Implementation

The Security Council has clearly recognized its own role in ending impunity for serious violations of international humanitarian and human-rights law, and has acknowledged the full range of justice and reconciliation mechanisms, including in resolution 1894 (2009).

Austria is grateful to Azerbaijan for convening today's open debate on women and peace and security, and would like to thank all the briefers for their very interesting presentations. We appreciate the broad range of issues covered in the Secretary-General's report (S/2013/525), as well as the continuing use of indicators that allow for a more accurate and precise assessment of the progress made in implementing resolution 1325 (2000).

Austria has also continued its efforts to support the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in other forums, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Together with Finland, Turkey and Kazakhstan, we have proposed a draft text for an OSCE-wide action plan on women, peace and security to assist participating States in implementing resolution 1325 (2000).

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to give a short update on our national measures to implement resolution 1325 (2000). On the basis of our revised national action plan adopted last year, we have continued our efforts to enhance the gender-expertise of civil and military staff in peacekeeping operations.

Mr President, Australia welcomes Azerbaijan bringing the Council's focus to the critical intersection between the rule of law and transitional justice, and the women, peace and security agenda. I thank the Secretary- General, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Pillay for their determined efforts. And Ms Brigitte Balipou for inspiring struggle on the frontlines.

In concluding, Mr President The High-Level Review of resolution 1325 in 2015 provides a necessary opportunity to take stock of our successes, and to address the ongoing challenges in implementing the women, peace and security agenda. The Council's dedicated field mission ahead of this will be important in providing us with direct insights to help inform these discussions.

For the Council to remain responsive, it is critical that timely and relevant information and analysis is provided systematically by all UN actors deployed on conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts. We commend today's resolution for clearly articulating this.

Engaging women as leaders is critical to building sustainable peace. We must identify and address impediments that prevent women from participating in decision-making. We commend Mary Robinson's appointment as Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, and her long overdue approach to consulting early with women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We thank the Secretary- General, the Executive Director of UN Women, High Commissioner Pillay and Ms. Brigitte Balipou, the representative of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, for their active involvement and valuable contributions. We also welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2122 (2013) by the Council earlier today, calling for higher levels of women's involvement in peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

We also believe that without women's civil society strength and women's leadership, there will be no effective prevention. Women's experiences of violence during and after conflict are much broader, and effective protection from all forms of violence and violations will be possible only through their empowerment and participation.