We are confident that the newly established UN Women will further strengthen our work by helping the United Nations pursue its efforts in a more systemized and coordinated manner in areas related to women, peace and security.

Since the adoption of the landmark resolution 1325 (2000), there has been progress across a broad range of issues with regard to the protection and promotion of women's and girls' rights in conflict affected situations. Thanks to the efforts of the international community, a strong understanding of the need for gender equality and women's empowerment as a prerequisite for international peace and security is taking hold.

In our opinion, the United Nations should develop and adopt a comprehensive framework that includes agreed goals and time-bound targets and guidelines for the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

I wish to conclude by underlining my country's commitment to the human rights of women all around the world. We wish to see women take their rightful place in the economic, social and political life of their societies. In Turkey we are committed to that goal. We will therefore continue our support for the implementation of the resolutions on women and peace and security.

I take this opportunity to welcome Under-Secretary-General Michelle Bachelet and to assure her of my country's full support and cooperation. As we mark the tenth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), Turkey is strongly committed to the full implementation of that resolution and three subsequent resolutions on women and peace and security.

However, despite the progress achieved so far, we cannot fail to note that much remains to be done, particularly in the area of implementation. As today's debate and the report of the Secretary-General have shown us, many structural and institutional impediments remain, which we should overcome in order to meet the challenges before us.

We believe that the Security Council has a special responsibility to support women's participation in peace processes by ensuring a gender balance in United Nations peacekeeping missions. We welcome the fact that the Council has already recognized the important role of women in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

Tunisia's interest in this subject arises from its long-standing commitment to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment, a strategic choice made by my country upon gaining its independence in 1956 and which has become an integral part of its national development policy.

Tunisia will further develop the implementation of this resolution as part of its comprehensive approach to gender equality and women's empowerment because we believe that empowering women is a moral imperative. It is also a sound policy and one of the greatest investments that we can make.

Tunisia hosted a regional seminar on this topic in September, which allowed participants from the Western Mediterranean countries to exchange views and national experiences regarding the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).