Egypt attaches great importance to the role of women in achieving peace and security in the world, Egypt's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Usama Abdel-Khaleq said on Friday 30/11/2012.

"Women are main and active partners in making decisions, defusing disputes and boosting the culture of peace," Abdel-Khaled told a debate of the Security Council on women and peace and security.

Addressing the debate, United Nations top officials highlighted the great role of women organizations and civil society groups in preventing violence and resolving conflict, stressing that their contributions are vital to building a peaceful world and must be further supported.

"We need to ensure that women have opportunities to play their full role in peace and security," Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women Michelle Bachelet was quoted by the UN News Center as saying during the session.

She noted that wherever there is conflict, whether in Mali, Syria, the Middle East, or the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), "women must be part of the solution."