Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform

As Council members are aware, the mandate of the ISAF mission was recently renewed, and the plans to hand over full security responsibility from ISAF forces to their Afghan counterparts are on course, as reaffirmed at the Chicago Summit. Throughout the transition process and beyond, we will continue to focus on gender-related training and to support the recruitment and retention of women in the security forces.

Unfortunately, peace processes and accords rarely include concrete provisions for promoting access to justice and women's representation in government bodies to enable inclusive access to power or prevent and punish sexual violence. This perpetuates the exclusion and vulnerable conditions in which half of the population lives and is an obstacle to peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

An important factor affecting women's greater participation in conflict resolution and post-conflict recovery is their safety and security. Sadly, women and girl activists and women's rights defenders are often subject to intimidation and violent attacks, including sexual violence. We must step up our efforts to provide protection for women human rights defenders and must tackle impunity with due severity and determination.

On the other hand, the measures already adopted by Indonesia have advanced its implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Among other things, the Government of Indonesia is currently in the process of drafting a presidential decree to establish a legal basis for the drawing up of a national action plan on the implementation of that resolution.

In the key task of strengthening government institutions and integrating the gender perspective in government policies in areas such as security, justice, governance, public administration, economic recovery, basic services, etc.

In that connection, I commend the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Thanks to her efforts, we now have a list of groups systematically using sexual violence. That list should help put an end to their impunity. In view of such crimes, combating impunity is indeed essential. In that regard, the International Criminal Court should fully play its role.

Yet, as recent experience has shown, periods of transition offer a unique opportunity to break the cycle of women's marginalization and make significant gains in women's participation. We need to address factors discouraging women's candidacy and equal electoral participation, and security for women in elections. Provisions on women, peace and security should be included in peace negotiations as early as possible.

Estonia remains concerned about the lack of accountability for those who have committed gross violations of human rights. In that context, we would like to stress the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a significant actor in the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern committed against women and girls.

all international organizations concerned with women's issues towards women under foreign occupation, and the need to pay greater attention to their suffering and tragedy, in order to ensure them enjoyment of their rights, in compliance with the relevant provisions of international law, international humanitarian law and human rights law.

With regard to enhancing the specific role of women's civil society organizations in situations of armed conflict and peacebuilding, I would like to underline that legislative, judicial and public awareness- raising measures are part of the synergy of the process.