Mr. President,
At the outset, allow me, on behalf of my delegation, to commend the Japanese presidency for organizing this open debate to mark the sixth anniversary of the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Croatia has aligned itself with the statement made by Finland on behalf of the EU, but I would like to add a few points of my Government on the matter.
Why is the SCR 1325 so important for us? Because it calls for the protection of women and girls in worldwide conflicts and gives women an active role in peacebuilding as well as in the post conflict era. Croatia believes that is of the outmost importance for the Security Council to discuss this issue but it is even more important that the SCR 1325 is implemented.
Mr. President,
International community must not stay passive while witnessing gross violations of women's rights. In the 21st century it is unacceptable that women in worldwide conflict are still being used, raped and tortured even as an instrument of war. It is even more humiliating for international community that too often women in a post conflict situation become victims. Perpetrators must be punished, with no exceptions. If we send protection, we must guarantee protection. And all that is exactly why it is crucial to give women a more prominent role in peacebuilding process.
Croatia firmly supports the statement of the EU that gender should be incorporated into every aspect of the work of the PBC and PBCO and that gender equality is a prerequisite for peace and security.
Mr. President,
Croatia believes that it is the international but also a national responsibility to stop marginalization of women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We are putting a lot of effort in increasing the involvement of women in peacekeeping operations, especially among military and police observers. Through national mechanisms, like the recently adopted National Policy for the Promotion of Gender Equality for the period of 2006-2010, special measures for achieving integration of gender perspective in national security policy as well as the promotion of application of the SCR 1325 are being incorporated.
Although figures show some progress in this issue, there is still a great challenge in front of us and higher goals that we want to achieve.
Mr. President,
Today, we are calling for the greater representation of women in the process of negotiating peace, post-war reconstruction and reconciliation. We must continue to encourage the main bodies of the UN, particularly the funds and programs to strengthen the participation of women in their work and to streamline gender issues.
Only by enhancing the role of women in a peacebuilding and especially in a decision making process we can achieve the fulfillment of principles contained in SCR 1325 for the benefit of all.
Thank you.
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