Implementation

In its Initiative on Gender and Development, announced in 2005, Japan stipulated that, in the implementation of official development assistance in countries in or having just emerged from conflict, the needs of women and the vulnerable would have to be properly considered from the perspective of gender in all phases, from emergency humanitarian assistance to post-conflict peacebuilding.

By applying a gender perspective in the fields of peacekeeping and peacebuilding, the Government of Japan has been attempting to create an environment in which more women can play active roles.

One key to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) is monitoring. Japan therefore attaches great importance to using the set of indicators that has been developed to aid us in identifying comprehensively how much needs to be done to make the objectives of the resolution a reality. I believe that the indicators must be applied globally with a view to both preventing conflicts and providing early warning when a conflict is about to erupt.

My delegation recognizes the important work that the United Nations has undertaken in increasing the representation and participation of women at high levels within the UN System. The most recent of which were the appointment of the Under-Secretary to the new Gender Entity, UN Women, and the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Confllct.

Ten years on, in celebrating the anniversary of this watershed event, significant achievements are difficult to identify. It remains a matter of serious concern that women have become caught in the centre of violent conflicts and often become the direct and deliberate victims of the most egregious abuses committed by parties to armed conflicts.

I wlsh, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica to thank you Mr. President for convening this open debate on women's equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security,Resolution 1325 unanimously adopted in the Security Council ten years ago, brought to light one of history's best kept secrets, the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women and girls.

Finally, the United Nations Population Fund State of World Population 2010 report — “From Conflict and Crisis to Renewal: Generations of Change” — speaks of the three Rs, resilience, renewal and redefining roles between boys and girls and men and women. It further shows how communities and civil society are healing old wounds and moving forward.

Although late in coming, my delegation is pleased to note that on this the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325, there are now signs of increased commitment and action by the Security Council to ensure that the goals of the resolution are fully implemented. The Security Council's expressed intention to take action on a comprehensive set of indicators on the implementation of resolution 1325 is an encouraging development.

The anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) provides a unique opportunity for Member States and the United Nations system to take concrete steps to enhance its implementation. In this regard, allow me to express my appreciation for the Council's decision to take forward the set of indicators developed by the Secretary-General to track the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

One of the main objectives of the Italian action plan is to strengthen the participation of women in peacekeeping missions and their decision-making bodies. Italy has long honoured its pledge to avoid gender discrimination, enrolling women in all its national armed forces. This has resulted in an increase in the number of women in that field and in their participation at all levels and stages of peacekeeping operations.