Implementation

This meeting is an opportunity for us all to declare our commitment to achieving this goal. But it should be more. It should spark concrete action, through a more coherent and coordinated approach geared towards helping women, not next year or next month, but right now, today.

In recognition of the meaningful participation of women at all stages of the peace process, including disarmament, and in the integration of a gender perspective, we note the recent introduction of a draft resolution in the First Committee (A/C.1/65/L.39), spearheaded by our sister Caribbean Community country of Trinidad and Tobago, on women, disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, and we welcome this as another important step in the

However, despite this progress, we continue to receive shocking reports of atrocious abuses and sexual violence against women in conflict zones, as recently occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Warring parties must first and foremost halt all systematic and individual abuses against women.

Through the Austrian Development Agency, Austria supports and implements projects tailored towards, the implementation of 1325, in particular in relation to violence against Women,DDR, cooperation with civil society, for conflict prevention and peacekeeping. We will continue with these efforts. The Austrian multilateral development cooperation will keep a strong focus on women and children in crisis and post conflict situations.

The newly-established entity "UNWomen" has a central role in coordinating the UN's activities in implementing Res. 1325. Austria is committed to support UN Women and its efforts in making the newly developed indicators operational. In this context, Austria will provide UN Women with voluntary financial contributions.

The development and implementation of National Action Plans is crucial to improve the implementation of Res. 1325. Austria was one of the first countries to develop a National Action Plan for resolution 1325. We will take the 10th anniversary of Resolution 1325 as an opportunity to revise our National Action Plan. Work will start beginning of 2011 in close cooperation with civil society and other line ministries.

Austria is committed to a continuous enhancement of its rule of law standards. The Rome Statute is the first international treaty to classify crimes against women, like rape or other forms of sexual violence, as crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide. Austria is currently in the process of incorporating the crimes of the ICC Statute into its criminal code.

With its expertise in the development of a National Action Plan on 1325, Austria stands ready to work together in the context of a 'Twinning Project' with partner countries to support the establishment of National Action Plans on 1325.

When adopting this landmark resolution 10 years ago, the Security Council recognized that equal 'participation, representation and fulI involvement of women in all aspects of peace-building and security, the protection of women as a group with specific needs and concerns as well as the prevention of sexual and other violence are not only a security issue but also vital for sustainable peace and stability.

The Council has at its disposal a whole range of tools for the implementation of resolution 1325. These include measures such as mandates of peacekeeping and other relevant missions, briefings and reports, commissions of inquiry as well as targeted measures and sanctions. We have to be ready to use these tools and to translate words into practice in a consistent manner.