Report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence (2012)

Report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence A/66/657* -S/2012/33* (12 January 2011): Covering the period from December 2010 to November 2011, the report is an update of the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1960 (2010), 1820 (2008), and 1888 (2009). http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/66/657*%20-S/2012/33*

• The report details progress made in the implementation of the monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements (MARA) and the placement of women’s protection advisors pursuant to paragraph 18 of Security Council Resolution 1960 (2010). • The report includes an annex with specific information on particular incidences of conflict-related sexual violence, providing names and locations of parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for rape and other forms of sexual violence. • The Secretary-General calls on all parties to conflict to make specific and time bound commitments to cease acts of sexual violence and bring perpetrators to justice, urging the Security Council to increase pressure on perpetrators by adopting targeted and graduated measures by relevant sanctions committees • Section III details specific situations on parties to armed conflict credibly suspected of committing/being responsible for acts of rape or other forms of sexual violence. The countries included in this section are Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan (Darfur). • Section IV details information on conflict-related sexual violence in post-conflict situations and other situations of concern, including in post conflict situations (Central African Republic of Chad, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Timor-Leste), sexual violence in the context of elections, political strife, and civil unrest (Egypt, Guinea Kenya, and Syrian Arab Republic), and sexual violence in other situations of concern. • Section VII of the report details engagements by the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Team of Experts, noting that Team initiatives led to the mapping of 30 major incidents of sexual violence in the DRC. • The Secretary-General notes, in section VIII, key United Nations initiatives aimed at addressing conflict-related sexual violence that include training; a framework of early warning signs specific to conflict-related sexual violence; the production of the United Nations Guidance for Mediators on Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Ceasefire and Peace Agreements and the implementation of comprehensive strategies for prevention and response to sexual and gender based violence. • The report stresses the importance of investing significant resources at field and global levels, noting significant opportunities for encouraging longer-term planning, capacity-building and improved coordination of programming. • Recommendations for the Security Council include: to increase pressure on perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence, including through the adoption of targeted and graduated measures by relevant sanctions committees; referrals to the International Criminal Court, mandating international commissions of inquiry and explicitly condemning violations in resolutions and presidential statements; to systematically reflect conflict-related sexual violence in authorizations and renewals of the mandates of peacekeeping and special political missions; and to remain seized of the deployment of women’s protection advisers to United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions to coordinate, inter alia, the implementation of the resolutions on conflict-related sexual violence. • Recommendations for member states include: to ensure medical, psychosocial, legal and other services for survivors, as well as reparations and redress; draw upon the expertise of the United Nations Team of Experts; to address conflict-related sexual violence in the context of security sector reform initiatives and arrangements, including training and capacity-building of national security actors; measures to ensure that those who have perpetrated, commanded or condoned sexual violence are excluded from all branches of government including armed forces, police, intelligence services and national guard; and civilian oversight and control mechanisms; to ensure that conflict-related sexual violence is addressed by United Nations and other mediators and envoys in preventive diplomacy efforts and mediation and peace processes; to ensure that regional and subregional organizations address conflict related sexual violence in their advocacy, policies, programmes, mediation activities, peacekeeping and peacebuilding engagements; to adopt national and regional early warning systems in conflict-affected areas that are attuned to the risks and warning signs of impending, ongoing or escalating sexual violence, drawing as appropriate upon the United Nations Matrix of Early-Warning Indicators of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence; and to integrate scenario-based training on conflict-related sexual violence into the predeployment training curriculum of troop- and police-contributing countries. • The Secretary-General’s report does not include information on conflict-related sexual violence in Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Haiti, despite reports from other sources of relevant crimes in these locations.

Analysis provided by the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, of which WILPF is a member.