However, despite 10 years of efforts, significant achievements are yet difficult to identify on the ground, to use the Secretary-General's own words. Commitments to the protection of women and girls have fallen short of the pledges made. Women remain deliberate targets of gender-based violence, in particular sexual violence, in many conflict and post-conflict areas, especially in Africa, as was the case recently.

Trinidad and Tobago recognizes the competence of the Council under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter in matters related to the maintenance of international peace and security and wishes to support the efforts made by the Council to integrate a gender perspective into that traditionally male-focused thematic area.

We subscribe to the rule of law in the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security as well as in the empowerment and advancement of women.

Trinidad and Tobago also supports the important role of United Nations specialized agencies and bodies and the role they play in gender-mainstreaming initiatives and the promotion of women.

The vulnerability of women and girls in situations of armed conflict and, in our specific circumstances, armed violence, continue to engage our attention. Consequently, we have implemented and continue to implement measures to eliminate and mitigate the effects of armed violence, particularly against women and girls in our society.

Our support for the resolution is based not only on our legal obligations under the Charter, but also on our own national laws, which have entrenched the inalienable rights of women into our domestic legal framework. We note with satisfaction that resolution 1325 (2000) highlights the cross-cutting nature of gender considerations in all areas related to peace and security.

Notwithstanding the importance of the implementation of agreements on peace and security, Trinidad and Tobago is of the view that the prosecution of those accused of committing grave crimes against women and girls during armed conflict is a key factor in the attainment of lasting peace.

In the spirit of advancing the dual agenda of the attainment of international peace and security and the empowerment of women, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago announced during the general debate of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly (20th plenary meeting) our intention to introduce in the First Committee at the present session a draft resolution on women, disarmament, nonproliferation and arms control.

In conclusion, Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to working with other Member States as well as its partners at the regional and hemispheric levels in order to provide an environment which promotes the involvement of women in matter relating to peace and security.

You are perhaps surprised, Sir, that I am wearing a scarf today. As chair of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, I travelled to Bujumbura a few weeks ago, and I had the opportunity to meet with women's organizations there. During the elections, they had decided to wear a white shawl like this in public to show their desire for peace.