Foreign Minister on the debate in the UN Security Council over resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security

Vienna, 30 October 2008 - "Women are making indispensable contributions to conflict resolution and peace processes worldwide. They must also be involved in the UN’s peace work as determinants and shapers, with equal rights and on equal terms", said Foreign Minister Plassnik regarding this year's debate in the UN Security Council in New York on the 8th anniversary of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

"In its Presidential statement on the involvement of women in peace processes, the UN Security Council refers to a long-standing demand of our international Women Leaders Network: It explicitly appeals to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint more women as UN Special Envoys. The initiative we launched at the Vienna meeting of our network in May 2007 now therefore also enjoys the support of the highest UN body - another partial objective in our persistent engagement for the equal participation of women in international peace work has been achieved", stressed the Minister.

Plassnik: "During our membership in the UN Security Council, we shall continue our persistent efforts so that the targets formulated in Resolution 1325 are applied more consistently in the UN's daily work". Finally, the Minister reminded of her proposal to carry out a comprehensive review of progress so far and to set new objectives on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the resolution in 2010.

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