The women's protection advisers are a new cadre of specialists combining political and security expertise, human rights monitoring and gender analysis. Their principal role is to catalyse the implementation of the key operational aspects of the Council's resolutions on sexual violence in conflict.

With regard to the implementation of the agenda of the protection of civilians in armed conflict, we would like particular stress to be given to women and children through the work that we do at Headquarters as well as through the work that is done by Blue Helmets on the ground. We would also like to stress the importance of having the broadest possible support for this agenda.

Uruguay has been in the vanguard of incorporating women into the armed forces, and that can be seen in the number of women who are deployed in the armed forces as well as in the Uruguayan police and in the formed police units of peacekeeping operations.

Uruguay considers the issue of women and peace and security to be an essential part of a larger agenda that includes the situation of children in armed conflict as well as the protection of civilians in armed conflict; they are integral parts of the whole. It is therefore essential to make coordinated progress and to use all the instruments available to the Organization, particularly its capacities in the field.

Since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the women and peace and security agenda has made clear progress, expanding in both breadth and depth to occupy the important place it does today, supported by the legal instruments, political initiatives and practical activities of the Organization.

One instrument in such efforts is peacekeeping operations, which in recent years have included mandates for the protection of civilians that pay particular attention to women and children. There has been significant progress.

Despite that progress, however, we regret to note that reports from a number of conflict and post-conflict situations continue to point to increasing physical and emotional violence against women and girls, who are the primary victims of sexual violence and its negative consequences for their quality of life and future development. In that regard, we would stress the need to defend the human rights of the victims of serious violations.

At the outset, I would like to join the many previous speakers who have thanked you, Sir, for having convened this debate. I also express our gratitude to all those, especially the women, who work every day to promote peace and security.

We see signs of progress as some national Governments are making justice systems more responsive and accessible to survivors of sexual violence. For example, Sierra Leon's new sexual offence law gives stiff minimum sentences to perpetrators. Sri Lanka's women's protection units provide female staff at police stations, and privacy for women to report crimes.

We applaud and appreciate the critical role that civil society, especially local women's groups, plays in assisting survivors by providing them with medical care, counselling and a political voice, and by facilitating their access to justice.