Finally, engaging women and promoting gender equality as part of our work for peace and security is a daily responsibility and an unfinished mission for all of us. It is time for us to finally recognise the role and power of women to help us build a peaceful world.

During a recent visit to Mali I saw first-hand some of the acute challenges women face in times of crisis and conflict. My time there left a deep impression on me. I promised the women leaders with whom I met in Bamako that I would convey their message to this Council. They told me disturbing accounts of the abuses women face in the northern part of the country now under extremists' rule and occupation.

As these Council Members well know, extremist groups have started to implement exceedingly harsh interpretation of Sharia law in northern Mali. This has led to the separation of boys and girls at schools, forced marriages for young girls and targeted killing or maiming of women accused of having children out of wedlock.

As the case of Mali clearly underlines, armed conflict affects women and men differently. This means that women have to be part of the solution. One of the key messages of the Secretary-General's report on women, peace and security is that early and sustained engagement with women is crucial to ensure the sustainability of peace efforts as well as vital to deepen democracy and to promote respect for human rights.

Azerbaijan reiterates its strong condemnation of all acts of violence committed against women and girls in situations of armed conflict and calls upon all parties to such conflicts to strictly abide by their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. All the necessary measures must be taken to bring perpetrators of such acts to justice and to put an end to impunity.

We believe that women's civil society organizations, in close cooperation with the relevant Governments, can advance the women and peace and security agenda by bringing forward their concerns, priorities and rights in conflict prevention and resolution, and in the peacebuilding process.

There is a clear need to increase the number of female military and police personnel in United Nations missions, and we appreciate the efforts taken by troop- and police-contributing countries to that end. At the same time, as the report of the Secretary-General underlines, increased numbers alone are not enough, and gender expertise is also needed.

The heightened vulnerability of civilians in wartime, in particular forcibly displaced persons, refugees, women and children requires urgency, dedication and strong commitment in all protection efforts at the regional and global levels that must be free of selectivity and politically motivated approaches and purposes.

The establishment of the post of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict has added a new dimension to the global efforts to fight that scourge. I would like to take the opportunity to wish Ms. Zainab Bangura, newly appointed Special Representative of the Secretary- General, every success in carrying out her important mandate.

More resolute and targeted measures are required to end impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, including those committed against women in situations of armed conflict. Among the pressing issues requiring urgent action and attention is that of women taken hostage and reported missing in connection with armed conflict.