Implementation

Secondly, there is need for increased high-level commitment to the resolution, both within the United Nations system and by the Member States.

On the membership's side, the lead must be taken in implementing the resolution, prioritizing the adoption and implementation of national action plans. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, the conference identified a clear need for accountability and reporting mechanisms to ensure successful implementation.

Last summer, Iceland organized an international conference on resolution 1325 (2000), entitled “Women Negotiating Peace”, which highlighted how best to ensure that women are included in formal and informal peace processes. Allow me to contribute to this discussion by recapitulating some of the main issues addressed at the Reykjavik conference. Four themes were predominant.

Iceland maintains a strong commitment to resolution 1325 (2000), being one of the few countries that have adopted a national action plan pursuant to the resolution. The Icelandic Government has decided to focus its work related to resolution 1325 (2000) on post-conflict reconstruction and women's access to peace negotiations, being convinced that the inclusion of women in peace processes is a security issue essential to sustainable peace.

What can the United Nations do? Security Council resolution 1888 (2009) and resolution 1889 (2009), adopted today, are yet another milestone in the fight against sexual violence and for the empowerment of women for the maintenance of peace and security. We now have a whole range of tools available to prevent sexual violence and to respond rapidly to situations in which violence occurs.

What can Member States do? I will give the Council just a few examples. Germany has advocated the inclusion of gender advisers in all European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) missions. The mission of the European Union-led peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had, for the first time, such an adviser among its personnel. During Germany's presidency, gender advisers were part of all ESDP missions.

Let me suggest and reiterate three more targets. The United Nations needs to continue working together with women's non-governmental organizations on the ground in post-conflict areas. It has to strive to include more women in peacekeeping missions at all levels and to improve its own performance, but also to set an example for the countries concerned.

We urge the United Nations to lead by example. We commend the Secretary-General for his efforts to increase the number of women in senior leadership positions, and we encourage him to break even more ground in the years to come. We welcome the call, in the resolution just adopted, to the Secretary-General to develop a strategy to that end.

We do not only need to make sure that we have women present at the table at all levels of decision- making. We should consider working towards agreeing on international standards regarding participation of women and men in peace and post-conflict processes. We also need to make sure that women can fully use their potential, skills and leadership to foster quick and sustainable recovery and peacebuilding.

The United Nations plays a unique role in conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. However, during the 60 years of United Nations peacekeeping, no more than seven women have served as Special Representatives of the Secretary-General in the field. No woman has ever been nominated as a lead mediator in a peace process led by the United Nations. This has to change.