict situations, by improving their socio-economic conditions. This can be achieved b promoting access to health services, education, vocational training, income generation activities and land and property rights.

One good example is cited in the Secretary- General's latest report: the project is funded through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security to deliver health care, education and counselling to women and girls in Nepal who have been left vulnerable by conflict in that country.

First, it is vitally important to ensure that women's perspectives and the particular needs of women and girls are reflected at every stage of the peace process. We need to promote the full and equal engagement of women from the earliest stages of the process of peace negotiations and peacebuilding, because that is the most effective way to prevent the recurrence of conflict.