At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having convened ...

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this open debate. You could not have chosen a better topic to close the successful presidency of your friendly country, India, of the Council this month. I would also like to thank Deputy Secretary-General Mr. Eliasson for his clear and concise presentation of the report of the Secretary- General (S/2012/732), as well as Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN-Women; Mr. Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations; and Ms. Bineta Diop, President and Founder of Femmes Africa Solidarité, for their respective contributions. My delegation welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security (S/2012/732) and the adoption in October of the presidential statement on that issue (S/PRST/2012/23). The statement sent a strong message of the firm and ongoing commitment of the international community to helping women to become independent and to protecting their rights. Today's debate will allow us to take stock of the progress made in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), in particular with respect to strengthening women's involvement in decision-making processes and to mainstreaming gender into peacekeeping operations and training programmes for peacekeeping personnel.