b. States must set up an independent mechanism for monitoring the execution of the plans. This mechanism will: collect and analyse data related to the activities; monitor progress in achieving the goals of the plan; gather i nformation on obstacles and best practices; propose measures to determine future guidelines and priorities to improve the plans; and write evaluation reports. Explanatory Notes: UN Women, Handbook for National Action Plans on Violence against Women (2012). See the “365 Day National Action Plan to End Violence against Women” in South Africa (2007); the “National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence” in Lesotho (2008); the “National Action Plan to End Violence against Women and Children” in Tanzania (2017/182021/22); the “National Action Plan for the Acceleration of the Abandonment of FGM” in Senegal (2000-2005, 2005-2010, 2010-2015); the “National Action Plan to Promote the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation” (2009) and the activities of the National Committee for Combating the Practice of Excision (SP/CNLPE) in Burkina Faso. 69. National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security 69. 1. The United Nations Security Council has adopted several resolutions on Women, Peace and Security acknowledging that women and girls are particularly affected by sexual violence during armed conflicts, that this violence can be used as a weapon of war, and that it is urgent to protect women and children from this violence. The resolutions also focus on strengthening the participation of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and combating the impunity of perpetrators. States must develop, adopt, and/ or strengthen (their) national action plans to implement these resolutions. They must guarantee that the institutions in charge of their implementation have sufficient financing and resources. 69. 2. These action plans must focus on priority goals such as the following: • implementing or strengthening early warning and rapid response mechanisms to anticipate, detect and quickly respond to cases of sexual violence; • protecting women and girls against sexual violence in conflict or post-conflict situations; • strengthening the direct participation of women in managing situations of conflicts and crisis, particularly by increasing their participation in peacekeeping and reconstruction operations while promoting their access to positions within civil and military institutions, including management positions; • raising awareness in all personnel deployed in peacekeeping operations (PKO) regarding all forms of sexual violence, its consequences for victims, and assisting victims; • promoting the adoption and implementation of a zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence within PKO ; • training peacekeeping personnel to deliver awareness-raising workshops on combating sexual violence and its consequences to armed forces and related groups involved in processes for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; • combating impunity for the perpetrators of sexual violence. 69. 3. These priority goals must translate into specific objectives with targeted indicators that enable effective implementation and regular evaluation of these action plans. Explanatory Notes: Maputo Protocol, Articles 10 and 11; see the recommendations of the Special Envoy of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security in her report, “Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa” (2016). See the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, Article 28 (2008). See also the Dakar Declaration on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in West Africa (2010); see the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 in West Africa (2010 - 2015); see United Nations Security Council Resolutions S/RES/1325 (2000), S/RES/1820 (2008), S/RES/1888 (2009), S/RES/1889 (2009), S/RES/1960 (2010), S/RES/2106 (2013), S/RES/2122 (2013), S/RES/2242 (2015). See also the United Nations Ten-year Impact Study on Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security in Peacekeeping, Final Report to United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Department of Field Support (2010). GUIDELINES ON COMBATING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES IN AFRICA 47