On behalf of the Government of Gabon, I am therefore delighted to note that the topic chosen here, the interdependence between security and development in the maintenance of international peace and security, is in line with the policy advocated by President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who also attaches particular importance to issues regarding the improvement of the status of women, widows, orphans and people with disabilities, the fight against pandem

In turn, the need for security as a prerequisite for development is well established. In post-conflict situations, national capacity-building in the area of security in keeping with norms for the rule of law is essential in order to establish favourable conditions for development. For example, in a number of countries where the economy relies almost entirely on the work of women, there is a direct link between security and development.

For all of those reasons, it is the responsibility of the international community to establish conditions for shared and sustainable development that limit the risk of conflicts breaking out, or continuing. Thus the Peacebuilding Commission, in the countries on its agenda, has made the emancipation of young people and women one of its priorities, alongside security sector reform, as both factors contribute to stability.

Engaging women in all efforts is essential. Despite women's involvement in peace initiatives, they are too often excluded from peace negotiations. That undermines efforts to achieve long-term peace. The empowerment of women is a precondition for long-term development and peace.

The European Union strongly backs the mainstreaming of human rights, including gender equality, in the work of the United Nations — for example, through the recently established mainstreaming mechanism of the Development Group. More frequent presentations by the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Security Council would be a good way to further mainstream human rights in its work.

The European Union strongly backs the mainstreaming of human rights, including gender equality, in the work of the United Nations — for example, through the recently established mainstreaming mechanism of the Development Group. More frequent presentations by the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Security Council would be a good way to further mainstream human rights in its work.

In that regard, when drafting mandates, the Council could place greater emphasis on the strengthening of coordination activities and structures that have a high impact on the development of national capacities. Such activities are not new in the context of peacekeeping operations.

The long experience of the United Nations in the prevention and resolution of conflicts shows us that the issue of development — or, rather, the lack thereof — is at the source of many of the conflicts that have been on the agenda of the Security Council. Security imposed by peacekeeping operations carries no guarantee that security will be sustained or that conflict will not eventually re-emerge.

Beyond the United Nations, the international community as a whole must also be ready to respond. There is an urgent need to reinforce national capacity and engage expertise resident in the global South, especially in the areas of governance, the rule of law, public administration, women, peace and security and basic social services.

There is no doubt that particular attention should be given to activities and programmes dealing with the reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants, and security sector reform in order to create the conditions conducive to relaunching economic activity.