In addition, I would like to share with the Council our experience of making use of an area of Japan's official development assistance schemes that we call grant assistance for grassroots projects, which we believe is a positive example of a good practice that could be emulated elsewhere.
As Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe announced in his statement to the General Assembly last month (see A/68/PV.12), Japan is actively committed to engaging in the international agenda concerning women and to making every effort to create a society where women shine.
Italy considers resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions to be key elements of its agenda for international peace and security. We are currently reviewing our national action plan with a view to accelerating its implementation over the next three years. Gender equality and women's empowerment are mainstreamed into development cooperation programmes.
While Governments have the primary responsibility to steer such processes, the international community and other actors can provide critical support. In the fight against impunity for perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, where women are often the victims, the International Criminal Court has a unique role in complementing the efforts of national courts when these are unable to bring perpetrators to justice.
We appreciate the focus of today's debate — women's rights must be an integral component of efforts to rebuild justice and rule of law in conflict and post- conflict situations. I wish to address three areas.
To conclude, we have the tools to ensure that the vision enshrined in resolution 1325 (2000) becomes reality. It is high time we use them to turn a new page in the lives of many women and girls around the world.
Italy welcomes the adoption by the Security Council today's of resolution 2122 (2013), on women and peace and security, which is a further step towards the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).
One of the most eloquent champions of women's rights in the world today is Mary Robinson, a former President of Ireland and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region. The “Framework of Hope” that she has set out for progress in that region highlights the empowerment of women as a factor of critical importance.
What distinguishes today's resolution from others is that it represents a pivot away from a narrow focus on women as victims and towards the more positive and liberating agenda of women's participation and women's leadership. Welcome attention is paid to the active role that women and women's groups can play in transforming conflict, insecurity and fragility. That aspect has been insufficiently highlighted.
