Estonia is particularly concerned about the implications of armed conflicts f...

Estonia is particularly concerned about the implications of armed conflicts for the most vulnerable groups. There is growing understanding that women and children are impacted uniquely and disproportionately by the effects of conflict and its aftermath. I should like to encourage the Council to include in the mandates of peacekeeping missions provisions on human rights monitoring, with special focus on the rights of children and women. We also urge the further and timely deployment of gender advisers, women's protection advisers and child protection advisers to peacekeeping missions. In addition, I should like to stress that the predeployment training must cover the subjects of sexual and gender-based violence and the protection of children. Bearing that in mind, I welcome the Secretary General's “Rights up front” initiative to make the United Nations more accountable for its responsibilities. That is an awaited move forward in acknowledging the crucial need to respond as early as possible to human rights violations.