“At the same time, unfinished business from the MDGs must figure prominently in the post-2015 development agenda. The focus should be on ending extreme poverty in one generation and promote sustainable development in all its dimensions. Empowerment of women and girls, and access to basic services such as health and education, must not drop off the agenda. On the contrary, we must commit to doing more to close these gaps.”

“Earlier this year, Canada and other G-8 nations agreed to treat sexual violence in conflict as a violation of the Geneva Conventions. I applaud the United Kingdom and U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague for their work in this area.

"Mr. President, Barbados believes that the Post-20l5 Development Agenda should involve commitments to gender equality and women's empowerment.”

“Almost always, the suffering is felt by the most vulnerable among us. And, far too often, this involves women and violence. In the context of war, rape and serious sexual violence are war crimes. I have met girls who were victims of this very war crime, and their stories are horrific. The war criminals involved must be identified, pursued, prosecuted and punished."

“Our policies of empowering the people, particularly the vulnerable, include social safety net programs; Vulnerable Group Feeding and Development; "Ashrayan" (Housing & Livelihood) for the homeless; monthly pensions for senior citizens, widows, destitute women, insolvent freedom fighters, the disabled, and maternity allowance for a total of 4.3 million people; food and nutrition security to 1.04 million rural people through

“In politics, so far 14,000 women are elected to the local government bodies and 70 to the Parliament. Five women are serving as Ministers and one as a Whip. Bangladesh is possibly the only nation today with women occupying the position of the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Deputy Leader, all at the same time.

General Reference/MDG: “Moreover, gender equality, empowerment of women and fighting with HIV/ AIDS have also been identified as progress areas.”

Women played a crucial part. That is why throughout the Pacific we are supporting efforts to strengthen women's participation in policing through recruitment, retention, training and mentoring support. In the Philippines, Australia is funding women's participation in peace processes that bring together Muslim, Christian and Indigenous women.”

“Throughout the modern history of the Kingdom of Bahrain, going back two centuries, its leadership always been keen to interact with its people and engage in a dialogue with them in full transparency and commitment.

“The images of women and children being displaced and innocently killed, tug at my consciousness. Antigua and Barbuda gives its unconditional support to the preservation of the role of the United Nations and other organizations in working toward stabilization and peace in Syria and other conflict-ridden countries.”