Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at a side event organised by Finland and Liberia on "Peace and Security through Women's Leadership: Acting on 1325 and Climate Change" on 24 September 2009 in New York

Last March, Liberia and Finland together convened the International Colloquium on women's leadership, empowerment and security. The Monrovia meeting was an inspiring and wonderful experience. Nearly two thousand women and men - representing governments, civil society, businesses and villages - sent a strong message to the world: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 must be fully implemented, and that, on climate issues, gender aspect must be given more attention and women should be involved in decision-making.

I am glad to be working with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf again, this time co-chairing this side event.

I hope that today we can take forward the message of the Liberia Colloquium. By working together around the world, we can really create a process to improve equality and the situation of women. We want to make the world a safer and more just place for all of us.

In 2000, the UN Security Council under the Presidency of Namibia adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Last year, under the Presidency of the United States, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1820, which - reaffirming Resolution 1325 - condemns rape and other forms of sexual violence.

Implementing these resolutions is still a great challenge. I support the proposal that the United Nations should appoint a special representative to monitor the implementation of these resolutions. We have a lot of work in front of us, to see that the entire international community understands how important equality between women and men is for social development and sustainable peace.

I consider that one concrete step forward would be to classify systematic rape and other sexual violence as a forbidden weapon of war, which would also be taken into account in disarmament processes. This proposal is included in the Liberia meeting’s Call to Action on Resolution 1325.

Each country should prepare a national action plan to implement Resolution 1325. A national plan is a good tool in which countries’ own needs and resources can be taken into account. It also provides a good opportunity to evaluate where attention in each country should be focused.

Finland adopted her own national plan last year. Countries can give one another valuable support in preparing action plans. Liberia and Ireland have worked together on this, and Finland is starting a twinning project with Kenya.

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In just over two months, the Copenhagen Climate Conference will begin. This week, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convened the Summit on Climate Change here in New York. The atmosphere was encouraging and inspiring. Many speakers were clear on the will to succeed. There is strength in cooperation. Together we can turn a huge challenge into an opportunity.

It is important that different views and knowledge are represented in the negotiations. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has expressed concerns that the gender perspective has not received adequate attention in climate issues - internationally or nationally.

Ladies and gentlemen, half the people in the world are female. Let us make sure that the whole mankind is involved in building a better future from the viewpoint of sustainable development and climate.

In many developing countries, women work in agriculture and food production and are responsible for energy-related tasks, such as collecting firewood, and taking care of the water supply. If women's knowledge and skills are involved, we are likely to make the right decisions - have an influence at the right time in the right place - and achieve our objectives in the end.

The new climate agreement must include a provision on gender equality and women's participation. Finland supports attention to gender equality in climate negotiations and women delegates' participation in negotiations.

I hope that today's meeting will strengthen our cooperation to improve global security. I also hope that we can continue - together and individually - our efforts to ensure that women can participate equally with men both in deciding on matters and in implementing decisions that have been jointly made.