And at the end of the spectrum, women are subject to gender-based violence and rape as a weapon of war. But shortfalls in these rights are not only the loss of the women affected. They are a loss to society as a whole. And I can tell you: This is very bad economic policy for the countries concerned. Not least in these times of global economic crisis, it seems obvious that we must realize the full potential of all human resources.

It is about giving all individuals irrespective of gender - the same possibilities to education, to economic opportunities and to take part in society. In the year of 2011, there are women who are still not able to enjoy equal rights. They are refused the right to vote, inherit, work and even to drive a car.

Today, I would like to focus on one key area. It is an area where progress is still very slow. But since it affects ha l f of the world's population and ha l f of the world's human resources, it is of crucial importance. I am referring to maybe the most important human rights failure of all. At least the one that affects the largest number of human beings.

Let us show this leadership from the smallest countries, such as my own, to the great powers. Let us show our unequivocal will to achieve peace, social justice and the well-being of men and women who place their faith in us.

Violence and transnational organized crime, principally manifested in the form of committed crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnappings, assassinations, human trafficking, money laundering, arms trade, the commercial sexual exploitation of women and minors, among other things, are a serious threat both to populations and governments and to our ability to generate wellbeing.

However, I invite Serbia to cooperate in the finding and the return of the remains of 1500 men, women, children and elderly that were abducted from their homes and were masacred in the territory of Serbia only because they were Albanians.

Renewable energy, marine health, sustainable use of land, and not least - gender equality, always the core of the Icelandic foreign policy. These are the issues we shall bring to Rio next year.

In the middle of the democratic revolution brought on by the fresh breeze ofthe Arabic spring and induced not least by young people and women, it would be foolish to deny Palestine her right to statehood. It would be against reconciliation in the region.

I welcome the steps recently taken by the Guinean Parliament, which approved the criminalization of female genital mutilation and increased the penalties for trafficking of minors.

Let me once again welcome the creation of the UN Women, an entity that reflects the firm commitment of our organization to the
struggle for gender equality and to ensure that women have the necessary conditions for a more representative and active