Twelve years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), Togo welcomes the ongoing ref lections begun by the United Nations on the implementation of the resolution. The importance of this process resides in the fact that it is an opportunity to take stock of the results achieved and difficulties encountered, and to contemplate strategies to be adopted in our future work.
When the situation demands it, Thai women can also be effective agents of peace, as caring peacekeepers and peacebuilders. We were pleased to see the role of female peacekeepers mentioned in several parts of the Secretary-General's report. Thailand also attaches great importance to enhancing the role and participation of women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations.
Thailand shares the view of the Secretary-General that we should move from a culture of reaction to a culture of prevention. To that end, we have established the Thai Women's Empowerment Fund to address the lack of economic opportunities for women by offering low-interest loans to help women develop their skills and careers. The Fund can also be used to strengthen women's civil society networks and enhance women's role.
Thailand is a country where women have long played a role in peace and security. Today, Thai women can be found in executive and leadership positions in every area of activity, including business, education, charity, non-governmental organizations, civil society, and of course, politics. Thailand has also been active in promoting the role of women in society.
In implementing resolution 1325 (2000), Thailand established a subcommittee on women and the promotion of peace and security. A wide range of activities have been carried out, from raising awareness of women's rights to the exchange of views on legal issues aimed at ensuring equal access by women to justice and sound legal advice.
Finally, let me emphasize the necessity of the universal implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and relevant resolutions and their translation into practice. For our part, Thailand reiterates its readiness and commitment to join the efforts of the international community aimed at ensuring that the voices of women will be heard, their rights respected and protected, and their concerns and needs addressed.
Another milestone for women in Thailand was the admission of female cadets, in 2009, to the century-old Police Cadet Academy. After graduation, the first batch of female cadets will be assigned the important task of dealing with cases involving violence against women and children.
We also deplore the fact that some people are exploiting the difficult situation that Syrian female refugees are finding themselves in in camps in neighbouring countries — marrying Syrian women under the pretext that they are going to help them escape their difficult situation through what has come to be crudely called sexual jihad.
Unfortunately, in the wake of the events taking place in my country today, armed terrorist groups supported, financed and armed by regional and international Arab sides, are seeking to push my country backwards and negate the social progress that Syria had achieved in terms of gender equality.
