Women, being not merely victims, but rather agents of change, should be able ...

Women, being not merely victims, but rather agents of change, should be able to involve themselves more in peace talks to better reflect their priorities in the text of peace agreements. Moreover, having emerged from many destructive wars, we in Viet Nam are convinced that women can play an active role in peacebuilding and reconstruction if and when they are empowered economically, financially, politically and institutionally, and when their special needs, including health and education, are properly addressed. With this in mind, we hope that the seven commitments listed in the Secretary-General's report contained in document S/2010/466 can be fully honoured so as to ensure women's equal involvement as participants and beneficiaries in local development, employment creation, income generation, front-line service delivery, and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes in post-conflict situations.