My delegation is concerned about the identification of patterns of sexual violence in conflict and postconflict situations in many States and regions. Sexual violence as a tactic of war stokes crises, fuels the continuation of armed conflict, promotes the displacement of people, limits subsistence activities and reduces opportunities for development.
Research by the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security reveals that the Council does not consistently apply the principles of the women, peace and security agenda in its country-specific work.
Maldives has expressed support for Libya's National Transitional Council. With its current transition from conflict to creating a stable Government, we urge the National Transitional Council to stay mindful of the specific needs of women and its obligations towards them. That includes everything from disarmament and reconciliation to women's participation and representation.
It was democracy that turned the tide of abuse in the Maldives. Government-led efforts to address issues related to women resulted in the establishment of call centres and protective services. Civil society participation and its advocacy in such efforts have also been instrumental.
We welcome the Secretary-General's conclusions in his recent report (S/2011/598*) that the indicators proposed last year (S/2010/498), which were endorsed by the Council in its presidential statement of 26 October 2010 (S/PRST/2010/22), had made a major contribution to consistency and coherence in international efforts.
Luxembourg continues to place great importance on the plight of women in crisis situations and on mainstreaming the gender dimension into the work of international and regional organizations in that respect.
Although women's participation in Tunisia's recent elections has not lived up to all expectations, we are confident that Tunisian women will be able to assume, at all levels and in all political and economic institutions, their responsibilities in the work of building their country, and that they will thereby set an example for other countries in the region and around the world.
Allow me, in my capacity as Chair of the Guinea configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, to highlight the role that Guinean women must play in the establishment of democracy in Guinea, and specifically in national reconciliation efforts in their country, which was wounded by decades of authoritarian rule and military dictatorship.
We thank the Secretary-General and Under- Secretary-General Michelle Bachelet for their briefings on the efforts undertaken by the United Nations system over the past year to implement the women and peace and security agenda.
