Implementation

Spain welcomes the report of the Secretary- General (S/2011/598*) and fully supports its recommendations, as well as the ambitious programme of quantified objectives and the strategic results framework annexed to it.

Regarding specific recent actions, allow me to highlight the first version of an international course on a gender comprehensive approach to operations, organized by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and of Defence of my country, in cooperation with their counterpart departments of the Government of the Netherlands, and held from 14 to 18 June in Madrid.

My country drew up an action plan on women, peace and security in 2007, which it has since updated twice. The effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions requires a significant cooperation effort, with the participation of six ministries, as well as constant and fluid contacts with civil society organizations, involved throughout the process, including the practical implementation of concrete actions.

In the same spirit of cooperation between the Administration and civil society, we are already working on new training activities that are largely inspired by the recommendations of the most recent report of the Secretary-General. Those activities will be collected in the third revision of the Spanish action plan, whose drafting is already under way.

In addition, my delegation once again welcomes the work of UN-Women and its Executive Director, Michelle Bachelet, in that area. We hope that, by continuing the fruitful cooperation already under way with other departments, agencies and programmes of the system, that entity has the central place that it merits in addressing the issue. For that, it can count on my country's full support.

We further welcome the practical recommendations and the strategic results framework outlined in the Secretary-General's report, which constitute a concrete proposal to include women in conflict prevention and mediation. In particular, we wish to highlight the importance of nominating women to lead negotiation processes and increasing the number of women in the foreign services and security establishments.

Those positive developments are pivotal for advancing the agenda of women, peace and security. It will allow for this important issue to be consistently placed at the top of the agenda of the United Nations system, and lead to increased coordination in policy programming for women and girls within the United Nations system.

South Africa welcomes the convening of this important meeting. The adoption of the historic resolution 1325 (2000) 11 years ago was a significant milestone in the recognition of the role that women can play in the maintenance of international peace and security, particularly in decision-making processes relating to conflict prevention and resolution.

Indeed, inroads have been made in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), as highlighted in the Secretary-General's report (S/2011/598*). However, let us be clear that gaps remain in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), as well as glaring disparities pertaining to the role of women in preventive diplomacy, formal peace processes and mediation.