In addition to those root causes, weak and fragile State institutions in parts of Afghanistan have, regrettably, restricted the Government's ability to fully protect the rights of women. An infant justice system and police force do not yet have the training or the resources to adequately investigate, prosecute and punish crimes.

Further, and perhaps most importantly, Afghan women now play an active role in the socio-political life of Afghanistan. Women have been appointed to high governmental posts and comprise a guaranteed percentage of representation in local and national governing bodies alike. In the most recent election, women ran for positions in provincial councils in greater numbers than ever before, and there were even two female candidates for President.

First, enduring insecurity has always played a central role in women's suffering in Afghanistan. In the past, insecurity caused a complete breakdown in infrastructure and resources, resulting in backbreaking poverty and lack of access to health care and basic education. Today, restricted access to the most insecure parts of the country perpetuates this situation and hinders progress.

Over the past eight years, we have kept those promises to the best of our ability. The Afghan Constitution guarantees equal rights to women and representation in the Government.

The exclusion of women from peace talks and peacebuilding efforts often means that insufficient attention is paid to addressing women's needs and concerns in the post-conflict phase, thereby reinforcing a circle of inequality and marginalization

First, Colombia adopted a victims and land restitution law in 2011, which included such huge advances as in a programme to heal and fully reintegrate victims and survivors of sexual violence in particular, highlighting the problem and earmarking the necessary resources for compensation, 57 per cent of which go to women.

While terrorist armed groups continue to recruit Syrian children, boys and girls for their military operations, the relevant authorities in the Syrian Government are taking legal action with regard to these recruited children, in accordance with the law on the recruitment of children adopted on 6 May 2013, which criminalizes those who recruit children to take part in any form of combat.

Although we do not have a situation of armed conflict in Thailand, the Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security have been applied as domestic guidelines on how to best protect women in our country. A Subcommittee on Women and the Promotion of Peace and Security has been established by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

Safeguarding women's access to justice, applying a gender-sensitive approach to transitional justice mechanisms and including women in post-conf lict reparations programmes are paramount steps in the establishment of the rule of law, and thus paramount to peace and security.

We have come a long way, but we are determined to keep going, focusing on the economic empowerment of women and greater investment in rural areas, which is where the bulk of populations are located in least developed countries (LDCs) as well as in Pacific nations. These are conflict-resolution measures as well as conflict-prevention measures.