Argentina played a dynamic role in the negotiation and adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 1999 and 2000. The resolution brings together two objectives that are part of our national policy with regard to gender and defence: the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, and the inclusion of women in peacekeeping operations.

The AU Gender Policy also calls for the mobilization of women leaders to participate in peace mediation and related processes and in post-conflict processes. It also calls for the AU to work jointly with relevant United Nations bodies on measures to track violations against women and girls during conflict and to find lasting solutions to abuses.

The African Union Gender Policy, launched two years ago, stresses the need to reinforce good practices of respect, equality and human dignity between men and women in the workplace and in society at large, and to enforce zero tolerance for gender-based violence, sexual harassment, assault, rape, sexual favours, gender stereotyping, sexism and abusive language and actions in the workplace, society and situations of conflict.

Regarding the specific topic of today's debate, the African Union has continued to develop its specific policy and institutional capacity in this area.

I would like to offer some background. The African Union (AU) is about the same age as Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). I am sure it will be understood that this historic coincidence or opportunity has had an impact on the very structure of the African Union Commission, with its five female and five male Commissioners. That is a sacrosanct rule of the African Union.

I commend the role of the Secretary-General, who despite being far away was resolved to address us this morning. I especially commend the United Nations commitment to Africa. This month, we launched the African Women's Decade in Nairobi, Kenya. The United Nations was represented by Deputy Secretary- General Asha-Rose Migiro, another African sister serving the Organization. We also commend the leadership of Ms. Bachelet.

I am compelled to begin by stressing the great interest that Africa attaches to the subject at hand. Africa is host to 70 per cent of the United Nations peacekeeping operations, so today's issue is of direct relevance to its peoples. I would like to thank all the women of the world for the solidarity they demonstrated, above all to the women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, when they marched this month in Bukavu.

The African Union is further committed to working towards addressing violence against women perpetrated through human and drug trafficking, and to articulate the gender perspectives of child labour, prostitution and abuse.

Other important measures taken by the AU include the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the AU Gender Policy and the launching of the African Women's Development Fund. The AU has also taken measures in the context of the Regional Economic Communities in order to give further impetus to the efforts for overall gender equality in Africa.

In conclusion, I would like to join my voice to those who have called for the adoption of the indicators to help monitor implementation, address the issue of fragmentation in global progress in implementation and provide a basis for monitoring the success of national action plans in implementation.