Content_paragraphs:  As outlined in my previous reports, the participation of women in the Malian 
  
  peace process has been marginal. The holding of the high-level workshop, which 
  
  brought together more than 200 Malian women representing the Government, the 
  
  signatory armed movements and civil society, was an important opportunity to discuss 
  
  measures to address the current situation. I welcome the recommendations made at 
  
  the workshop to enhance participation of women, as well as the agreement of the 
  
  signatory parties to include women in the mechanisms for monitoring the Agreement, 
  
  which is an important first step. The low number of women candidates registered to 
  
  run in the forthcoming legislative elections is a reminder that longer-term measures 
  
  are needed to increase the participation of women in public and political life in Mali, 
  
  as well as to ensure that women represent 30 per cent of elected officials, as stipulated 
  
  in Malian law.