Ten years ago, resolution 1325 (2000) requested all parties to armed conflict to take specific steps to protect women and girls against acts of gender-based violence, especially rape and other forms of sexual abuse.

Our national plan of action also provides for an increase in the percentage of women and men, be they civilian or military, who are specifically trained in gender issues to participate in peacekeeping operations. Allow me to cite a specific example of our support.

My delegation warmly welcomes the Council's decision to recommend the use of the indicators drafted by the Secretary-General, and encourages all stakeholders to operationalize them as rapidly as possible. Such a clear, ongoing and comprehensive follow-up mechanism will assist Member States, the United Nations system and the Security Council to assess the progress achieved and to strengthen the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

Luxembourg supports the recommendations elaborated by the Secretary-General in his report. Increased efforts are necessary at all levels, including the national level, to ensure the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

Luxembourg commends the Ugandan presidency of the Council for having organized this open debate to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) — the first resolution of the Council specifically to address the impact of war on women and their role in peacemaking.

However, on a note of slight disappointment, we would have liked to see the Council at the same time set up a working group to evaluate progress achieved based on the annual reports of the Secretary-General and to formulate recommendations for the Council on the best possible way to fill the gaps and to meet the challenges in order to accelerate such implementation.

As the representative of the European Union will underscore in his statement, with which Luxembourg fully associates itself, 10 years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) we regret to note that the progress achieved in its implementation and in the mplementation of its follow-up resolution remains unsatisfactory.

The seven-point action plan presented by the Secretary-General in his recent report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466) is an excellent tool in that respect. If implemented, it will serve as a valuable contribution to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

Before I conclude, allow me to pay tribute to the essential role played by both civil society and women's organizations in the creation and implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Without their commitment and contributions, the issue of women, peace and security would never have enjoyed the attention it merits and must without question continue to enjoy in the future.

Women continue to be seriously underrepresented in positions as Special Representatives and Deputy Special Representatives of the Secretary General. We therefore welcome the seven-point action plan contained in the last report of the Secretary-General on Women's participation in Peacebuilding. We regret that the Council, in its last PRST on Post-Conflict Peacebuilding (S/PRST/2010/20), was not able to welcome this forward-looking report.