Implementation

It is appropriate that this particular debate should focus on the role of women's civil society organizations. Resolution 1325 (2000) was neither created in a vacuum, nor did it result from the foresight of Member States.

At a time when many national action plans are up for review, New Zealand is very pleased to acknowledge that, as we continue to develop our own plan, we are learning much from the experience of many others. Overall, however, we must all continue to push ahead with the women, peace and security agenda through ongoing and enhanced collaboration among Member States, international, regional and subregional organizations and civil society.

The Dutch Government also attaches a high priority to the financial implementation of its second national action plan. An amount of €2 million is available annually for the period 2012-2015 for programmes in the six partner countries, with the same amount reserved for the Middle East and North Africa regions.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Netherlands will support the national women's fund in promoting Congolese women's participation in the coming elections. We will also support women in the eastern part of the country who can play a mediation role in the conflict that is still raging in the Kivus.

In December 2011, the Netherlands launched its second 1325 national action plan, covering the period 2012-2015. As we see it, the plan is unique of its kind, since it is based on and encompasses close cooperation between Government, civil society and research institutions.

In conclusion, the potential role of women's organizations in any social or political transformation is huge. Women can and should play a pivotal role in their societies, and they deserve our support in helping them to take the lead more effectively. Transition processes like the ones in the North Africa region are an opportunity for women to translate their influence into formal roles.

In Afghanistan, a group of signatories is working with a local telephone and Internet provider to start a programme connecting poor rural women and men with more modern youth in the main towns via an SMS platform, using SMS-based blogging. The objective is to keep the rural poor better informed on national women's issues and to foster dialogue between rural poor and urban youth.

As a result of that approach, the Dutch national action plan includes many joint activities that benefit from the complementarity between Government bodies and civil society in the Netherlands and their partner organizations in the focus countries. I would like to mention a few examples in that regard.

While States have the primary responsibility for ensuring the implementation of the resolutions on women and peace and security, NATO, as a political-military organization, is playing its part within NATO-led operations and within our partnerships. We have a policy, we have an action plan and, together with partners, we are turning words into deeds. On the political level, NATO is actively

Since my appointment as the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, I have had the great pleasure of engaging in dialogue with women's associations in the security sector, womens' rights activists, female parliamentarians and other representatives of civil society. I intend to deepen this dialogue.