In your inaugural statement as President, you referred to the enormous political, social, economic and environmental challenges facing the world. I could not agree with you more.
Uruguay reaffirms its commitment to peacekeeping operations and to the strictest enforcement of mandates and standards regulating the conduct of field personnel.
Uruguay has an outstanding record in this area, not only because it is one of the countries that has adhered to the widest array of conventions, but also because it made specific contributions in fields as diverse as the defense of the rights of the child; mainstreaming a gender perspective into all United Nations system policies and programs, which allowed to establish and implement the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowermen
Burkina Faso gives particular importance to all issues linked with the enhancement of women and to this end has spared no effort in social and political participation of Burkina women. We are pleased for this reason by the launching of UN Women and our hope is that this new body, which is in need of adequate resources, will a true catalyzer of UN activities for the defense of the rights of women.
The DR Congo is preparing to hold general elections, the second such elections since those of 2006. It is important for us to grasp the full importance of this key period for our country. This period marks a confirmation of a definitive breaking with the spiral of violence and instability that has characterized our country over recent decades. We shall see it as a decisive phase that commits our people to a lasting democratic culture.
We cannot think of transformation outside the rule of law and its values. We are not trying to copy the models of others. We are governing through consultation, both domestically and externally; safeguarding all liberties, with tolerance, and above all, listening to our citizens without distinction based on class, race or gender.
Still in terms of social inclusion, my government prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable, like children and the elderly. However we are also concerned with the need to protect the rights of women who historically have been victims of discrimination. I would like to point out in this regard our support for the creation of UN Women.
It is also fundamental for the international community to seriously address the problem of illegal trafficking and misuse of small arms, which results in alarming number of causalities each year, particularly among women and children, and has harmful and destabilizing effects on societies. Croatia supports the process leading to adoption of an Arms Trade Treaty at the 2012 Conference.
Croatia welcomes the establishment of UN Women, a body focused on supporting the gender equality and empowerment of women. Croatia supports relevant initiatives on the rights of LGBT persons and will continue to be actively engaged in the follow-up process to the 2008 Joint statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity.
