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Ministerial-level open debate Security Council 

On Women, Peace and Security

New York 26 October 2010

on behalf of the European Union

Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, ladies and gentlemen,

Despite 10 years of efforts, progress on protecting women in conflict
situations as well as promoting their participation in peace processes,
conflict prevention, peacebuilding and reconstruction has fallen short
of both the commitments the international community has made and the
needs on the ground. 

Violence against women and girls in conflicts, and in particular sexual
and gender based violence, continues to devastate the lives of many and
too often perpetrators enjoy impunity, as events in eastern-DRC remind
us. 

The European Union is strongly committed to the full implementation of
UNSCR 1325 and its follow-up resolutions. We urge all parties to
intensify their efforts to reach the common goal of full implementation.

(past actions)

In 2008, the EU adopted a comprehensive approach to the implementation
of resolutions 1325 and 1820,encompassing humanitarian, development,
security and foreign policies measures. 

In practical and operational terms:

- The EU has a range of programmes addressing the needs of women and
girls in conflict-affected and post-conflict situations, such as funding
medical services for survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and
in less than two years   it funded projects with direct impact on women,
peace and security worth over 300 million € in 67 countries. 

- The EU has started using a gender marker to track gender mainstreaming
in its development cooperation programmes, and has appointed gender
advisors or gender focal points to all its Peace and Security missions, 

The EU works closely with the United Nations and civil society to boost
women’s participation in peace and security. Inspired by the UN
example, EU delegations and missions organised ‘Open Door’ days to
mark this 10th anniversary and to meet with local women’s groups. Last
week, the EU and the African Union organised a seminar in Addis Ababa
bringing EU civil society representatives to discuss these issues  with
African representatives and to make recommendations for joint AU-EU
actions. 

- The EU is now also creating the new ‘European External Action
Service’: there is a firm commitment to further the implementation of
UNSC Resolution 1325 and following resolutions in our diplomatic,
defence and development efforts, as well as to strive towards a gender
balance. 

(future intentions)

As for renewed and measurable commitments, we are looking to:

- develop specific standard training elements to be used by EU staff and
Peace and Security missions and operations, on gender and human rights
in crisis management with the aim of increasing gender capacity and
female civil and military participation in peace missions.. 

	- By 2013 the EU will develop local strategies to implement SCR 1325 in
its development co-operation activities in at least 60% of fragile,
conflict or post-conflict countries.

	- To further boost women’s participation in peace and security, in
2011 we will implement specific capacity building projects to support
civil society and women’s networks in crisis affected countries. 

- To report regularly on the implementation of EU's women, peace and
security commitments, using the 17 EU indicators that were adopted in
July 2010. These EU indicators intend to measure  progress and assess
gaps in implementing the EU's Comprehensive approach. The first report
is in the process of being completed. This is a strong commitment
towards strengthened accountability.

(Requests to the SC)

The EU thus commits to increase its own accountability. 

The EU is encouraged by the SC decision to taking forward the set of
indicators as developed by the Secretary-General, to track
implementation of resolution 1325 in situations of armed conflict and
post conflict and other situations. The EU now calls for a swift
operationalisation of the indicators. The newly established “UN
women” will thereby play an important role. It has our full support.

The EU also supports the other recommendations by the
Secretary-General,.

the EU hopes to see in the SG’s next annual report to the Council 
proposals for a single comprehensive framework consisting of an agreed
set of goals, targets and indicators to guide the implementation of the
resolution in the next decade, including defining clear roles and
responsibilities within the UN system.

The EU considers that a dedicated working group should be established to
review progress in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and make
recommendations to the Council on how to address gaps and challenges and
accelerate progress in implementing the resolution

The EU asks the Security Council to redouble its efforts in the fight
against impunity; targeted and graduated measures should be imposed
against all parties to conflict responsible for grave violations of
women’s rights.  Perpetrators of sexual violence, including commanders
who commission or condone the use of sexual violence, should be held
accountable. The Council should include sexual violence as a priority
element in resolutions mandating its Sanctions Committees, and these
should explicitly include sexual violence as a criterion for the
designation of political and military leaders for targeted measures. The
EU also emphasizes the importance of rule of law in general and the
strengthening of national and international judicial systems to promote
women’s legal empowerment.

Finally, the EU is convinced that ownership and awareness can be
strongly increased by developing National Action Plans- or other
strategic instruments. The EU Member States currently have 10 action
plans with two more in the pipeline. 

Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, ladies and gentlemen, thank
you for your attention.

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