I am compelled to begin by stressing the great interest that Africa attaches ...

I am compelled to begin by stressing the great interest that Africa attaches to the subject at hand. Africa is host to 70 per cent of the United Nations peacekeeping operations, so today's issue is of direct relevance to its peoples. I would like to thank all the women of the world for the solidarity they demonstrated, above all to the women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, when they marched this month in Bukavu. In so doing, they manifested their solidarity with all the women and, by extension, the peoples of Africa.