Most visible at the international level is the better coordinated work within the United Nations system — particularly among the Special Adviser on GenderIssues, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the United Nations Development Programme and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affa

Against such a backdrop, it is worrisome to learn from the Secretary-General's report that “10 years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), significant achievements are difficult to identify or quantify. The conditions and opportunities that women and girls face in situations of armed conflict continue to be abhorrent and effective methods for monitoring impact are lacking.” (S/2010/498, para. 3)

We continue to be committed to development and to the implementation of the agenda for the protection of civilians in armed conflict, paying particular attention on women and children, both through our work at Headquarters and through our Blue Helmets on the ground. We also reiterate the importance of achieving the broadest possible support for that agenda. The high level of participation in today's debate is clear evidence of that.

Uruguay believes that the women and peace and security agenda is a fundamental part of a larger agenda that inextricably links the situation of children in armed conflict and, of course, the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

The intrinsic complementarity that exists between participation and protection is probably the main concept at the heart of resolution 1325 (2000), on which so much has been built and developed. It is therefore crucial to continue to promote greater participation by women in the various forums and areas linked to peace processes. In that regard, I should like to conclude by making special mention of the appointment of Ms.

Since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), great advances have been made on the women and peace and security agenda, in terms of both breadth and depth, in such a way that today it occupies an important place in the range of legal instruments, policies and concrete activities of this Organization in conflict and post-conflict situations.

Measures that could overcome many of those limitations include clear and predictable strategies tailored to each mission; better coordination with the various actors on the ground, especially with host countries, which have the primary responsibility for protection; and greater material resources, which are absolutely essential.

I should like to underscore a number of points that we believe are worthy of further efforts, such as the need to pay greater attention to the reintegration of victims whose rights have been seriously violated, in particular in cases of sexual abuse or exploitation; the need to continue fighting against impunity for those responsible for such violations; and the need to take better into account the economic and social dimensions of women's par

However, and while it is impossible to measure it, we are convinced that the gradual and cross-cutting adaptation of the United Nations since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) to address the vulnerability and exclusion of women has averted many ills and promoted the gender perspective in many processes where otherwise this would not have been the case.

Despite this progress, women and girls undoubtedly continue to be the most vulnerable and most excluded in such situations. Reports from various conflict and post-conflict zones on physical and moral violence against women are a permanent reminder of the enormous gap that exists between our words and agreements in this forum and the reality of life on the ground.