Implementation

What can we do in one year? Probably a great deal more than we imagine. First, several essential measures can be taken easily, almost overnight, and at very little cost to the United Nations. Such measures might include, for example, increasing the number of women in United Nations mediation teams and in particular the appointment of a female chief negotiator.

The fight against sexual violence is one thing; the broader question of the role of women and their place in peace negotiations, peacebuilding and reconstruction processes is quite another. Resolution 1325 (2000) is and must remain, in our view, the key instrument guiding our actions in this area. However, as far as the implementation of this resolution goes — excuse me for speaking frankly, Mr.

Secondly, and in order to ensure that the specific needs of women are truly taken into account and earnestly responded to in peacebuilding and reconstruction processes, we must put our money where our mouth is when it comes to gender budgeting. We must allocate sufficient resources to women's programmes. This is an effort which it behoves each and every one of us to undertake with urgency, not only here but also at the national level.

Of course, some progress has been made. Fifteen years after the Beijing Conference, notably thanks to the industry of the Commission on the Status of Women, we can affirm that questions relating to gender have found their place in official United Nations discourse.

In conclusion, with regard to developing such national action plans, Belgium wonders whether the Peacebuilding Commission could play a more significant role in the countries in which it is active. In the Central African Republic, the Commission, chaired by Belgium, has already striven as far as possible to ensure the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008).

Fourthly, Belgium cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance and usefulness of developing national action plans for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Belgium is proud to announce that it developed such a plan of action last year and is ready to share its experience with any Member State that may be interested.

Belgium, which had the privilege of participating in the drafting and adoption of resolution 1820 (2008) while it held a seat on the Security Council, welcomes the cohesion and vision the Council has demonstrated in this field throughout this period. We hope for the swift appointment of the new special representative of the Secretary-General on sexual violence and establishment of the team of experts called for in resolution 1888 (2009).

As far as Belgium is concerned, the situation is very simple. A year from now, we will celebrate the passage of 10 years since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). We therefore have one year left to fill the gap that exists between the programmes envisioned in New York or our capitals on the one hand, and, on the other, their financing and implementation on the ground.

Austria is committed to the objectives of resolution 1325 (2000). Our activities are firmly based on a national action plan adopted in August 2007. A working group made up of representatives of all ministries involved and the Austrian Development Agency reports annually to the Council of Ministers on measures undertaken under this action plan.

We welcome the considerable progress that has been made in strengthening the protection pillar of resolution 1325 (2000) with the adoption of resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) on sexual violence, as well as resolution 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict. Let me express our hope for a quick appointment of the special representative requested in resolution 1888 (2009).