We welcome the focus of this debate on the rights, perspectives and participation of women in the rule of law and transitional justice in conflict-affected situations. The rule of law is an integral part of the engagement for peace and security. The Nordic countries have a strong commitment to the rule of law and to its main principles of legality, equality, accountability and participation.

We welcome the fact that the recently concluded Arms Trade Treaty includes a legally-binding provision on gender-based violence and a call for a full implementation of the Treaty's provision on preventing gender-based violence and violence against women and girls when assessing arms transfers.

We pay tribute to the work of civil society to promote gender equality and women's role in conflict resolution and in conflict prevention. Let us not forget that the very origin of resolution 1325 (2000) derives from the tireless and courageous efforts of women's NGOs. We must continue to support and encourage the women- led civil society in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

We firmly believe that the rule of law must encompass the whole population — women and men, boys and girls — if it is to be worthy of its name. Nevertheless, women's perspectives, capacities and needs continue to be overlooked in efforts to establish the rule of law in conflict or post-conflict contexts.

The Nordic countries support and encourage the findings in the progress report by UN Women to be moved forward, alongside the Secretary-General's recommendations in his report. We applaud the efforts of the regional and subregional organizations to implement resolution 1325 (2000), and we commend the ongoing work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) membership to adopt an OSCE- wide action plan.

The Nordic countries strongly welcome the Secretary-General's report (S/2013/525) and the adoption of resolution 2122 (2013) on women, peace and security. We commend the Council for the progress made and trust that the new resolution will enhance a more rapid, complete and systematic implementation of all the resolutions on this matter.

Finally, we welcome the Secretary-General's call for a 2015 high-level review of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and his call for new and ambitious targets.

At the strategic level, gender awareness in the rule of law and transitional justice is crucial for women's access to justice and for the enjoyment of rights. It has a direct impact on their political and economic empowerment. A systematic follow-up to ensure the inclusion of the women, peace and security agenda in the day to day work of the Council is therefore necessary.

The report of the Secretary-General clearly notes a positive trend in women's participation in mediation processes and the negotiation of peace agreements. However, the inclusion of matters that directly affect women and their rights in such agreements is still insufficient. That is what the United Nations Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice points out in its latest report.

The approach chosen today for the current debate links two fundamental principles to which Spain is particularly committed: the first is the fight against impunity for crimes against women in armed conflict, and the second is women's participation in rebuilding the rule of law in post-conflict situations in order to put an end to the structures of inequality and discrimination in the context of which those crimes were committed.