A/RES/56/132 necessary in this respect, and reiterating that enhanced international cooperation is essential for the effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Welcoming the increased integration of a gender perspective in the work of the United Nations, in particular in the outcomes of major United Nations conferences, special sessions, summit conferences and their follow-up processes, Welcoming also the integration of a gender perspective in the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly, on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), held in New York from 25 to 27 June 2001, 3 in particular the emphasis on the gender dimensions of the epidemic, and the recognition that gender equality and the empowerment of women are fundamental elements in the reduction of the vulnerability of women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, Welcoming further the integration of a gender perspective in the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, which recognized, inter alia, the multiple forms of discrimination faced by women and the need to apply a gender perspective in measures to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Emphasizing the importance of the decision by the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2001/41 of 26 July 2001, to devote the coordination segment of one of its substantive sessions, before 2005, to the review and appraisal of the system-wide implementation of agreed conclusions 1997/2 on mainstreaming the gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system, adopted by the Council on 18 July 1997, 4 Welcoming the ministerial declaration on the role of the United Nations system in support of the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development, adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 18 July 2001 at the high-level segment of its substantive session of 2001, 5 in which the Council recognized, inter alia, the need to promote the role of women in social and economic development, including by assuring their participation in political and economic life, Reaffirming the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality, while noting the importance of the open debate entitled “Women and peace and security”, held in the Security Council on 24 October 2000, and its outcome, Welcoming the adoption of the United Nations Transnational Organized Crime 6 and the Protocols thereto, 7 Convention against 1. Reaffirms the goals, objectives and commitments contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 2 and also in the political declaration and further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session; 1 3 Resolution S-26/2, annex. See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. 5 Ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/56/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 29. 6 Resolution 55/25, annex I. 7 Ibid., annexes II and III, and resolution 55/255, annex. 4 2