This year also marks the ten year anniversary of another major UN building block: Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Women's empowerment is not only a crucial factor in sustainable development, but also in sustainable peace.

This year in particular, we are heartened to see strong support for improving maternal health and reducing child mortality, the goals that are lagging behind the most. Norway will work with the Secretary-General to ensure that his Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health is transformed into action on the ground.

Among other things, maternal and child health warrants our special attention as the most off-track goal in most regions. Indeed, improving maternal and child health is the best investment we can make to carry momentum over to all other closely related goals.

The launch of UN Women is a clear testimony to the world community's efforts toward this end. Korea commends this historic move to step up progress in meeting the needs of women and girls worldwide.

Furthermore, Korea fully supports the Secretary-General's pursuit of the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health, and welcomes the enthusiasm of all stakeholders for this important initiative as well demonstrated at this week's meeting.

With the objective of generating greater income for families we have launched a financing plan for micro and small businesses, made possible as a result of cooperation from the European Union, Japan, and Taiwan, as well as other states and peoples who have supported our country. In all these programs, our government has made women a priority because we know that in addition to fighting poverty we must combat gender inequity.

Our first responsibility, shared, is development. To make sure that all men and women, the ones that have not, decent living conditions.

We are also contributing to UN efforts to strengthen peacebuilding in practice, including the need for better participation of women in peacebuilding.

Alors que les atrocités qui continuent d'être commises contre les civils et en particulier la lâcheté criminelle des violences sexuelles, nous saluons le courage et l'engagement de la Représentante spéciale, Mme Margot Wallström en vue de responsabiliser la communauté internationale et d'assurer la mise en oeuvre effective de la résolution 1325, au seuil du 10ème anniversaire de

La Principauté a également fait sienne la conviction qu'investir dans la santé des femmes et des enfants est indispensable pour édifier des sociétés plus stables, plus pacifiques et plus productive, réduire la pauvreté et stimuler la croissance économique.