I also wish to commend the tireless efforts of Ms. Bineta Diop, who, as the h...

I also wish to commend the tireless efforts of Ms. Bineta Diop, who, as the head of Femmes Africa Solidarité, is working to implement resolution 1325 (2000) in several African States, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Côte d'Ivoire, and in Darfur. In the recent tragic days, I would like to underscore the events in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where, once again, the civilian population, and women in particular, are the victims of clashes. Women in conflict situations continue to be regular target of unacceptable violence. That happens when they become involved. Recently, we have also seen defenders of women's rights targeted by all kinds of extremists, who want to silence them. In Afghanistan, women who play an active part in the reconstruction of their country and participate in political life are threatened by extremist groups. They also remain the primary target for sexual violence, which is still used as a weapon of war to terrorize civilian populations.