We call upon the Security Council to intensify its efforts in the fight against impunity and to provide strong and effective leadership in strengthening the rule of law, with the ultimate aim of eradicating this abhorrent behaviour.

Those opportunities, however, can be enhanced significantly depending on how the international community sets its priorities for recovery and uses its strategies for peacebuilding. Those priorities should consist of specific national and international policies aimed at increasing women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution, mediation, peace negotiations and peacebuilding.

The Republic of Croatia welcomes the latest report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of that resolution (S/2011/598*), the recommendations contained therein and the presidential statement adopted by the Council today (S/PRST/2011/20). Furthermore, Croatia commends the roles of and work done by both the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms.

The adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1325 (2000) bears testimony to the progress made during the past decade in the area of women and peace and security. That landmark resolution has brought much-needed attention to the question of women's empowerment, which represents a priority for my country.

Our national action plan will contribute to the implementation of specific tasks in a more consistent and coordinated manner, setting up measurable appropriate indicators and raising interest in women's participation in issues related to peace and security. Following the completion of the four-year period the plan has been set up for, it will be revised in the light of its performance.

I am very pleased to say that the Croatian Government has recently adopted its national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and related resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1889 (2009). The basic objective is to support and monitor their implementation at all levels.

Croatia's policy in this regard is directed towards the substantial deployment of women in peacekeeping operations, in both the armed forces and police, as their presence reinforces the importance of women's perspective and represents added value for all initiatives aimed at achieving peace.

As a country with authentic experience in the field of conflict prevention and resolution, as well as mediation and peacebuilding, Croatia is actively contributing to the realization of the objective of the resolution during both times of conflict and times of peace. As a way of contributing to international peace and security, Croatia is increasingly taking part in peacekeeping operations, thereby informing

Although women are widely recognized as effective agents of peace, they still have little access to decision-making positions and peace negotiations. Women in the aftermath of conflict have little or no protection or access to services, justice and economic security, and those are the areas in which women's needs and gaps in response are most evident.

With regard to participation, I should also like to mention initiatives such as the creation of women's community councils, indigenous women's regional laboratories and community radio programming boards.