Implementation

A concrete example is the upcoming appointment of a special ambassador for the work of implementing UNSCR 1325. Other concrete examples from the field include Sudan, where Sweden is contributing some 45 million SEK, via UNIFEM, to a variety of organisations promoting women's role and participation. Sweden also contributes to UNIFEM in Afghanistan with some 62 million SEK, including for support to the Afghan National Action Plan for Women.

Many specialized centres have also been founded at the central and provincial levels in order to coordinate women's efforts in the fields of peace and development and to offer women-oriented guidance and consultations on bolstering the concept of gender equality and dealing with the status of women in areas afflicted by war, be it in the southern parts of the country or in Darfur.

When considering the status of women, we are able to say proudly that the Sudan has deep-rooted pioneering experience in this field, as Sudanese women have always been genuine partners in the political and decision-making structures of our country since their participation in the election of the first Sudanese parliament in 1954 on the eve of our declaration of independence.

We would also like to recall aspects relating to the status of women within the framework of attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

We also affirm the need for the Council to rely on the country reports submitted by Member States on their implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). We urge the United Nations and its missions to organize workshops and consultative round tables with those involved in countries affected by conflict in order to exchange experiences regarding the overall situation of women in armed conflict.

We also affirm that the Security Council's effectiveness in implementing and following up on resolution 1325 (2000), including the specific measures undertaken to that effect, must be based on accurate information.

Today, we would like to commend the existing cooperation with UNIFEM and its active role in translating the aforementioned action plan into tangible reality. We look forward to seeing UNIFEM, through the new gender Entity at the United Nations, play a larger role in terms of building national capacity and supporting efforts aimed at the advancement of women and improvement of their status, especially in post-conflict areas.

The Government of the Sudan has been celebrating the tenth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security since 10 June. In Khartoum, our capital, we held an expanded workshop and an open day to celebrate the anniversary, in coordination with the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) and the Sudan country offices of United Nations agencies, at the forefront of which was UNIFEM.

That resolution led to the adoption of the 2008-2009 System-wide Action Plan for implementation across the United Nations system and to the identification of standard indicators to measure progress and the time frame needed to apply the indicators at the regional and international levels.

On this occasion, we note the need to move forward with the full implementation of the resolution over the next decade by adopting comprehensive and robust regional action plans in this field.