Human Rights UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (…) Expressing concern that civilians, particularly women and children, account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by armed conflict, including as refugees and internally displaced persons, and increasingly are targeted by combatants and armed elements, and recognizing the consequent impact this has on durable peace and reconciliation, Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, and stressing the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution, Reaffirming also the need to implement fully international humanitarian and human rights law that protects the rights of women and girls during and after conflicts, (…) The Security Council 1. Urges Member States to ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflict; (…) 8. Calls on all actors involved, when negotiating and implementing peace agreements, to adopt a gender perspective, including, inter alia: (a) The special needs of women and girls during repatriation and resettlement and for rehabilitation, reintegration and postconflict reconstruction; (b) Measures that support local women’s peace initiatives and indigenous processes for conflict resolution, and that involve women in all of the implementation mechanisms of the peace agreements; (c) Measures that ensure the protection of and respect for human rights of women and girls, particularly as they relate to the constitution, the electoral system, the police and the judiciary; (…) Commonwealth of Independent States (UNIFEM CIS) and its regional office in Almaty, with contributions from UNIFEM Azerbaijan, and through co-ordination with the relevant OSCE field operations. The roundtable identified respective national priorities, activities to be undertaken, and how national and regional co-operation could facilitate enhancement of implementation. A range of possible actions were presented, such as including a reference to UNSCR 1325 in national action plans on gender equality, orga- 62 Annual Report  nizing public-awareness campaigns, conducting training courses and roundtables in the region (with government, parliament, ministries, mass media, NGOs), and conducting research about the impact of conflict on women and the role of women in peace-building. Domestic violence One of the first steps necessary in protecting women from domestic violence is to recognize the problem by enacting legislation making domestic violence a criminal offence. In Moldova, where domestic violence is a widespread problem, the Office has been supporting the drafting of legislation since 2005. Last year, the ODIHR partnered with a Moldovan organization to arrange a study tour to Romania for representatives of the government and NGOs. Several expert review meetings were held, including one regional event, where government representatives from Ukraine and Romania commented on Moldova’s draft law and shared their experiences of drafting similar legislation. As a result, earlier draft provisions that could have discriminated against unmarried couples and illegal residents were removed and provisions for the protection of victims of violence were added. Future Priorities The death penalty The ODIHR will continue to monitor developments in the area of capital punishment in order to facilitate an exchange of information on the death penalty and its alternatives among various actors and to encourage compliance with international safeguards on the use of the death penalty. Human rights and the armed forces Upon publication of the handbook in 2007, the ODIHR will focus on providing expertise to participating States in implementing the recommendations contained in the handbook, including review of legislation and policies related to armed forces personnel, to ensure their com-