Implementation

As Member States, we are also called upon to systematically apply a gender perspective in our political processes. Switzerland adopted a national action plan early on, which has proved to be a useful instrument. Our second and revised national action plan will come into force within the next few days. When participants leave the building today, I encourage them to take another look at the exhibit in the entrance hall.

We welcome the Security Council's request to the Secretary General, to provide a single coherent framework based on the set of indicators, aimed at tracking the implementation of resolution 1325. It is time to make sure that we, the Member States can be held accountable to our commitments.

We welcome the efforts ofthe senior Police Adviser of the DPKO, including her struggle to increase the number of female police officers in peace keeping operations since this also responds to operational needs on the ground. Sweden is committed to continuing to sustain at least the same proportion of female police officers in peace keeping operations as in the National Police Service.

The Secretary General's report shows once again, that enhancing women's participation is an efficient method to achieve security and development for local communities as a whole. Given the importance ofhaving women in leading positions we would strongly encourage the appointment of more female Special Representatives and deputies of missions. We welcome the targeted efforts to train and deploy more female mediators.

Sweden welcomes the new UN entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and we congratulate its first Executive Director: Mrs Michelle Bachelet. Sweden will support her coming efforts in a substantial manner, both financially and politically.

So far around 20 countries have adopted a National Action Plan for 1325 and we were happy to note the intentions from many more countries to adopt and implement such plans. We heard inspiring examples of transnational cooperation to share experience and knowledge with those whose plans are still in progress. Many of us also emphasized the importance ofincluding civil society and women's groups in such processes and other work.

Four years ago, Sweden presented its first National Action plan on the implementation of resolution 1325. Today, we are in the process of implementing our second National Action plan for the period 2009-2012. It permeates our security and development policies and makes 1325 a special focus in our crisis management, in our humanitarian assistance and in our development cooperation with countries in conflict- and post conflict.

Finally, I would also like to emphasize the work being done by SRSG Wallstrom and her office on Sexual Violence in Conflict. The SRSG's work is of outstanding importance and the results in the next few years will be an important indicator of the international community's ability to address the structural violence that is directed towards women.

During the "1325 Call to Action-meeting" a month ago, governments from all comers of the world demonstrated their support and their conviction that women have a central role to play in achieving a durable peace in conflict regions.

Civil society and participation of women's groups play an important role. Women's groups help empower women so that the voices ofwomen in conflict areas are heard and can influence the work to achieve peace. They conduct research on women's roles in conflict, they alarm us of tragedies and report to us on progress, and provide expertise.