Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, May 2017

At all times and regardless of the victims, violence is always reprehensible. However, sexual violence in times of conflict is even more so. We strongly condemn such practices, which date back to another era that still persists today. Today’s debate is a forceful and eloquent illustration of the phenomenon. As evidence, we need only cite the relevant resolutions adopted by the Security Council that have followed resolution 1325 (2000), as well as resolution 2331 (2016).

The current situation has certainly not improved. Given its complexity, we feel it is important to focus on five fundamental areas, the first of which is prevention, followed by the right to truth, the right to justice, the right to reparation and to the knowledge that such abuses will not be repeated. With regard to prevention, I would like to cite the Secretary-General’s report, which states that “the prevention of sexual violence is an integral part of wider conflict prevention and ... is not merely a priority, but the priority.” (S/2017/249, para. 4)

In that regard, we welcome the efforts of the United Nations aimed at improving inter-agency coordination, knowledge-building, advocacy and technical country-level support. My delegation believes that in order to achieve an enduring result in the search for workable solutions to the challenges of sexual violence in conflict, priority must be accorded to addressing the enabling environment and the underlying root causes of conflicts, such as poverty, hunger, human rights abuses, injustice, unemployment, corruption, the lack of inclusiveness, and impunity.

Finally, let me underline that the most efficient method for ending conflict-related sexual violence is ensuring that it does not happen in the first place. Liechtenstein commends Secretary-General Guterres for his focus on prevention and would like to recall that more than half of the current membership has signed the code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, pledging to support timely and decisive action to prevent or end the commission of atrocity crimes. We call on the remaining Member States to join our efforts in ensuring the Security Council delivers on its mandate as outlined in the Charter of the United Nations and assumes the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Finally, the best way to eliminate conflict-related sexual violence is to prevent and resolve conflicts in the first place. We believe that the Secretary-General’s emphasis on conflict prevention as the core of the global peace and security paradigm neatly dovetails with that approach.

We must also pursue prevention by understanding and tackling the conditions in which sexual violence can occur. If we implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Goals 5 and 16; if we make smart, sustained investments to prevent conflict and violent extremism; if we integrate the women and peace and security agenda into all of our work on the ground; and if we reorient our peace and security architecture to foster sustaining peace, then we will be contributing to preventing future cases of sexual violence in conflict.

We therefore emphatically condemn all of those brutal acts, for besides clearly violating international humanitarian law and human rights, they constitute a rejection of human dignity. We fully support the emphasis that the Secretary-General places on conflict prevention and early warning. It is at that stage that we must pay close attention in order to prevent the most vulnerable — children, women and teenagers — from having their human rights violated.

We must deal with inconsistencies. Rape is often treated as a burden that the woman must bear by herself, while a gun wound is a matter of national security. Yet sexual violence undermines the societies that we are striving to stabilize and rebuild. It destroys the future, as well as the present, for many more than those directly affected. That fact should serve to mobilize our whole peace and security architecture. If we are serious about sustaining peace, we must ensure that prevention is not just a priority but the main priority. And when we have been unable to prevent abuse, our approach must be focused on those who have suffered the crime. We must fight the stigma, investigate and prosecute.

The severe effects of the conflicts in various regions today, especially on women and girls, continue to constitute a significant challenge that needs to be addressed. Unfortunately, the annual report (S/2017/249) of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence once again reveals a daunting picture. The current trends and emerging concerns pertaining to the increased use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and terrorism require a robust international response. We welcome and support the Secretary-General’s strong emphasis on the importance of prevention. We also agree with his approach that preventing sexual violence is an integral part of wider conflict prevention.

In conclusion, we have to acknowledge that violence in conflict is rooted in violence during times of peace. Gender inequalities, discriminatory cultural norms and patriarchal gender stereotypes often reinforce misogyny and crimes against women and girls. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all Member States to redouble their efforts to implement Sustainable Development Goal 5, on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls to become actors rather than victims in their societies, which will contribute to breaking the cycles of violence. Making a difference requires the full integration and mainstreaming of a gender perspective into the Council’s — and the whole of the United Nations — work with coherent, consistent and credible actions at all levels.

Prevention is key. Proper training on gender issues with a special focus on prevention and the systematic inclusion of women’s protection advisers in the strategic planning processes of political missions and peace operations are necessary. Adequate training on gender issues is also required to help prevent or, in the worst-case scenario, adequately respond to sexual exploitation, abuse and the trafficking in persons in conflict areas. If all this to work, programmes aimed at achieving these ends must be adequately funded.

First, prevention must be prioritized. It is well known that extremist groups, such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab are among the most egregious perpetrators that weaponize sexual violence for strategic gain and ideological dissemination. Therefore, it is fair to say that the eradication of extremist groups should be the first task in preventing grave sexual violence in conflict. Furthermore, given that sexual violence and exploitation are used to sustain these groups via both recruitment and revenue, we must spare no effort to eradicate terrorism as mandated by the relevant Security Council resolutions

Fourthly, we also support the Secretary-General’s call on the Security Council to give due consideration to the risk factors and early-warning signs of sexual violence in its monitoring of conflict situations, especially in relation to periods of rising violent extremism, political instability, elections, civil strife and mass population movements. Fifthly, we call on the United Nations to intensify efforts to fight this scourge by enhancing prevention and swift responses to these crimes. As the Secretary-General’s report indicates, that would also include dedicated and additional human and financial resources. South Africa therefore supports the proposal of the Secretary-General for the establishment of victims-assistance-support functions at United Nations Headquarters.

No effort should be spared by the United Nations to invest resources in identifying early-warning signs of conflict and conflict prevention, because women, girls and children are usually the targets in conflicts situations. It is very important to note that in the discussions of sexual violence in conflict here at the United Nations, women should be given more opportunity to participate in the highest decision-making bodies. Also, the capacities of countries emerging from conflict must be enhanced, particularly in the area of conflict prevention and institutional capacity-building. The need to invest in women’s development towards our present-day aspiration for global, regional and national development cannot be overemphasized. Sierra Leone strongly upholds the relevant protocols relating to women’s empowerment, including the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa and the Secretary-General’s Campaign to End Violence against Women.

Just a week ago, in Alicante, we held the first meeting of the network of women-and-peace-and-security focal points, which we launched in New York in September. One of the subjects dealt with was the structural barriers to equality in the sphere of peace and security. Not one country has achieved satisfactory numbers. Spain is convinced that expanding the role of women is essential to combating sexual violence in conflict and sexual exploitation and abuse. For that reason, we support deepening the debate on specific measures needed to increase the participation of women in all areas. Much remains to be done. Debates like today’s have to remind us of that fact and motivate us if we are to make progress.

Fourthly, I would like to highlight that it is not just a question of forging peace by relying on training and expertise in the area of gender-based and sexual violence. Rather, it is essential that there should be the equal participation of women in the peace and security sectors, in the contingents deployed and at the negotiating table.

In spite of the daunting challenges, Nigeria has been in the vanguard of promoting the involvement of women in conflict resolution and in the promotion of peace and security. Only last week, the Nigerian Government launched its revised national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and related resolutions on women and peace and security. The plan reflects our commitment to ensuring the security of women and girls during armed conflicts and enhancing their active and direct participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. We have also taken measures to enhance the security of women and girls in internally-displaced-person camps, reduce their vulnerability and promote their safe return to their homes and their eventual reintegration into society.

I take the floor on behalf of Switzerland for two reasons — first, because sexual violence primarily, though not exclusively, affects women and girls; and, secondly because, through its Permanent Representative and within the framework of the Gender Champions initiative, Switzerland has committed to increase the participation of women in the deliberations of United Nations organs, including the Security Council.

Sexual violence in conflict is a crime that we can eradicate. We strongly believe that our joint efforts can yield tangible results through a combination of preventive and responsive measures, including targeted sanctions against all categories of perpetrators, monitoring and systematic reporting, assistance for victims, the empowerment of women and girls, increased numbers of female peacekeepers and advisers and training for all forces. That will go a long way in contributing to creating an environment of zero tolerance for sexual violence as a weapon of war.

Secondly, with respect to the need to place victims’ needs and perspectives at the core of our work, the Secretary-General’s report outlines how victims of conflict-related sexual violence can be re-victimized even after their ordeal has ended — women interrogated as potential affiliates of extremist groups instead of receiving treatment and support as victims of terrorism, children facing legal and social discrimination having been born from rape, and boys and men finding themselves excluded from victim support and redress. We commend the work of the outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General and her team for giving a voice to those victims. We hope to see an increase in invitations to the Special Representative to brief the relevant sections committees, as well as to civil-society and victims representatives to deliver briefings in the Chamber. As a troop-contributing country, Ireland also supports further efforts to integrate the perspectives of civil society and local communities into United Nations peace operations.

We must underline the undeniable role that women can and must play in peacebuilding. There is an important link between women’s full and meaningful participation in preventing and resolving conflicts and in post-conflict reconciliation and rebuilding efforts and the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of such efforts. Women must participate on an equal footing when it comes to the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. The international community must insist on eliminating barriers to the empowerment of women in the decision-making process regarding conflict prevention and resolution, as well as peacebuilding — just as they are drivers of development — and we encourage more women to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

In order that women lead that fight, as they have been agents of change since 2014, four women have been promoted to the rank of general, which is extraordinary in Africa. One of them heads the army’s civic education unit. In the wake of that a campaign known as “Breaking the Silence” was launched with a toll-free number to enable 22 million Congolese telecommunication subscribers in rural areas to report rape cases. From the outset of the campaign, more Congolese men were calling to denounce cases affecting their nieces or neighbours, which shows that Congolese men are supporting the women in eradicating the scourge.

Fourthly, meaningful participation by women and girls in peace processes, including in mediation and peacebuilding, must be ensured. The inherent resilience of our women gives us the conviction that women themselves have the capacity to act as agents of change provided they find themselves in an enabling environment. As we continue to work towards leaving no one behind, we must step up our collective efforts to address all forms of inequities, discrimination and obstacles that stand in the way of unleashing the full potential of our women and girls.

As the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uruguay and other members said this morning, it is important that women be actively involved in the peace process and now in the implementation process. In the light of the recommendation in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2017/249), Colombia is committed to ensuring that the mechanisms stemming from the agreement place particular attention on the rights of victims, including victims of sexual violence, in particular women and girls, in the context of the armed conflict in my country.

Colombia recognizes the impetus and contributions provided by civil society, which has been mentioned throughout this open debate, especially women’s organizations, which played an active role in the Council’s recent visit. Council members were able to interact with women’s organizations and it added real substance to the human rights and peacebuilding agenda because these organizations are the ones that contribute and help the Government effectively implement early warning and prevention mechanisms to address sexual violence.

In conclusion, Panama believes that the role that women can and must play in preventing and resolving conflicts and in the building and decision-making in sustainable peace processes is fundamental. Thus, the equality and the empowerment agendas take on greater meaning and constitute a global commitment. Our strategic considerations to combat sexual violence against women in situations of conflicts must be based on international law and be inspired by the best interests and well-being of all humankind. Increasing the role of women in conflict prevention, in the resolution of conflicts and in United Nations peace operations, in accordance with the provisions of resolution 2242 (2015), is an encouraging new sign when it comes to increasing the leadership role and the rights of women. However, it is urgent that we implement effective strategies and fully integrate the gender perspective in our agenda.

The only way to effectively address the scourge is a comprehensive and integrated approach that entails prevention, early warning, justice and accountability, the participation of women in political processes and their political, social and economic empowerment.

First, in line with Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, above all, we must continue to promote the full participation of women in decision-making in all areas of public life, in order to achieve inclusive and equitable societies.

Secondly, we must promote the participation of women in designing strategies to combat sexual violence, as well as in peace processes, in order to foster national reconciliation based on respect and gender equity.

My delegation stresses that the Sudan is committed to making every possible effort to protect and promote women, particularly in areas of conflict.

Finally, it is extremely important to involve women and girls in decision-making processes and in leadership positions, as it is to promote a gender perspective at all levels of participation. It is also key to ensure equal opportunity, access to education and the economic, political and social empowerment of women, with a view to enabling women and girls to assume a major, transformative role within their communities both during and post-conflict.

We also agree that there is a need to increase and institutionalize the involvement of women in conflict prevention and resolution. That requires not only normative advice but capacity- and institution-building at the ground level. Therefore, the issue of women and peace and security cannot be understood in isolation from the wider societal context involving gender and development issues.

We must empower women and involve them as leaders in conflict resolution and in peace negotiations. We should not only see them as victims but see and treat them as leaders, and empower them accordingly.

We must also to take into account the essential role played by civil-society organizations, which often complement the work done by military, security and civilian personnel in conflict and post-conflict settings and in emergency situations. They often play a crucial role in preventing and reporting crimes and in alerting the international community to such crimes, in restoring the internal order of the States and may also be crucial in supporting the reconstruction of countries and helping the population. Working in close collaboration with those organizations is therefore indispensable, in our view, to enhance the results we are seeking to achieve.

Allow me to end by stressing that we should not overlook civilian expertise. The pool of civilian capacities can be broadened and deepened for peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict. One way is to involve women survivors. They should be encouraged to participate in peacekeeping operations training so that troops on the ground are aware and more in tune with the signs of sexual violence and exploitation. It should also include countries with relevant experience in post-conflict peacebuilding or democratic transition.

Sexual abuse and discrimination are directly linked to gender inequality, poverty, exclusion and marginalization. Sexual violence is a deliberate and intolerable violation of the victim’s human rights. When women and girls are preyed upon, abused and raped, the international community has a responsibility to speak out on their behalf and to act as their advocates and guardians.

Over the years the international community has come to a deeper understanding of the unique impact that armed conflict has on women and children. There is an agreement that the participation of women is essential to ensuring conflict resolution, inclusive reconciliation, peacebuilding and sustainable peace. In that regard, resolution 1325 (2000) and all subsequent resolutions provide the basis for a more focused and systemic response to the role of women in conflict and post-conflict situations. The Security Council has also adopted a number of resolutions dealing with sexual violence as a tactic of war and terrorism, including resolution 2106 (2013), which calls for those found to have committed acts of sexual violence to be held accountable to the fullest extent. Despite these laudable efforts, these atrocities continue unabated. Our discussions and debates, such as this one today, must result in continued meaningful action to protect the victims of such abuses.

We fully support efforts to increase and prioritize the participation of women at all levels in peace processes and mediation efforts. The peace process in Colombia showed us how significant the involvement of women, both at the main peace talks in Havana and in regional and national consultations, can be in supporting the successful conclusion of the initial peace agreement between the Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia — Ejército del Pueblo. Increased access to gender expertise by international mediators and negotiating parties in the drafting of peace agreements, which has resulted in the inclusion of gender-specific provisions in a number of agreements, is another positive development that should be sustained. Resolution 1325 (2000) recognized the need for a gender perspective to be taken into account in political, security and humanitarian action. While there has been some progress in mainstreaming gender considerations in the work of the United Nations, notably in the recent adoption of the Peacebuilding Commission’s Gender Strategy, there is still a long way to go in fully implementing such policies. In that regard, Malaysia believes that increasing the number of women in decision-making positions contributes to the development and implementation of holistic and gender-inclusive policies that benefit the community, the State and the Organization as a whole.

The call made in resolution 1325 (2000) for the increased representation of women at all decision-making levels, remains as acute and relevant now as it was then, including within the United Nations. We continue to support the Secretary-General’s efforts to achieve gender parity within the United Nations, especially at senior decision-making levels.

In conclusion, the women and peace and security agenda aspires to restore the role of women and girls, one half of humankind, as effective actors with an equal stake in peace and security efforts. Our task will be complete only when women’s representation and participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution becomes axiomatic. Until then, my delegation offers its steadfast commitment and support to the furthering of this agenda.

While people of both genders are very much at risk of being targeted for abuse, it goes without saying that the burden of sexual violence in conflict falls overwhelmingly and disproportionately on women and girls. In that context, the Maldives would like to recall resolution 1325 (2000), which has been a landmark guide for efforts to ensure women’s full involvement and equal participation in all elements of the peace and security framework, including conflict prevention, humanitarian response and peacekeeping efforts. Resolution 1325 (2000) also makes clear the importance of ensuring that all parties to a conflict, again including non-State parties, remove women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual violence. This resolution provides a strong foundation for our efforts in that regard, and is a natural starting point for developing ways to reinforce existing mechanisms and explore new avenues through which we can protect civilians against the threat of sexual violence

Secondly, in order to be more efficient, we believe that reporting on the number of victims is useful as it assists in determining subsequent steps that must be taken to ensure ongoing care for victims. The series of reports all indicate that the figures quoted are always far removed from the true numbers. That is an area that can gain more visibility by highlighting the obstacles that must be overcome to eliminate such violence. Despite the scope of resolution 1325 (2000), more action must be taken. Since its adoption, more than 15 years ago, women’s leadership and participation have remained negligible, although undeniable progress has been made. Women’s priorities are still not adequately reflected in peace talks and agreements. We would like to reaffirm the relevance of resolution 1325 (2000), which includes unquestionable comparative advantages.

Sexual violence is not sufficiently viewed as a threat to peace and in its relation to broader issues of insecurity. Peace agreements rarely make reference to the need to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls. They seldom include provisions linked to accountability for gender-based violence. Post-conflict arrangements hardly ever deal with the situation of women who have been subjected to violence during conflict and its aftermath. More has to be done to ensure that women have a voice and are active participants in peace agreements and in the negotiation, design and implementation of post-conflict and peacebuilding arrangements.

The peace agreements reached in Colombia are just a road map that will allow us to initiate a long process of reconciliation, which could be more challenging, as it requires restoring victims’ rights and establishing decent living conditions in the countryside. In the peace agreement, we envisioned that this process would take at least 15 years and the women and peace and security agenda will play a crucial role.

The persisting impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence is intolerable. The numbing stigma must be dealt with. When people flee to safety, we should make it our priority to ensure that they are not exposed to new abuse. The problem of sexual violence must be addressed in ceasefire agreements. It must be on the table in peace negotiations, part of our analysis in humanitarian efforts and at the forefront in our peacekeeping operations.

The theme of sexual violence must be addressed within the context of peace processes and ceasefires, as well as in all demobilization and reintegration processes in which the United Nations participates. Mediators and special envoys involved in such processes must have the requisite training in order to respond appropriately to the issue as it emerges in various specific contexts. In addition, efforts must be pursued to improve the preparedness of all field staff and to increase the number of gender experts and women’s protection advisers in the various missions.

In violent conflict, rape is frequently used to harm, humiliate and shame. As already noted, sexual violence is unique in that it often stigmatizes the victim, rather than the perpetrator of the outrage. Owing to that and other factors, such crimes remain significantly underreported. It is known, thanks to the United Nations, that for each rape reported in connection with conflict, 10 to 20 cases will likely remain undocumented. We should work to break that shameful trend.

The pervasive nature of this horrible phenomenon makes it imperative for us, the international community, to double down on fighting the scourge. Designing prevention policies, ensuring accountability for perpetrators and providing adequate support and rehabilitation for victims must be part and parcel of any conflict-resolution endeavour.

Social- and economic-reintegration support for the victims is imperative. Children born of rape need particular attention. We must also support men and boys who have suffered sexual violence and live with life-long traumas. The needs of survivors should therefore be addressed across legal, psychological, social, medical and other vital spheres.

Secondly, acknowledging victims should be the priority of our considerations. Victims of sexual violence should be classified and treated as legitimate victims of violence, including terrorism, with the purpose of rendering them eligible for official support. This year, we decided to support a project for Syrian refugees and local communities in Jordan in the same context through United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict. In addition, Japan has been an active partner of the International Criminal Court, contributing to the support projects of the Trust Fund for Victims for the victims of sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Uganda.

Thirdly, the victims should be at the heart of any measure undertaken. We must do more in terms of support and socioeconomic reintegration for survivors and the children they bear as a consequence of sexual violence. We have to ensure that they get the recognition and reparations they deserve in whatever context they find themselves.

We wish to contribute to the reintegration of the victims and to the elimination of any possible stigmatization. We all know that those goals are not in the exclusive hands of any one of us, but they are in the hands of all of us together. Acting together with perseverance and firmness we can make a difference, which is why it is important to ask ourselves today what a body such as the Security Council can do in the immediate future and what the rest of the United Nations membership can contribute.

Last December, Spain promoted the adoption of resolution 2331 (2016). Many elements of the resolution expanded the already extensive body of norms relating to combating sexual violence, and new pathways are opening up on which we can work in the immediate future, such as addressing the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war or terrorism, the impact of violence on men and boys, and the fight against stigmatization.

It is evident that women and girls caught in conflict suffer more than men and boys do, and that they are extremely vulnerable to violent extremism and remain, in many parts of the world, the victims of terrorism most affected by the scourge of sexual violence. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the abduction, trafficking and maltreatment of women and girls by extremist groups, including the heinous activities of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region and particularly in north-east Nigeria.

We cannot agree more with the Secretary-General on the patterns and trends identified in his latest report. Indeed, the use of women and girls as sex slaves must equally be condemned.

Despite the efforts of the international community, many documented cases of sexual violence in conflict still exist. In that context, the Organization’s work on the ground has been critical in collecting information and facilitating dialogue to obtain protection commitments from parties in conflict.

We cannot ignore cultural stigma and victims’ fear of suffering reprisals or intimidation by their abusers, including against their families or witnesses, which cause most of them not to report the violence. That goes hand in hand with the lack of trust and credibility in national institutions, particularly when sexual violence is perpetrated by the very forces responsible for providing necessary protection.

We all agree that the responsibility to protect the civilian population from gender-based and sexual violence in conflict lies with States. To that end, having an adequate judiciary and penal framework is essential, as is making sure that national civilian and military justice systems fully meet international standards. Most conflict-affected countries, however, lack the adequate national capacity and expertise to prevent, investigate and prosecute sexual violence. Care for and the protection of survivors of sexual violence is another vital issue to address. Overcoming trauma and restoring their dignity are crucial aspects in stopping the vicious cycle of stigmatization and further abuse. Victims must have access to justice, accountability and redress mechanisms in order to ensure their reintegration into their respective societies.

Furthermore, sexual violence perpetuates conflict and weakens security and stability, hampering the ability of people to participate in the political, social and economic life of their societies. The United Nations, as an organization, and we, as the international community, have a great debt to pay on this issue, having failed to address the causes of violence and sexual abuse through preventive measures, on the one hand, and to eliminate impunity in these cases, on the other. As States, we have the primary responsibility of protecting our populations. As States, we must establish robust legal and institutional frameworks that lay firm foundations for preventing and addressing existing gaps in the protection of victims, especially women and girls. It is also extremely important to expand the scope of measures to protect the most vulnerable populations, such as ethnic and religious minorities, women in rural areas, women and girls associated with armed groups, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex population, and boys and men, who are also vulnerable to sexual violence — and whose prevalence is increasing.

Tunisia is participating in this open debate in order to recall the particular interest it attaches to this issue and to renew once again its commitment to the need to protect vulnerable populations, to promote their rights, to raise awareness on the danger of the use of sexual violence in times of conflict as a tactic of war and terrorism and to reiterate its firm conviction that women are and will remain indispensable and active partners in any process of prevention, mediation and conflict resolution.

It is no coincidence that the Tunisian national strategy to combat extremism and terrorism, adopted in November 2016, which is based on four fundamental lines, namely, prevention, protection, follow-up and response, gives women a central role in the prevention of extremism, but also protects them as a vulnerable target who can be intimidated and subjected to violence. A review workshop was organized, on 3 May in Tunisia, at the initiative of the Ministry of Religious Affairs to discuss the various forms of polarization of women by terrorist groups, the need to protect women from indoctrination and harassment and their key role in preventing and combating terrorism.

The protection of women in armed conflict should be further strengthened; that much is clear. Ultimately, our aim should be the prevention of armed conflict itself. Here, the Security Council, in cooperation with regional organizations, should play its role in promoting the prevention of conflict and the maintenance of international peace and security.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that Cambodia is resolved to protect vulnerable populations and their rights in situations of armed conflict. Eliminating sexual violence against men, women, boys and girls requires joint global action, and Cambodia is committed to that effort in order to end people’s victimization by extremist groups and terrorist organizations.

The impact on the victims cannot be overemphasized, either in the case of rape, trafficking in human beings, sexual slavery, prostitution or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity, directly or indirectly related to conflict. These horrors, generally committed against women and children, engender all sorts of pathologies and disorders, compounding the other impacts of the wounds and scars previously caused by serious situations of vulnerability, such as migration, forced displacement, war or simply long-standing precarious living conditions. In particular, children exposed to such cruel treatment may develop destructive behavioural patterns in the future because, as psychologists and traumatologists point out, children in danger are dangerous children. Lives torn apart and spirits broken — that is the fate that awaits them. Because of the devastating and destructive nature of such violations in times of war, firm responses are needed from the international community.

First, the international community must be firm in implementing international norms to protect women. To that end, priority must be given to taking concrete steps in the field and ensuring that they are focused on prevention, detection and early warning. An increased number of advisers specialized in the areas of women’s rights protection and gender-related issues must be deployed in the field, with the consent host countries.

In conflicts around the world women and girls, as well as men and boys, are subjected to horrendous acts of sexual violence. Those acts — rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage and sexual torture — constitute abhorrent violations of human rights and human dignity. Yet, as the Secretary-General’s recent thematic report (S/2017/249) states, their scope remains at an alarming level.

At a time when the number of victims of sexual violence targeted by parties to armed conflicts and terrorists is on the rise, this debate could not be more appropriate and relevant in the endeavour to mobilize efforts for concerted and effective international action aimed at preventing and responding to this growing problem.

The annual report (S/2017/249) of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence, which was issued last month, with its thorough analysis of current trends and emerging concerns regarding sexual violence in conflict as a tactic of war and terrorism, certainly provides a useful framework for our discussion. Sexual exploitation and abuse have indeed become rampant in various conflict and post-conflict operations and are often linked to other grave crimes, such as killings and the recruitment and use of child soldiers. It has also been used as a tactic of war by armed groups, particularly extremist and terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab, to terrorize the civilian population and achieve strategic objectives.

Moreover, as the Deputy Secretary-General stressed, in our efforts to ensure success in the fight against sexual exploitation and violence, we must never overlook what takes place at the family and societal levels, since that lays the foundation for what takes place, in a more egregious manner, during times of violence.

Today we have heard devastating stories of the experiences of women and girls living in situations of armed conflict. They are victims of sexual violence, rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution and sterilization and other forms of sexual abuse. Sexual violence against women represents a denial of their most basic rights, which continue to be abused and violated despite the existence of a framework of international law that should protect them. It is sustained even more by a patriarchal system that takes away women’s control of their own sexuality and reproductive rights. Sexual violence against women is a dreadful expression of a patriarchal system intensified by conflict situations and that, as has been said, tightens its grip when women and children are targeted physically or mentally, deprived of their dignity and used as shields in war or armed conflict, making it impossible to effectively consolidate international peace and security.

Fourthly, while men constitute the large majority of perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict, we should be mindful that men and boys are also victims. It is therefore imperative that the States Members of the United Nations ensure that any gender analysis considers the impact of sexual violence in conflict on men and boys as well as women and girls.

We are outraged by the persistent and widespread occurrence of sexual violence in armed conflict by State and non-State actors, as documented in the Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2017/249). Sexual violence is increasingly used as a tactic of warfare and is a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international humanitarian law and of international human rights law. We are all too aware that the already staggering numbers of reported cases of sexual violence in conflict represent a mere fraction of their true number. Furthermore, sexual violence in conflict has become both a cause and a consequence of forced displacement.

We are appalled by acts of sexual violence, including rape, child, early and forced marriage, and enslavement, committed by terrorist groups. Moreover, we are alarmed that such acts have become part of the strategic objectives and ideology of certain terrorist groups, including as a means of recruitment, financing, intimidation and the destruction of communities, in line with resolution 2331 (2016). Such heinous acts must be put to an end, perpetrators must be brought to justice and victims and survivors of such crimes must be assisted in a comprehensive manner in order to fully recover from such violations and be able to reintegrate into their societies.

With that in mind, the despicable acts perpetrated against women and girls by terrorist organizations, such as Da’esh and Boko Haram, deserve every condemnation. The use of sexual violence, including the sale and trade of women and girls, as a tactic of terror by Da’esh in Iraq and Syria reflects the appalling nature of that terrorist organization. While Turkey continues to fight against Da’esh with all its means, we believe that it is high time for the international community to act in unity for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to eliminate the root causes of this menace.

Although in a different context, it is also befitting to underline that the terrorist organization the Kurdistan Workers’ Party/Democratic Union Party (PKK/PYD) likewise resorts to abuse and exploitation of women and children. The terrorist leadership of the PKK/PYD is known to commit sexual violence and abuse, even towards its female recruits. That includes rape, forced pregnancy and abortion and the carrying out of sexual-abuse related executions.

The unprecedented increase in sexual abuse and exploitation during armed conflict in recent years is indeed alarming. Mexico therefore echoes Secretary-General António Guterres’ call to urgently address the issue and raise awareness about the situation of vulnerability in which millions of people live, in order to seek effective solutions to the phenomenon. Rape, sexual slavery, prostitution, pregnancy, abortion, enforced sterilization and forced marriages and other abominable practices that constitute sexual violence affect women, men, boys and girls at all levels and in all circumstances. The upsurge in armed conflict and changes in tactics used by non-State actors, including terrorist groups, have exacerbated the incidence of sexual violence being committed. In spite of such challenges, Mexico would like to acknowledge some achievements that have been made.

It is important to reiterate that sexual violence is always unacceptable. However, its widespread use as a terrorist tactic and a weapon of war and terrorism remains of particular concern because it is one of the most cruel and terrifying forms of social coercion, especially when used as a strategy to control and intimidate entire communities and undermine the dignity and autonomy of people at their deepest levels. Equally alarming are the growing restrictions on the rights of women and girls being promoted by extremist groups, the control and restriction of these rights having become a fundamental element of conflict and the pretext for terrorist acts being specifically directed against women and girls.

In her secret report submitted to the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, the Special Representative gave long, detailed descriptions of the flagrant acts of sexual violence committed by Da’esh, the Al-Nusra Front and their affiliates against Syrian and Iraqi women. In her current report, however, she says that none of those groups have committed flagrant crimes against Syrian women, whether of abduction, rape, violence, torture and the separation of mothers from their children. She confines herself to timid mentions of their restrictions on women’s access to work and education. She has gone far outside her remit — identifying acts of sexual violence in conflict. In fact, in some of the paragraphs of the report she mentions Syrian women’s participation in political life. This leads one to ask why — if the Office of the Special Representative is unable to conduct investigations into sexual violence perpetrated by armed terrorist groups against Syrian women on Syrian territory, which do fall under her mandate — she is going beyond that mandate to discuss other topics, which increase her workload. She is also promoting the non-consensual resolution 71/248, which also goes beyond her remit.

Syrians in areas controlled by terrorist armed groups are targets for the worst kinds of sexual violence and slavery. Women and girls have been abducted and forced into marriage with terrorists, including foreigners. That is why we once again urge the Office of the Special Representative to shine a light on the fate of hundreds of women and girls who have been abducted by elements of the terrorist group Jaysh Al-Islam to Adha in the suburbs of Damascus and exhibited in iron cages in Douma. We also call on the Special Representative to support the Syrian Government in seeing justice done for the women who have been abducted, enslaved or killed in Latakia, in the north, and those who have been killed in cold blood in Zara and Hama. All those crimes have been reported to the Office of the Special Representative and the Security Council, and we therefore call for more support in investigating what happened to these victims of takfiri terrorism.

Portugal fully agrees with the view of the Secretary-General that more must be done to prevent sexual violence in conflict. Moreover, we need to ensure the following: victims of violence, including sexual violence, should be able to effectively enjoy the right to protection and reparation; the perpetrators should be punished; and support for community-mobilization campaigns should be designed to help shift the stigma of sexual violence from the victims to the perpetrators. We would like once again to encourage States and international organizations to develop action plans for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), and to include therein measures to address specifically sexual violence in conflict.

The term “conflict-related sexual violence” is far too weak to actually describe the hell that women, men and children are forced to go through. It is our duty to speak against these horrors. It is what the people of the world demand of us. Silence is not an option in the face of rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization and forced marriages. These are the horrible realities of far too many around the world.

In territories controlled by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), women are being herded into pens, only to be later sold in open air markets in city centres. Young girls are given as trophies to fighters after they come back from the battlefield.

There is no doubt about it: Da’esh, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab and many other terrorist groups mentioned in the report (S/2017/249) of the Secretary-General use sexual violence as a tactic of war, a weapon of terror and a source of financial revenue used to augment their resources and augment their power. They openly advocate those practices, which figure prominently among their strategic objectives and ideologies. No woman, girl, man or boy is spared. Women and girls suffer the most from the devastating consequences of conflicts and pay a heavy price because of their increased vulnerability. They are now offered up as the spoils of war. For their part, men and boys are often subjected to forced labour, domestic slavery, trafficking in human organs and even sexual exploitation. Sexual violence does not only affect the victims, it eats away at and rots communities and societies to their very core. Its goal is to hurt the body, tear down dignity, destroy the social fabric and obliterate reconstruction efforts from the onset. It destabilizes, destroys and terrorizes societies affected by conflicts. Those who commit such heinous crimes must be brought to justice and sentenced with the maximum punishment

As so vividly described in the Secretary-General’s report and by those who have addressed the Security Council today, sexual violence has increasingly become part of the toolbox of terror with which armed groups seek to consolidate their influence and extend their power at the expense of those who are exposed to their predations. Indeed, while sexual violence is often closely linked to gender-based violence, its victims include men and boys as well as women and girls. It is often the case that those who deign to use sexual violence as a tool in conflict see neither gender nor age as any hindrance. That is even more the case with terrorist and violent extremist groups. Some, such as Da’esh, even use the prospect of being able to commit such acts as part of their recruitment strategy.

Finally, with regard to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers, we reiterate our strong condemnation of all such acts throughout the United Nations system and reaffirm our commitment to support the implementation of the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. We welcome the Secretary-General’s commitment to preventing and combating such abuses. We support the measures he is undertaking, including through the appointment of the special coordinator and the establishment of a high-level task force to develop a strategy for improving the United Nations response.

The need to enhance the capacity of peacekeeping missions to prevent conflict-related sexual violence — particularly through increased participation by women in peacekeeping, the provision of gender-sensitive predeployment training on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, and the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy — has already been recognized, as has the need to involve women and other vulnerable groups in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

We appreciate the firm will of the Secretary-General to make peacekeeping operations as gender responsive as possible. In particular, Japan has been a strong supporter of the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse throughout the United Nations system, as well as all efforts to realize this policy on the ground.

It is also encouraging to recognize the increased presence of women’s protection advisers within United Nations peacekeeping missions. Their role to improve capacities for monitoring, analysing and reporting on sexual violence is of great importance; therefore, dedicated human and financial resources should be ensured to sustain their work. Japan has joined collective efforts in that regard by contributing financially to United Nations capacity-building training for these advisers.

As situations of conflict continue to worsen in many places and women and children continue to be the main target of sexual violence, we believe that all United Nations peacekeeping missions should have a robust mandate to protect civilians. The Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians, to which many members in the Chamber are signatory, are an effective guide to that end. Protecting those in need should be given priority by ensuring that we take all measures to provide more effective protection to the civilian populations, that we facilitate humanitarian assistance and that we allow investigation in cases of violation and abuse. Rwanda is happy to meet the minimum target of 15 per cent of all deployed peacekeeping contingents being female. We mention that specifically because we think that increasing the numbers of women in peacekeeping will go a long way in helping us to ensure the fight against violence.

Rwanda believes that Member States should systematically train all peacekeepers to address gender issues, prevent sexual violence and protect individuals, including women and girls. Rwanda has operationalized a curriculum for all of our troops and police in predeployment training that includes lessons on sexual exploitation and abuse. In the same vein, we call upon all Member States to boost women’s participation in all contingents and units. More specifically, we call upon Member States to include gender advisers and female officers and an increased presence for female peacekeeping personnel in general.

Peru welcomes the trend of systematically incorporating the gender perspective in the mandates of peacekeeping operations and the inclusion of women as participants in conflict prevention and resolution. That is why Peru has been increasing female personnel in each of the six peacekeeping missions in which it participates, currently representing about 15 per cent of the personnel on the ground.

Similarly, Peru supports the inclusion of a gender perspective in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Based on that awareness, the uniformed personnel provided by Peru to peacekeeping operations receive specialized predeployment training on the protection, special needs and human rights of women and children in conflict situations.

Multidimensional peacekeeping missions with protection mandates play a key role in combating violence against women in conflict and post-conflict situations. As a leading troop-contributing country, Pakistan remains committed to this cause. For my country, the protection of the vulnerable, including women and children, is not only a global peace and security concern but an obligation of humanity.

Finally, it is incumbent upon all States Members of the United Nations to be part of the solution, not the problem, of sexual violence in conflict. Canada remains deeply concerned by all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff, peacekeepers and non-United Nations forces. Member States, including all members of the Security Council, must back their pledges for zero tolerance with concrete and effective action for their own personnel. Importantly, they must not stand in the way of key initiatives proposed by the Secretary-General to help rid the United Nations of this cancer. The Security Council can count on Canada to play its part in addressing this vital issue.

To tackle conflict-related sexual violence in the long run, we should build a robust preventive architecture that includes early warning, strengthened national legal and policy frameworks and justice systems and gender-sensitivity training of security-sector and peacekeeping personnel, and that ensures the presence of women’s protection advisers in all peacekeeping operations.

Hungary is an active contributor to initiatives to combat sexual violence in conflict. The Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade will organize an awareness-raising workshop this summer on women and peace and security for experts of the relevant ministries, the army, the police, peacekeeping personnel. interested civil society organizations and academics. Only together can we tackle sexual violence in armed conflict. That will be one of the topics under discussion at that conference. We have to do our utmost, including through concerted action, to tackle the scourge of sexual violence in conflict.

We must broaden and intensify our efforts aimed at prevention. Educational programmes at all levels are required, particularly in armed forces, including for contingents participating in peacekeeping operations. The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and related resolutions, as well as the drafting by countries of national plans, is key for prevention. Chile’s second national plan has expanded the training and education it offers to include the gender perspective, sexual violence and the human rights of women in peacekeeping operations, both for police and military components and for civilian staff participating in such operations, or at any stage of conflict-resolution and post-conflict processes. We express our solidarity with the victims of this serious transgression and the subsequent stigmatization from which many of them suffer, which we must eradicate by making every effort to expose those who are responsible, namely, the perpetrators of these crimes and those who incite them to commit such atrocities.

First of all, combating sexual violence has been included in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, while the international community has begun to deploy gender advisers and female protection officers trained in sexual violence issues.

Two years ago in this forum, my country launched an initiative to strengthen the situation of Congolese women, and I am pleased to note that the killing of women by Congolese citizens has gradually declined since 2013. Our country has engaged in this struggle by decreeing a zero-tolerance policy, which is no longer a mere slogan, and by setting an example at the highest level. Even the President of the Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has sought to indicate this political will by creating the office I have led since 2014, which is an observatory to coordinate and facilitate various initiatives to counter sexual violence. We note that, despite the residual challenges, a defining turning point has been reached by our country, as recognized in resolutions 2277 (2016) and 2348 (2017) and in successive relevant reports of the Secretary-General since 2015.

Bangladesh believes that preventing sexual violence is an integral part of the mandate to protect civilians given to peacekeeping missions. We remain committed to training our peacekeepers on sexual and gender-based violence, enhancing the participation of female peacekeepers in our contingents and encouraging our force and sector commanders to maintain regular involvement with local communities and civil society actors, among others. We condemn any allegation of sexual exploitation or abuse by peacekeepers or other United Nations staff, and we underscore the primacy of zero tolerance for such aberrations by those that are mandated to protect the vulnerable.

Such goals should continue to be our priority and be taken into consideration by the Security Council when defining the mandates of it peacekeeping operations and special political missions, as well as in its peacebuilding efforts, by incorporating specialists on gender and sexual and gender-based violence into its missions and mediation team,s as well as including specific related provisions and commitments in peace and ceasefire agreements and increasing the percentage of women in peacekeeping forces and military and police contingents. We should nonetheless not omit to mention the cases of sexual exploitation and abuse that continue to occur in peacekeeping missions. This is a very serious situation that poses a major challenge to the legitimacy and future of such missions and the to image of the United Nations. In that regard, Argentina continues to strongly support the Secretary-General’s policy of zero tolerance, as well as the various measures proposed in his reports and included in resolution 2272 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 71/278, among others, as well as the work on coordination and prevention of Ms. Jane Holl-Lute, Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

Also, United Nations peacekeeping operations must have the capacity to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence and other human rights violations in communities where they operate. Female peacekeepers play an especially crucial role, and increasing the number of women serving in peace operations is therefore also vital from that perspective. We deploy many women police and are striving to increase the number of women in our military contingents, because we want the best, irrespective of gender. A diverse team delivers better. We train our military and police personnel before deployment and in-mission on sexual and gender-based violence, and support the African Union and African countries in their efforts in this area.

The Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations is a resource, as is Sweden’s handbook for gender mainstreaming in operations. In cooperation with key partners, Norway recently started to develop a handbook for military staff in United Nations operations on preventing and responding to sexual violence in conflict. We thank the Secretary-General for his leadership in working to ensure that the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and we hope it will become a reality. The Nordic network of women mediators is evolving, and more such networks are forming. We must draw on their experience and competence.

Last but not least, I would like to underline that Turkey attaches the utmost importance to strengthening the efforts aimed at implementing the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel. In that regard, we commend and support the Secretary-General’s efforts towards making zero tolerance a reality.

Moreover, the Council should be more vocal and systematic in its condemnation of conflict-related sexual violence and demands for credible investigations into all allegations of sexual violence committed in conflict zones — for Government-affiliated forces, armed groups or the United Nations own peacekeepers.

On the protection side, increased numbers of women peacekeepers, the deployment of women’s protection and gender advisers, as well as human rights and gender-awareness training, have all proved to be successful and should be further expanded. At the national, regional and subregional levels, cooperation mechanisms should continue to actively promote effective responses to conflict-related sexual crimes, including through awareness campaigns, action plans and cooperation frameworks, capacity-building and shared good practices.

Since they were established in the last century, the Sudanese Armed Forces have been very professional. They have fulfilled their duties with respect to the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), working to protect the Mission’s members and equipment. In addition, numerous reports of the Secretary-General reports have borne witness to the fact that our forces have pursued and captured perpetrators of attacks against UNAMID. My country believes that the treatment of this subject requires a careful comprehensive review of the pillars of peacekeeping as it is an essential component of combating these heinous crimes. We also see a need for preventive diplomacy and for confronting the root causes of conflict. In most African conflicts, underdevelopment with all its economic, social and humanitarian consequences is often at the root of conflict. We also see a need to promote the role and status of women and to build capacity in States.

In the specific context of United Nations peacekeeping, India has been the lead troop contributor, with participation in nearly 50 of the 71 peacekeeping missions, and 13 of the current 16 missions. While there has been only a marginal increase in the overall number of women peacekeepers, almost a decade ago, in 2007, India deployed the first ever all-women formed police unit for peacekeeping with the United Nations Mission in Liberia. That unit served there until last year. The Liberian President underlined the contribution of the force in “inspiring Liberian women, imparting in them the spirit of professionalism and encouraging them to join operations that protect the nation”.

The percentage of Liberian women in the country’s security sector has increased threefold since 2007.

India has also taken the lead in hosting specialized training courses for peacekeepers on sexual violence in armed conflict situations. They have focused, among other issues, on the role of women in the context of post conflict situations. Last month India hosted the third such specialized course for female military officers, organized by the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in New Delhi in partnership with UN-Women. Over 40 women officers from nearly 30 countries attended the course. Such courses provide the participants not only an opportunity to train to be ready for deployment but also to network and share experiences and best practices.

India was the first country to contribute to the Secretary-General’s Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. Prime Minister Modi has committed to a higher representation of Indian female peacekeepers in police units to United Nations peacekeeping missions. India is committed to fulfilling the pledge of having 15 per cent of military observers as women by the end of the year. India has also committed to providing another all-female formed police unit.

The international community, and in particular the Security Council as the guarantor of world peace and security, must vigorously combat this type of violence and ensure that perpetrators are brought before the competent courts to answer for their actions. In that regard, my country particularly welcomes the adoption of resolution 2331 (2016) and fully endorses the zero-tolerance policy of the Secretary-General on the sexual exploitation and abuse committed by Blue Helmets, and the specific measures taken in those cases. As a troop-contributing country, Côte d’Ivoire intends to continue along the same lines, building the capacity for its defence and security forces to combat sexual violence. My country is also determined to successfully conclude the legal proceedings regarding recorded cases and to support victims, in particular through actions taken by the Ministry of Women, Child Protection and Solidarity.

Venezuela also reiterates its support for the Organization’s zero-tolerance policy and demands accountability for all crimes of violence and sexual abuse committed by any foreign force and by military, police or civilian personnel deployed in peacekeeping operations and special political missions, as well as by staff of the Organization not deployed in such operations. In that regard, the United Nations is still expected to respond to the victims of such crimes.

Mandatory training on addressing sexual violence for all peacekeeping personnel should be continued and supported. The Indonesia National Defence Forces Peacekeeping Centre has included training on this particular issue and will ensure the continuation as well as the strengthening of this exercise.

In situations where peacekeepers themselves are involved in crimes, they should be made to face the full rigours of the law to serve as a deterrent. My delegation wishes to reiterate the importance of adopting survivor-centric approaches towards victims as a means of addressing difficulties in reintegration and social stigma related to their abuse. Adequate funding must be allocated to specific and targeted programmes, including appropriate medical and psychosocial support, education about legal rights and economic reintegration for victims. Special efforts must be made to incorporate victims into justice processes and to create space for them to be effectively heard. In that regard, national judicial processes must seek to eliminate complicated or degrading reporting procedures and promptly and thoroughly investigate reported cases as a further means of reducing impunity.

First, South Africa believes that a crucial aspect of ensuring that women are safeguarded from becoming victims of sexual violence and abuse is to increase the number of women peacekeepers deployed in peacekeeping missions. That would provide for a safer environment for women to report instances of sexual violence and abuse, as well as their concerns and overall perspectives about the security situation. It is against that background that South Africa continues to deploy more women peacekeepers in United Nations peacekeeping missions and urges other Member States to do the same. The contribution of women to peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts is recognized as a contributing factor to the effectiveness and long-term success of United Nations deployments.

Secondly, South Africa strongly supports the Secretary-General’s initiatives in deploying women’s protection advisers in United Nations missions. As the Secretary-General has recommended, the Security Council should ensure the accelerated deployment and provision of adequate funding for such advisers. That would facilitate the implementation of the resolutions on sexual violence in conflict, including the new monitoring requirements set forth in resolution 2331 (2016). Crucially, Member States should support the inclusion of such posts in the mandates and budgets of peacekeeping operations.

We also share the assessment that the presence of women peacekeepers in conflict zones can facilitate interaction and confidence-building with local communities and affected populations, particularly women and children. In addition to endorsing the three Ps — planning, pledges and performance — the London communiqué, adopted by the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial meeting last year, also affirmed the commitment to increase women’s participation in uniformed roles. In that regard, I am pleased to share that, as of today, Malaysia has increased the number of women military personnel deployed within our contingent under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from 26 to 40. The Government of Malaysia is also currently taking steps to ensure that our contingent reaches the 15 per cent target of women military personnel deployed in Lebanon.

Additionally, my delegation would like to take the opportunity to advocate for mandatory predeployment training on child protection, in addition to training on sexual exploitation and abuse prevention, for all United Nations peacekeepers in support of the Secretary-General’s initiative for troop- and police-contributing countries to issue certificates of compliance. Knowledge is the best defence and the importance of the provision of training for peacekeeping personnel cannot be overstated as a means of prevention.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Secretary-General António Guterres — the author of the new United Nations approach for the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, as outlined in his report (A/71/818), which prioritizes the rights and dignity of victims and calls for the establishment of a zero-tolerance policy. We are confident that that new strategy will bring change.

For its part, the Royal Government of Cambodia is deeply committed to fighting the spread of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and is cooperating with the Association for Southeast Asian Nations and the States Members of the United Nations, as well as United Nations agencies, sparing no effort to address threats to women’s security. In order to contribute to global peace and security, my Government has participated actively in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

At times, regrettably, peacekeeping duties demand the highest sacrifice from those who serve. Most recently, as those here may be aware and as has been condemned by the Security Council, a United Nations convoy in the Central African Republic was attacked last week by armed elements, resulting in the deaths of four peacekeepers from Cameroon and one from Morocco. My Prime Minister has said that non-violence should be at the heart of every human being, and has called for peace and strongly urged the Organization to consider measures that can ensure the protection of United Nations peacekeepers in conflict areas in Syria.

The Maldives also fully supports the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual abuse and exploitation by United Nations peacekeepers, and encourages the Security Council to include tasks related to women, peace and security in peacekeeping mission mandates. In that spirit, the Government of the Maldives has pledged a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of gender-based violence. We have also enacted laws prohibiting sexual harassment and abuse and on sexual offences, domestic violence prevention and social protection in our efforts to raise awareness and create the fundamental provisions necessary for the protection of all women and girls. In 2016 we enacted a gender equality bill that contains comprehensive provisions that further strengthen article 17 (a) of our Constitution, which entitles rights and freedoms to everyone without discrimination of any kind, including with regard to race, national origin, sex, age, mental or physical disability.

The Government of Sierra Leone continues to enact several post-conflict policy and legislative frameworks aimed at addressing gender inequalities, lack of respect for women’s rights and other negative traditional norms affecting women. Key among these include the Gender Justice Laws or the Three Gender Acts. These exemplify our resolve to attain gender equality and empower women. Sierra Leone continues to make modest contributions to international peacekeeping missions. Our contingents of troops are given the requisite training in the prevention of sexual violence in conflict and have performed admirably. We look forward to more opportunities to be given to our troops to serve humankind.

Finally, Djibouti welcomes the Secretary-General’s initiatives to achieve visible and quantifiable improvements in preventing and suppressing sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by United Nations peacekeepers and personnel. Djibouti monitors that issue closely in the negotiations currently under way. We fully support the zero-tolerance policy adopted by the General Assembly. However, the establishment of two offices — one for victims’ rights advocates and another for the Special Coordinator — should be used, along with existing mechanisms, to reduce and prevent the duplication of effort, given the Organization’s limited human and financial resources. Strengthening the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations must also be at the core of those strategies.

Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in countries in conflict, including children, have in many instances been subjected to conflict-related sexual violence, and it should be remembered that such acts are considered war crimes under international law.

According to the Secretary-General’s most recent report (S/2017/249) on conflict-related sexual violence, such acts were reported in 19 countries. We also have data from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, published in 2016, showing that more than 15 million refugees and 36 million internally displaced persons were recorded, and from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs showing that women and children make up 80 per cent of the displaced population of countries in conflict.

In conclusion, Japan has a growing concern, as the scope of this issue expands and grows more complex. We are witnessing new vulnerable victim groups, such as children born of rape, men and boys, and displaced populations. In that context, we would welcome more information sharing on these new groups by the Special Representative and the Team of Experts. Japan remains committed to combating all forms of sexual violence in conflict.

Today’s open debate bears great relevance with respect to the terrorist activities of Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria, which have led to the large displacement of approximately 2 million people and conflict-related violence against women and girls, which has been widely condemned by all. Nigeria has always acted in a concerted manner to ensure accountability for crimes of sexual violence. We have also collaborated with the United Nations and other international partners to improve service delivery and enhance protection measures both in communities and in areas where women and girls seek refuge. Those efforts by the Government of Nigeria should be seen in the context of the great strides already made by our military in severely degrading Boko Haram terrorism.

First of all, although sexual violence affects a cross section of the population, certain factors contribute to greater vulnerability. Forced displacement and migration increase the risk of abuse and exploitation. Reports from refugees and migrants arriving in Europe suggest that many women and girls have been sexually exploited upon their flight from conflict situations. At last year’s open debate on conflict-related sexual violence (see S/PV.7704) we referred to the need to protect women and girls when they are forcibly displaced or travelling along migration routes. Sadly, that concern persists. Sexual violence in all its forms is also a driver of displacement and a risk factor for people on migration routes and being displaced. The same holds true for boys and men.

Over the next two years, United Nations States Members will negotiate a new framework for global migration governance. The global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration offers an opportunity to include some of the issues of this debate in the discourse on global migration. The thematic debate on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants hosted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and to be held in Vienna in September 2017 is one of many platforms for addressing those issues.

With regard to the relevant measures undertaken by Peru on the issue, the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations established a registry of displaced persons, which led to the adoption of measures to protect the rights of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. Similarly, a law adopted in 2005 established a comprehensive reparations programme for victims of the violence that occurred between 1980 and 2000, including those who suffered human rights violations such as rape. Furthermore, among measures to prevent violence against women, Peru adopted a law on equal opportunity between men and women, the national programme on gender equality and the national programme against violence against women, which includes the issue of sexual violence in armed conflict.

Thirdly, the plight of migrant women and girls requires special attention. We must ensure that in their quest for protection and safety, these victims of conflict do not fall prey to human trafficking and abuse. We therefore support the Secretary-General’s recommendation that conflict-related sexual violence be considered grounds for asylum.

Fifthly, we must strengthen protection for refugees and migrants in host countries and societies, with in-built support for victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

As the crisis in Syria enters its seventh year, sexual violence continues to be used by various parties as a systematic tactic of warfare, terrorism and torture. Millions of Syrians, particularly women and girls, continue to live under the threat of sexual violence. The horrific acts of sexual violence perpetrated in the detention facilities run by the Syrian regime have been documented in various United Nations reports. In that context, Turkey’s efforts pertaining to the release of detainees and prisoners by the conflicting parties within the framework of the Astana talks are all the more relevant.

Furthermore, as a neighbouring country, we continue to follow an open door policy with regard to Syrians fleeing war and violence in their own country — there are now over 3 million Syrians living in Turkey. Empowering and ensuring self-reliance, notably of Syrian women and youth, without any bearing of sexual and gender-based violence, is of crucial importance for us. That is why we exert every effort to provide security and safety for them.

In the framework of development cooperation and humanitarian aid, the Czech Republic has implemented a number of projects abroad, totalling CZK130 million in 2016, with a strong gender aspect, including projects aimed at preventing sexual violence and the abuse of women and girls. We have also set up health-care and hygiene centres for marginalized and abused girls and/or internally displaced persons. Those projects have been implemented in Georgia, Serbia, Kosovo, Syria, the Central African Republic and Afghanistan. In 2017, the Czech Republic started the implementation of a project aimed at combating sexual violence in Cuba.

We take this opportunity to assure the Council that, following the recent release of 82 of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, the Government has intensified its efforts to secure the release of the remaining abducted girls and to free the released girls from the ideological grips of Boko Haram terrorists. Having regained their freedom, it is equally important that the girls regain their self-esteem and be assisted in returning to their families and their schools. Furthermore, emergency teams of psychosocial counsellors and health professionals have been dispatched to the north-east of the country in order to assist the recently released girls with the profiling of victims, with a view to adopting appropriate therapies for them.

We commit to ensuring that women and girls enjoy their full rights and that those who have perpetrated sexual violence are dealt with in accordance with our national laws and international obligations.

Thirdly, we are pleased that the Secretary General’s report makes an important reference to sexual and reproductive health. We have addressed that topic in previous debates, but the issue is no less pressing today. It is our duty to ensure that women and girls affected by conflict have access to a wide range of quality sexual and reproductive health services, including services to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

In that context, among other things, Switzerland currently supports a psychosocial care programme in the Great Lakes region. Its objective is to address sexual and gender-based violence in a comprehensive manner at the individual, local and institutional levels. The programme includes medical, psychological and legal services, and also helps to reintegrate victims into their communities. Between 2011 and 2016, almost 60,000 women enjoyed comprehensive care and support through the programme.

Peru considers the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women to be fundamental in addressing the root causes of conflict-related sexual violence by transforming harmful sociocultural norms and combating violent extremism. In that sense, our country has been working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 5, aimed at achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Peru is committed to working with other States in tackling the related outstanding issues in order to achieve a peaceful environment in which all women, without exception, can enjoy their lives to the fullest, free of mistreatment. That is why it is essential to deal comprehensively with sexual violence related to conflict.

Women and girls are more likely to become victims of sexual violence in conflict situations, but men and boys are also affected. Estimates suggest that one in three survivors is male. The response to the issue has been insufficient; psychosocial and medical services offered to male survivors are limited and transitional justice mechanisms often adopt a gender-binary interpretation of sexual violence, identifying women as victims and men as perpetrators. This denies men and boys access to reparations and health services. We commend Spain for adopting gender-inclusive language in resolution 2331 (2016) on human trafficking in conflict and encourage others to follow suit.

First of all, we need to take a comprehensive approach to supporting the victims of sexual violence. Medical and psychological care, opportunities for economic participation and legal protection are some key aspects of such an approach. Germany supports, for instance, protective measures in the field of trafficking and smuggling. We have also received more than 1,000 women and children who suffered traumatic experiences in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and have given them access to medical care and trauma therapy.

In terms of cooperation with the United Nations, my Government welcomes the establishment in 2015 of the Joint Mechanism between the Ivorian Armed Forces and the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire to monitor violations of human rights. We would like to express our total appreciation of the important role played by the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict. The team assisted my country with technical assistance in developing and implementing an action plan for the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire. In particular, that involved setting up special police units and strengthening training for the national gendarmerie.

Sixthly, we also believe that efforts to fight sexual violence in conflict need to take into account measures to ensure adequate information, fact-finding and proper documentation. Raising awareness of women’s and girls’ rights and of the existence of sexual violence against men and boys are equally important. In that regard, we support the proposals of the Secretary-General for the establishment of a system-wide consolidated repository of case information.

In conclusion, the international community must continue to work towards a non-discriminatory and non-sexist global society in which all women and girls are treated as equal citizens. The end of discrimination against women will go a long way towards addressing the root causes of sexual violence.

Allow me to reaffirm Sierra Leone’s commitment to all international instruments aimed at ending violence against women and girls, and to reaffirm the importance of education, economic empowerment, and the modification of social and cultural patterns of behaviour of men and boys towards women and girls as integral parts of overcoming violence against women and girls, both in conflict and in post-conflict situations.

We also strongly believe that accountability for sexual violence in conflict is needed not only in order to meet the demand for justice, but also to help societies in breaking the cycles of conflict. Perpetrators of sexual violence must, without any regard for their affiliation or rank, be brought to account.

 In situations where the justice sector is ill-functioning, survivors who have gone through the trauma of sexual assault too often face additional risks, such as rejection by their families and communities, double victimization by State authorities, limited access to health services and so on. The list, unfortunately, is too long. We must not let them experience all of that.

What is also badly needed is a fully integrated approach aimed at addressing deeply rooted gender inequalities, as sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations is reflective of broader, unequal gender relations in the societies concerned.

The Council should encourage or pressure, as appropriate, all parties to an armed conflict to fully comply with international humanitarian law, particularly in relation to the protection of civilians. The implementation by Member States of the relevant regional and international legal instruments for the prevention, punishment and eradication of all forms of violence against women would also contribute to better national, regional and international responses to victims of sexual violence.

Where serious violations have occurred, the individuals or groups responsible for such grave violations of international humanitarian law should certainly be held accountable, as allowing impunity is no less a crime. It is important to strengthen peacebuilding efforts aimed at rebuilding national capacity and institutions, particularly the capacity of the security sector and the judiciary to fight impunity and bring perpetrators to justice. However, what is needed in order to sustainably prevent sexual exploitation and violence is to address the root causes of conflict. That applies, of course, to all of the crimes and inhumane acts that usually follow violent conflicts.

Lastly, if we are to see sustainable and lasting peace prevail, the perpetrators of sexual violence must not go unpunished at any time or at any level. Such acts must not be considered an inevitable consequence of war. While we cannot necessarily stop people going to war, we must work to adhere to international law and to condemn unilateral action, interventionism and policies of regime change, which are some of the factors that provoke conflict and must be halted if we are to avoid the tragic consequences that can arise not just for women and girls but for the whole of humankind.

Today, I would like to emphasize three points that Japan considers especially important.

First, we have to recognize that there are definite limitations to the method of dealing with issues of sexual violence at the national level only, as has been the case in the past. The importance of cross-border cooperation should be fully emphasized, as in resolution 2331 (2016), on human trafficking. International judicial cooperation should be promoted to effectively hold perpetrators accountable, and financial flows to terrorists must be cut off to thwart their objectives. Now is the time to step up our efforts to discuss and develop a new international framework of cooperation.

Spain will decisively support all efforts aimed at preventing sexual violence and human trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes. We want to ensure that the perpetrators of such crimes are brought to justice and serve their sentences.

The second pillar of any action should be guided by the fight against impunity. In that context, we have to look at all the mechanisms that can improve the preservation of evidence, so that responsibility can be decided in national legal bodies or at the International Criminal Court.

Perpetrators must be held accountable, but the capacity of States to do so, with the prevalence of weak structures and institutions, needs to be addressed. Beyond the law-enforcement approach, however, dealing with the political economy of conflicts in a more holistic manner is crucial to the finding of potential remedies to the situation of conflicts around the world. In that regard, multilateral cooperation should be enhanced so as to strengthen States’ capabilities to deal with the threats posed by violent conflicts, criminality and terrorism.

In addition, the Government of Nigeria has put taken steps for victims of Boko Haram terrorism — in the form of rape and other sexual violence against children, abduction of children and other grave violations — by putting in motion several legal remedies. Some legal and social remedies undertaken by the Government include the diligent prosecution of more than 200 detained Boko Haram terrorists in competent courts of law, as well as reintegration, reorientation and rehabilitation programmes designed to meet the needs of each victim of sexual violence.

 Sexual and gender-based violence is not inevitable. Preventing and protecting against mass atrocities, including sexual violence, is a fundamental State responsibility. As Member States, it is indeed our responsibility to put in place the necessary normative and legal framework, as well as enforcement measures, to ensure zero tolerance for sexual violence in both times of peace and war. However, as we all know, the first rule to be broken during times of conflict is the rule of law. It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure the protection of those targeted by sexual violence and most in need of protection during conflicts.

Accountability is a key ingredient in our joint efforts to eradicate conflict-related sexual violence. International criminal justice mechanisms have significantly advanced the efforts to fight impunity — as illustrated, for example, by the 1998 Akayesu judgment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which found that sexual assault constituted an act of genocide; or the 2016 Bemba judgment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), where the principle of command responsibility was invoked to find Bemba criminally responsible for rape committed by his subordinates. Those judgments send the clear message that impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war is not an option. We commend the Prosecutor of the ICC for prioritizing sexual and gender-based crimes in many of her ongoing investigations.

We have to look for other options where the ICC has no jurisdiction. In the case of Syria, the accountability mechanism established by the General Assembly currently offers the only promising path towards accountability and justice for the Syrian people. Its terms of reference note the need for dedicated expertise on sexual violence. We call on all States to continue their political and financial support for the mechanism.

The critical challenge for the international community now is to convert political will into practical action and drive real change on the ground. The effectiveness of our collective action will depend on an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive approach. The top priority should be to combat impunity for these crimes. We must redirect the stigma and the consequences of sexual violence from the survivors to the perpetrators of such acts. As prosecution is critical to prevention, emphasis should in particular be placed on strengthening and enhancing the capacity of national institutions and criminal justice systems in countries facing armed conflict.

Secondly, attention must also be placed on providing support to the victims of sexual violence. Justice means not only punishment for the perpetrators but also redress for the survivors. Survivors need not only financial compensation but also access to health care, social services and legal support. They must also be given assistance to reintegrate into society.

We support the Secretary-General’s call on traditional, religious and community leaders to address harmful social norms and contribute to redirecting the stigma of rape from victims to perpetrators, who must be held accountable for their crimes. Accountability is a powerful deterrent, as well as a moral duty to those afflicted. The lack of adequate national capacity and expertise to investigate and prosecute for acts of sexual violence remains one of the main impediments to ensuring accountability not only for sexual violence but also for related crimes. This situation often leads to widespread impunity and has had an impact on access to justice and on the safety of survivors. The international community should encourage and help States to fully exercise their responsibility. Promoting the universality of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is also crucial to ending impunity.

Given the atrocity of these crimes, we must do everything in our hands to prevent them. Among other measures, we must help strengthen national capacities, curb the availability of weapons, ensure prosecution, protect victims, take adequate action to change how they are perceived in their communities, and protect witnesses.

We underline that a climate of impunity discourages reporting, undermines assistance and abets further violations. Addressing sexual violence in conflict must be seen as a means of conflict prevention. We therefore call for accountability for crimes of sexual violence in armed conflict, including those amounting to war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide. The effective investigation and documentation of sexual violence in armed conflict is instrumental in ensuring access to justice for victims by holding perpetrators to account. We have several important accountability mechanisms in place. However, accountability also depends on adequate legal and evidentiary frameworks to prosecute such crimes. In that regard, we highlight the international protocol on the documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict, as well as the work of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Furthermore, we recommend that international accountability mechanisms and the Security Council’s own sanctions regimes be mandated and resourced to investigate sexual violence in conflict specifically. We welcome efforts to bring Da’esh and other terrorist groups to justice for crimes its members have committed in conflict, including sexual violence. But we must also remember that the military defeat of perpetrators is not a substitute for prosecuting crimes and recognizing the suffering of victims.

Accountability and the prevention of sexual violence should be included in peace agreements, including, where appropriate, in transitional justice mechanisms promoting justice, truth, reparations, and measures to prevent their reoccurrence. Amnesties should not be granted to perpetrators of sexual violence, and sexual violence should be explicitly prohibited by the terms of ceasefires and peace agreements. Within the United Nations, Force Commanders should meet more often with civil society, and troop- and police-contributing countries should deploy more women as channels for vital early warning information.

Accountability must be accompanied by effective and multi-sectoral support to survivors, whose deep trauma can persist long after the conflict has ended. Greater efforts are needed at all levels to ensure that survivors have access to the full range of livelihood, legal, psychosocial and non-discriminatory medical services. We must stand in solidarity with survivors not just in words but also in actions. Additionally, humanitarian assistance has to address sexual and gender-based violence by preventive as well as responsive measures, and should be based on a gender-sensitive programmatic approach.

Furthermore, we must not allow the crime of sexual violence to be compounded by the shame of stigma, the consequences of which are all too real and often deadly. Such stigma only exacerbates the marginalization of survivors and is a barrier to their full recovery and reintegration in their societies. Societies, including traditional and religious leaders, must rally to support survivors. We must declare once and for all that shame rests on the perpetrators, not on their victims.

Secondly, the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war demands an effective and timely response. Member States cannot simply denounce the situation without taking actions within their power to assist survivors. That is why Canada contributes to Justice Rapid Response in order to help respond to and investigate sexual violence. It is also why we have committed to hosting approximately 1,200 survivors of Da’esh this year, in particular vulnerable Yazidi women and children and their families. We welcome the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and of the United Kingdom to address the stigma that befalls the survivors.

That complex and more serious issue must be tackled in a comprehensive way. There must be justice and accountability for such horrendous crimes, underpinned by efficient investigation, documentation and reporting mechanisms to prevent impunity and future violence and to break the conflict cycle. In that regard, we highly appreciate the work of the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict. Moreover, Hungary is proud to financially support and contribute to the invaluable work of the gender advisers deployed by UN-Women and Justice Rapid Response, and to the work of UN-Women to prevent violent extremism.

However, in order to bring perpetrators to justice, it is crucial that the victims of conflict-related sexual violence report such cases and not be held back by fear, shame or stigma. That once more serves to emphasize the importance of awareness-raising and changing social norms and mindsets. Victims of sexual violence must be assisted with legal, medical and other relevant services to avoid their expulsion from communities and to prevent double victimization.

Every country can make a difference in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence. Estonia has taken steps at both the national and international levels. At the global level, we have supported the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and made regular contributions to the ICC Trust Fund for Victims. Likewise, Estonia has supported the fight against conflict-related sexual violence through the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Ensuring that justice is served is essential if victims are to have some level of spiritual and material compensation. That is why the international community must combat impunity. Furthermore, the non-applicability of statutes of limitations for these crimes is a fundamental tool for ensuring just compensation. Trust funds set up for such purposes — for example, the Multi-Partner Trust Fund and the International Criminal Court’s Trust Fund for Victims — are a step in the right direction and require sustainable financial support.

Thirdly, with regard to the emphasis on prevention, we welcome the focus placed by the Secretary General’s report on the link between accountability and prevention. Ireland calls for the United Nations, and in particular its Member States, to support sensitized and expert means to pursue accountability for sexual violence in conflict — for example through the work undertaken by Justice Rapid Response and the Team of Experts. Moreover, if peacekeepers deployed by the United Nations fail to prevent sexual violence, or in fact serve as the perpetrators of such crimes, as we have shockingly seen, they must be held accountable. Troop-contributing countries and the United Nations itself have clear responsibilities in that regard.

There is an urgent need to hold perpetrators accountable and to provide victims and survivors with basic services, such as health care, psychological support, financial aid, legal assistance and socioeconomic reintegration services.

Secondly, the availability and quality of data on sexual crimes has improved and many perpetrators have been brought to justice, as happened in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq and Uganda.

But the fight against impunity has been a triggering factor in our progress. Since 2015, our office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, has supported regular annual judicial inspections by senior judges who assess on the ground the recorded cases of sexual violence, including the manner and speed with which they are processed by civil and military courts throughout all of the Democratic Republic of the Congo — namely, our 146 territories.

Mobile courts are regularly scheduled by the Ministry of Justice in rural areas at the scene of the crime, with the support of the Government and at times specialized United Nations agencies. I cannot cite all of them, however the Office of the Special Representative and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights actively participate in mobilizing the rural courts.

As a result of those rounds, in 2016 throughout the national territory the military courts achieved 225 convictions, compared to 111 decisions in 2014, showing an increase of 50 per cent in three years. To note, the Arusha Criminal Court produced 90 decisions in 10 years, at the start of the new policy dealing with war crimes and international crimes.

To clarify any confusion about some of today’s issues, turning to the military justice decisions, it is important to highlight and note that senior and other military commanders have been tried and convicted of rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — for example, the sentencing of General Kakwavu in November 2014 and that of Colonels Engangela, known as the “Terminator”, and Kibibi Mutware in 2015. That demonstrates that justice acts firmly to punish criminals, without regard to rank or position.

Furthermore, with regard to the emblematic cases cited in the Secretary-General’s report, I will mention two: the case in Walikale, which was discussed this morning involving the warlord Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, and the case in Kavumu. The case of Walikale concerns mass rape committed by Sheka and his accomplices, including Captain Serafin Lionso. Captain Lionso was arrested and imprisoned in April 2016. We requested that he be transferred from the high security prison in Angenga, in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and brought before the military court in Goma, in the eastern part. The distance between the place of detention and the crime site is equal to the distance between the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation. Such are the challenges we face each day.

On the other hand, with respect to the often cited rape cases involving the young children of Kavumu, the accused, a provincial official named Batumike, was arrested and his parliamentary immunity immediately waived in August 2016, in order to charge him. No one should be protected if he is the perpetrator of rape.

Today some Council members recommended that we document our best practices. I believe it is a good idea. Indeed, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has just published a compendium of military judicial decisions from 2010 to 2015, compiled in a document entitled Bulletin of Decisions of the High Military Court. That jurisprudence will provide a realistic and useful overview of the implementation of the fight against impunity on the ground, and of the challenges. While seeking to strengthen those achievements, our country is ready to share its experience with other countries in conflict affected by this scourge.

By way of example, we took part, along with the United Nations, in the appointment of a senior Congolese magistrate, formerly of the general auditor, Colonel Mutanzini, as Special Prosecutor to the Special Court of the Central African Republic. Furthermore, recently the Congolese special police unit for the protection of women and children was approached by the Government of the Central African Republic regarding the training of a special police unit in that area.

Secondly, the burden of stigma must be shifted from the victims to perpetrators. Adequate protection, compensation and legal and psychosocial support for victims must be ensured, while investing in the capacities of national judicial, law enforcement and correction systems to provide such support in a timely manner.

Despite our collective efforts, the magnitude of sexual violence in conflict is still overwhelming and appears to be pursued in an environment of near impunity and denial. In recent times, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international inquiry commissions visited Bangladesh to gather first-hand accounts of persecution and sexual violence against a group of people fleeing from a neighbouring country into our territory. We hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice and that those displaced and victimized will be allowed to return to their homes in safety and dignity, with their nationality restored.

I would also like to underscore the establishment of the Truth Commission and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, which define crimes of sexual violence committed in the framework of the armed conflict as crimes that do not qualify for amnesty. We must know the truth about all these events, sentence those who committed them and provide reparations for victims. A second important step that was taken in the legislative area is the approval this month in the Congress of the Republic of the constitutional amendment that establishes a special jurisdiction for peace and a unit in charge of investigations, which will include a special team for cases of sexual violence.

We must continue to join and redouble the efforts of all actors involved in order to find effective and immediate solutions on the ground aimed at ensuring respect for international law and to prevent, combat and eradicate crimes of sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations and the trafficking in persons. We must bring the perpetrators of such war crimes and crimes against humanity to justice; and we must protect, contain, assist and reintegrate victims of such violations through the provision of multisectoral and multidisciplinary assistance services with a gender perspective and reparation measures and protect their dignity and human rights.

A key element in preventing sexual violence in conflict is addressing the risk factors and underlying conditions that leave some groups more vulnerable to sexual violence, compounding their victimization, trauma, marginalization and stigma. It is also essential to ensure that the perpetrators of such crimes be held accountable, while improving capacities for documenting and investigating cases of sexual violence and improving cooperation and the exchange of information and best practices in the areas of research, documentation, identifying and assisting victims, extradition and legal aid. In that regard, we would like to highlight the work of the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict and the roster of experts on sexual and gender-based violence overseen by UN-Women and Justice Rapid Response.

Our response to conflict-related sexual violence must be firm and all-encompassing. Impunity is unacceptable, and perpetrators must be held accountable. The International Criminal Court plays a central role at the international level in the fight against impunity, but the capacities of national authorities must also be strengthened. States have a primary duty to prevent, investigate and prosecute sexual violence.

We value the work of the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict and the unique capacity of Justice Rapid Response, in cooperation with UN-Women, which provide the needed expertise for investigating sexual and gender-based violence. We support the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies, led by Sweden, and appreciate the work of civil society, which remains key.

I would like to underscore the significant importance of historic rulings of the International Criminal Court, such as the 210 Bemba case and 2017 Ntaganda case, which consolidate the status of sexual violence as a war crime and crime against humanity. However, due to the complementary jurisdiction of the Court, we must also promote the effective national-level implementation of existing instruments on this issue, including adopting strong internal measures to prevent and combat sexual violence in the context of armed conflicts.

Almost a decade has passed since the Security Council recognized sexual violence as a tactic of war. Despite all the efforts of the international community, conflict-related sexual violence remains an acute issue. It is becoming more complex, with ever-increasing violent extremism and terrorism, displacement driven by conflict, mass migration and human trafficking, abduction and rape, forced marriage and pregnancy, enslavement and the use of girls as suicide bombers. These are not isolated crimes, but a tactic of terrorism employed by State and non-State actors alike and aimed at achieving strategic objectives, including financing and recruitment, displacement, destruction and persecution.

In that regard, we greatly value the work of the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in providing assistance to Governments by strengthening their capacity, including in the areas of criminal investigation and prosecution, military justice, legislative reform, the protection of victims and witnesses and reparations for survivors. We commend the partnership between the Justice Rapid Response initiative and UN-Women. The deployment of justice experts from their joint roster in 50 different missions greatly contributes to ending impunity for perpetrators.

As stated in the report (S/2017/249) of the Secretary-General, many positive legislative and executive steps have taken place in the Sudan recently. They are clearly and strongly related to combating violence against women and to fighting sexual and gender-based violence in conflict. They aim it particular at promoting the rule of law and the administration of justice through important steps in the implementation of resolution 1888 (2009). Hence, the mandate and terms of reference of the Attorney-General have been fully separated from the Ministry of Justice to ensure complete independence, confirming the judicial role of the Attorney-General. Furthermore, last year the National Council amended the penal code in order to confer new powers on the Attorney-General. The Sudanese penal code directly and clearly condemns the crime of rape. Furthermore, there has been an addition to define the crime of sexual harassment. The Attorney-General of the Special Criminal Court on the Events in Darfur also now includes the crime of rape.

The Government’s armed forces, like those of all States in the world, are charged with fighting to restore the rule of law against armed groups acting under mere political slogans. In this regard, we need not delve into the perspective and practice of international law in relation to outlaw groups. However, reports of our Government forces’ involvement of in the crimes we are considering here do not meet even the lowest level of evidentiary legitimacy.

Legal frameworks must be established at the national level in order to protect victims — for example, through legislation that provides legal status to children born of rape and to combat the stigma associated with sexual abuse and violence — and to offer them reparations and compensation, keeping in mind that different forms of sexual violence call for different responses and solutions. We must use all measures at our disposal to get parties to conflicts, whether they be State or non-State actors, to comply with international law, urging States to punish all acts of sexual violence with the utmost vigour, including the referral of cases to the International Criminal Court, thereby eliminating impunity in such cases. We consider these acts of violence to be crimes against humanity and we will continue to advocate for zero tolerance for those who commit, order or condone sexual violence in conflict. We firmly believe that accountability and the use of existing international legal mechanisms to the greatest possible extent are vital tools for ensuring justice for victims. They also deter the future commission of crimes.

Thirdly and equally important is redoubling our efforts to shift away from a culture of impunity. At the international level, the use of sanctions to list individuals for sexual violence or human rights violations against women, including through the use of specific listing criteria, is essential, as are efforts of international tribunals to open investigations and file charges related to sexual violence in conflict. Furthermore, in the case of Syria, we support — both politically and as a lead financial contributor — the creation of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011, including crimes of sexual violence.

Prosecution is essential for prevention. The international community has an important role in helping to build adequate resources and capacities in that regard. In that context, India recently contributed to the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone. The Special Court was among the landmark tribunals that tried and convicted persons for crimes that included the use of child soldiers and forced marriages.

Even in times of peace, we should not forget that sexual violence must be adequately addressed. Czech law criminalizes such behaviour. In 2015, the Czech Republic adopted its action plan for the prevention of domestic and gender-based violence for the period 2015-2018. Its aim is to prevent domestic and gender-based violence and to increase the efficiency of the victim-support system. It addresses domestic violence, as well as sexual harassment, rape, stalking and other forms of gender-based violence. The Czech action plan on women, peace and security, adopted in early 2017, sets out concrete tasks for combating sexual violence and other forms of violence against women and girls. We have also set up a framework for training sessions and programmes for military and civilian personnel in order to prevent this dangerous behaviour, together with the Ministry of Defence action plan on women, peace and security

As for sexual violence in Syria, we believe that the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism recently established by General Assembly resolution 71/248 also plays an important role. The Mechanism aims to assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the most serious crimes committed in Syria, including, of course, the issue of sexual violence addressed in this debate. In the same vein, allow me to welcome the work of the joint rapid response units and UN-Women and the firm impact of the personnel on the ground in Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi as they seek to ensure justice and accountability.

In addition to the fight against impunity, reintegrating the victims of sexual violence is paramount. Those victims must not become victims a second time because of stigmatization by their families and communities. It is the perpetrators of crimes of sexual violence who should be ashamed, not the victims. It is therefore important to provide socioeconomic and psychosocial support for the victims.

Secondly, we need to end the culture of impunity. We often witness a lack of willingness and capacity of individual countries to hold perpetrators accountable. In this regard, I would like to commend the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict for its efforts to strengthen institutional safeguards against impunity at the national level. This is especially important as a lack of safeguards within national borders can often snowball into transnational issues in our deeply interconnected world. A case in point is the increased sexual violence and systematic trafficking in persons along migration and arms routes in the Mediterranean. In addition, when a particular country fails to hold perpetrators accountable, the international community should employ all available means to address sexual violence in conflict, including referrals to the International Criminal Court, as recommended in the aforementioned report of the Secretary-General.

Tunisia, in 2013, through the adoption of the Organic Law on Establishing and Organizing Transitional Justice, has made uncovering the truth and putting an end to impunity one of its main objectives in order to evoke, recognize and condemn all forms of violence and attacks against the most vulnerable populations. In that conneciton, the Truth and Dignity body, which was organized for that purpose, organized a public hearing devoted exclusively to women on 10 March 2017. This was a first, which broke the taboos and went beyond social and societal constraints and requirements.

Every Government has a responsibility to adopt protective measures, develop investigation mechanisms and put in place policies that protect its people from sexual violence, whether perpetrated by the Government’s own forces or by terrorists, in times of conflict or peace. When States fail to comply, the International Criminal Court, whose jurisdiction is universal, can and must fulfil its role in ensuring accountability. In addition, the lack of adequate national capacity and expertise necessary to prevent, investigate and prosecute perpetrators remains among the main impediments in combating sexual violence. It is critical that the United Nations increase its efforts to strengthen national capacities. In this context, I would like to join other colleagues and express Albania’s support for the excellent work of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, as well as the partnership between Justice Rapid Response and UN-Women for their endeavours to end impunity for perpetrators.

That brings me to my second point: ending impunity. Reporting of cases is complicated and can carry high social costs. Shame, stigma and strong cultural norms can dissuade women and men from reporting crimes. The Council therefore needs to act. The listing of the individuals and groups that commit such acts of violence is one of the means to address these violations, and the Council has a responsibility there.

But we also need to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted. We have to close the impunity gap, and this applies also to sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel. The Kingdom of the Netherlands therefore strongly supports the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance approach to this issue.

When it comes to ending impunity, we feel very strongly that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has a role to play as a court of last resort. Its mandate allows for prosecuting individuals suspected of sexual violence. We believe that the ICC must continue to strengthen the policies that ensure accountability under international criminal law.

Portugal adopted its first national action plan in 2009. A second one, currently in force, was adopted in 2014. It includes several measures addressing the scourge of sexual violence in conflict, notably training programmes on gender equality and violence against women and young women, including sexual and gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings, for executive and technical staff in the justice sector and for members of the armed forces and the security forces; and the same programmes are also in place for judicial personnel and members of the armed forces and security forces assigned to international missions for the promotion and maintenance of peace and security.

My country has emerged from almost a decade of crisis. Unfortunately, during that time there were reported cases of sexual violence, mostly individual and collective rape. Those cases are indeed touched upon in the report in question. However, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, in its determination to tackle this phenomenon, has, in addition to existing legal mechanisms, implemented a national strategy to combat gender-based violence. Thus, of 478 cases of sexual violence documented and perpetrated by the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire and non-State actors in 2011 in the wake of the post-electoral crisis, we have moved to just one case of attempted rape in 2016. The perpetrator was brought before the Military Court.

Given the praiseworthy progress made, the Secretary-General has just removed Côte d’Ivoire from the list of countries where law-enforcement agencies and armed groups have systematically committed rape and other forms of sexual violence in armed conflict. The Government of Côte d’Ivoire would like to express its full appreciation to the United Nations for that decision, and at the same time we would like to call for the removal of the non-State actors from the list, as those groups, while still included in the Secretary-General’s report, have not been in existence for six years. That result is the outcome of the successful cooperation between the Ivorian Government and its security and defence forces and the United Nations. Here, I would like to pay tribute to the high quality of the work carried out by the former Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Zainab Bangura, and her team.

In order to meet the challenges involved the Government of Côte d’Ivoire undertook actions at several levels. Regarding the strengthening of the regulatory framework, the initiatives undertaken since the 2011 crisis led to the establishment of a National Committee to Combat Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and the establishment of a mechanism for the suppression of rape. Along those lines, the Chief of the Defence Staff signed a Declaration of Commitment at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London on 19 June 2014. In June 2015 and in July 2016 that led to the signing of commitments by 47 commanders of the armed forces and, later, by 35 commanders of gendarmerie units. That involved training their personnel on the issue of sexual violence and combating that scourge.

Currently, instruction on sexual violence in both peace and conflict forms an integral part of the training modules for training offices and military academies. Over the past three years the Government has also organized numerous workshops for the defence and security forces so as to ensure that ownership decisions are taken at the highest levels.

If the ban on providing arms and financial support to extremist and terrorist groups were fully respected under international law, there would be a decrease in both the operational capacity of non-State actors and terrorists and in the incidences of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict. We firmly believe that accountability is also key to preventing such crimes. We cannot give way to impunity in crimes of this kind. Venezuela advocates effective accountability for all forms of sexual violence and the use of exemplary sanctions on all instigators and perpetrators of such crimes. On another note, we believe that building capacity in national institutions related to justice, health and social welfare systems in countries in situations of armed conflict and post-conflict plays a fundamental role. It is therefore necessary to pool our efforts so that, while fully respecting the sovereignty of the States concerned, such capacity can be developed and strengthened to allow for adequate and timely treatement and accountability, as well as the rehabilitation of victims and children who are products of that violence. We call for guarantees and respect for the right to an identity, which includes, among others, the right to a nationality, which is a fundamental right of every human being and is also key to being able to enjoy other fundamental rights.

One of the critical gaps in addressing sexual violence in conflict and in post-conflict situations is the lack of capacity of peace enforcement officers. Training in gender sensitivity, the prevention of sexual exploitation and addressing conflict-related sexual violence should be mandatory components of national, military and police training, as well as of the predeployment training of all United Nations peacekeeping and civilian personnel.

Finally, let us recognize that there cannot be peace without justice. Demanding accountability from all parties to a conflict, together with the fight against impunity, remains our prime responsibility.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this phenomenon is the fact that many cases go unreported. The reasons for that are clear — the fear of stigma, the fear of reprisals and a lack of avenues for redress prevent many from reporting what has been done to them or to their loved ones. We must help the victims break the wall of silence and make sure that they have legal recourse.

The international community has a collective responsibility to the victims of sexual violence in conflict. All of us — Governments, civil society and United Nations agencies — must work together to pass stronger laws, strengthen enforcement and introduce tougher penalties for offenders. People around the world demand concrete action. Victims of sexual violence in conflict cry out for help. We must act, and we must act now. The victims and survivors of sexual violence deserve nothing less.

Because of the systematic and premeditated nature of acts of sexual violence, there is an urgent need for innovations to counter that scourge. In its firm devotion to international law, Morocco is committed to encouraging an inclusive approach to combating sexual violence that takes into account the complexity of the causes of that scourge, as well as the interests and needs of the persons concerned. It is an approach that calls for strong measures concerning accountability for all those who continue to act in defiance of international humanitarian law, human rights law and the Geneva Conventions. Moreover, it is essential that we alter the stigmatization of victims of sexual violence and the children born as the result of such violence.

In conclusion, protection, prevention and the fight against impunity must be our watchwords. It is our collective responsibility and duty. International law, including international humanitarian law, must be applied without exception. It is incumbent upon us to protect and respond to the needs of victims, prevent sexual violence and ensure that the perpetrators of those violations are held fully accountable for their actions. It is high time to invest in peace, give victims back their dignity and make planning for the reconstruction of societies and lasting peace a reality.

The Secretary-General’s report notes that sexual violence is used strategically to terrorize populations into compliance, incentivize the recruitment of fighters and generate revenue as part of the shadow economy of conflict and terrorism. Those are troubling developments that cannot be tolerated by the international community. The Royal Government of Cambodia strongly condemn all forms of violence and sexual exploitation perpetrated by non-State armed groups against religious and ethnic minorities, especially women and children. The international community must pay careful attention to that disturbing tactic of terror used to do to dehumanize, humiliate and subjugate entire populations, particularly women and children. We must strengthen the existing legal instruments for the protection of women and girls in armed conflict. To that end, the reports of the Secretary-General, and other documents that make recommendations, should be based on clear, accurate, verifiable data, resulting in reports that will inform our understanding and actions and thereby help to strengthen the rule of law at the national and international level. Furthermore, in order to combat the victimization of women and girls, we must address the underlying causes of conflict. Conflict prevention is a prerequisite for sustainable peace and respect for human rights. Since the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security lies with the United Nations, the international community must address the root causes of conflict in a comprehensive, purposeful and determined way.

In conclusion, the fight to end sexual violence against women and girls in conflict cannot be achieved unless there is an effective, efficient and credible international legal institution that is able to bring to book those who have perpetrated and continue to perpetrate horrendous crimes against the vulnerable and defenceless, including women, girls and children in conflict situations. In that regard, my delegation continues to support the International Criminal Court, which remains at the moment the most effective international legal institution that is supposed to address impunity.

We take this opportunity to acknowledge the good work of Justice Rapid Response and UN-Women and to pledge our unflinching support and solidarity with them in the fight against impunity for sexual violence in conflict.

Fourthly, the gender perspective should be fully integrated into the peacebuilding paradigm to reinforce the protection environment. This would entail not only the greater participation of women in peacekeeping mandates, but also an enhanced role for women in peace accords, stabilization and the reconstruction phases of post-conflict rehabilitation.

The impact of sexual violence in armed conflict is dramatic for survivors and detrimental to communities. Individuals do not only suffer serious and long-term physical and psychological harm, they also face stigma, double victimization, trauma, the risk of discrimination and social exclusion. For communities, sexual violence means a form of collective persecution of ethnic and religious minorities; the loss of their identity through forced conversion and indoctrination and the destruction of their social fabric through forced marriage and stigmatization.

Greater awareness of the seriousness of this problem is required for there to be sufficient understanding of how to implement measures needed for prevention, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration. In that regard, we have noted with interest initiatives such as that put forward by the United Kingdom on preventing sexual violence in conflict and stigmatization. Similarly, the guidance note of the Secretary-General on reparations for conflict-related sexual violence, of June 2014, offers guidelines and best practices for us to consider.

We must underline the undeniable role that women can and must play in peacebuilding. There is an important link between women’s full and meaningful participation in preventing and resolving conflicts and in post-conflict reconciliation and rebuilding efforts and the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of such efforts. Women must participate on an equal footing when it comes to the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. The international community must insist on eliminating barriers to the empowerment of women in the decision-making process regarding conflict prevention and resolution, as well as peacebuilding — just as they are drivers of development — and we encourage more women to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

In the long term, special attention should be drawn to the Global Citizenship Education initiative. Tolerance and mutual understanding of a range of differences and diversity, including ethnicity, religion and others, can be a fundamental solution to preventing violent extremism at its roots. The prevention of sexual violence in conflict is also in line with the priority that the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has placed on the role of women and youth in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. As the Chair of the PBC this year, I will make efforts to ensure that this issue be duly reflected in the PBC’s work on women and youth.

Thirdly, we have to stick to a survivor-centric approach towards victims. Priority should be given to helping the socioeconomic reintegration of victims by providing them with sustainable assistance, including medical, psychological, legal and other multisectoral services. And we also need to scale up attention paid to the risk of survivors being twice traumatized. If survivors are not fully accepted and reintegrated into communities and, instead suffer stigma, shame and suspicion, they have a much higher chance of being further marginalized or even susceptible to radicalization efforts.

Indonesia has taken an active role in United Nations peacebuilding efforts and is committed to strengthening its role in the United Nations peacekeeping operations. At the moment, Indonesia has female personnel in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, and we are committed to increase the number of peacekeeping troops, including the number of Indonesian female peacekeepers and women military observers.

Since long-held cultural perceptions and beliefs require more than legislation, national laws must be backed by multi-stakeholder partnerships and networks at the community level with the active participation of traditional and religious leaders. The social acceptability of sexual violence in conflict must not be allowed to gain ground, normalized or reinforced. We therefore share the view that sexual violence in conflict does not arise solely out of the conditions of war, but is directly linked to the culture of violence and discrimination against women that already exists in any given society, and that this must be tackled holistically.

According to the report, in the territory controlled by armed groups supported by Russia, sexual violence is used to compel people in detention to hand over property. Performing sex acts is also often an explicit condition for being set free. The report includes specific recommendations to the Government of Ukraine, illegal armed groups and the Russian Federation, as well as the international community, aimed at preventing sexual violence, improving response and ensuring justice for survivors. Ukrainian authorities are committed to act upon those recommendations. For one, we are ready to enhance cooperation in that area with the appropriate international organizations and mechanisms, first of all with the United Nations. We will also make full use of our national human rights strategy and its action plan, as well as of the national plan on women and peace and security. The adoption of all of those documents was highly praised by the OHCHR.

I would also like to inform the Council that we have invited, and look forward to the visit to Ukraine next month of, a UN-Women delegation headed by Executive Director Mlambo-Ngcuka. Moreover, we reiterate our call to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict to monitor the situation in Ukraine’s conflict-affected areas within her mandated activities.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Pramila Patten on her appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. We wish her every success. Ukraine also reiterates its full support for that important mandate and the work of the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict. Ukraine also reaffirms its firm backing of the zero-tolerance policy regarding all forms of sexual violence and stands in solidarity with the victims and survivors of such crimes.

While my delegation aligns itself with the statement of the European Union to be delivered later today, I would like to make a number of points in my national capacity.

In that light Ukraine, as the country that pioneered the issue of prevention and initiated the relevant process in the Human Rights Council, fully supports the Secretary-General’s approach that “[t]he prevention of sexual violence is an integral part of wider conflict prevention” (S/2017/249, para. 4).

The report of the Secretary-General and the recommendations contained therein could form an important basis for addressing sexual violence in various conflict and post-conflict situations. They will have particular significance in the consideration of specific conflict or post-conflict situations, and the Council should explore the ways and means of ensuring the implementation of the relevant recommendations, including by assigning protection advisers.

We believe that enhancing global and regional partnerships in the fight against conflict-related sexual violence should form an important part of the international response in conflict and post-conflict situations. In that connection, the African Union has demonstrated its commitment to fighting impunity and holding accountable those responsible for conflict-related sexual violence. The joint efforts of the United Nations and the African Union are imperative, not only in the fight against sexual exploitation and violence in conflicts but also in supporting the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda on the continent. The close cooperation and coordination provided by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission are important, and the implementation of the framework for cooperation between the two organizations will go a long way towards ensuring greater coordination of efforts.

Such cases arise in other conflict-affected areas as well, which is why we must work to strengthen existing mechanisms that can help provide women and girls with effective security, whatever their circumstances and wherever and whenever they occur. In that regard, the relationship between sexual violence and trafficking in persons and the reference to that in resolution 1325 (2000) are very important, demonstrating the link between them and also between terrorism and transnational organized crime. According to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2016 of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 79 per cent of the victims of human trafficking are women and children. Terrorist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham, Al-Qaida and Boko Haram, among others, use sexual violence not only as a weapon of war but also as a method for financing their activities. In that regard, we must combat the flows of illicit funds from sexual exploitation and forced prostitution.

With regard to the implementation of international standards, we urge all countries to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which is the most appropriate mechanism for combating crimes related to sexual violence, because it recognizes that they constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity and, in some cases, acts of genocide. It is also important to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1960 (2010). Their implementation would enable the Office of the Special Representative to have a reliable system for monitoring, analysing and providing information on sexual violence in conflict, tools that can help to facilitate dialogue between parties to conflicts in order to help them protect civilians and develop a comprehensive strategy for combating sexual violence.

Thirdly, Japan is proud to be a leading supporter of the work of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and specifically the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, in their efforts to provide assistance to the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Somalia. I reiterate our ongoing support for the Team of Experts, and also encourage other Member States to join our efforts with the Team of Experts, which is only funded through voluntary contributions.

We are seriously concerned that sexual violence continues to be perpetrated by terrorist groups as a tactic of war and terrorism. Such acts, entailing systematic abuses toward strategic objectives, may amount to crimes against humanity and, therefore, we in turn must address them systematically and strategically. Needless to say, the Security Council is the appropriate organ of the United Nations for discussions and actions on this issue, as it is directly linked to the maintenance of peace and security; it should absolutely not be viewed as an add-on element of the Council’s work.

While we welcome improvements in the quality of information on sexual violence contained in the report of the Secretary General (S/2017/249), we still see a need for the Council to be timely briefed on sexual violence in conflict in the context of country-specific situations and relevant thematic areas of work. Ample and adequate information determines the quality of our collective actions.

The key aspect that we need to improve in the implementation of resolutions on sexual violence in conflict is making good use of the specialized expertise of the panels of experts of the sanctions committees, national experts in combating violent extremism, mediators and negotiators in peace processes, officials working at border posts, and military and police personnel deployed in United Nations missions. Irrespective of whether we are referring to the national, regional or international level or whether we are referring to the humanitarian sphere, the security sector or the political and diplomatic arena, it is only when we are working in a consistent and coordinated manner in all of those areas that we will achieve better results. That specialized knowledge, enriched by an ongoing dialogue with civil society, will also contribute to the development and improved implementation of early-warning mechanisms, which could help prevent an outbreak of an armed conflict. Undoubtedly, that is the best investment we can make in favour of international peace and security. Spain has strengthened its extensive training of security-sector personnel, providing training to such countries as Palestine and Colombia, and contributes to the United Nations initiative against sexual violence in conflict.

We take note of and fully support the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2017/249) under consideration. We are convinced that the United Nations remains the central platform for raising awareness for the plight of women and girls in conflicts, including the peace and security agenda of the United Nations. We also acknowledge the progress made so far by the various United Nations mechanisms in addressing conflict-related sexual violence. Nigeria stands ready to continue to work with the United Nations and international partners in that important endeavour.

Nigeria has carefully and favourably considered joining the existing 108 countries that have signed on to the Paris Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups and the Paris Commitments to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups. Following Nigeria’s active participation at this year’s international ministerial conference in Paris in February, it is our conviction that this step will help to strengthen Nigeria’s commitment to global frameworks by further preventing the recruitment and use of girl children as child or female bombers by Boko Haram.

Resolution 2331 (2016) is of particular importance to Liechtenstein. It identifies a correlation between human trafficking, sexual violence, armed conflict, terrorism and transnational organized crime. It also reflects some of the ideas resulting from a joint workshop we held with the United Kingdom and the United Nations University (UNU) on denouncing and disrupting trafficking and modern slavery and protecting its victims. Liechtenstein organized another workshop with UNU in March of this year, with a focus on disrupting financial flows associated with trafficking and modern slavery, which brought together leaders from the financial sector, as well as Member States and civil society. The product of the workshop is scheduled to be presented during the high-level political forum in July 2017 and the high-level week this fall.

The impact of sanctions on gender-responsive policies and budgeting within respective countries is another significant aspect. Sanctions, as a form of collective punishment, flagrantly and indiscriminately violate the basic human rights of all citizens, particularly women. The systematic violations of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including Palestinian women, under brutal occupation by the Israeli regime and the illegal blockade on the Gaza Strip constitute massive deprivation of Palestinian civilians and women of their rights.

In closing, let me stress that my delegation believes that organizing such a debate in the Council should not undermine the work of the most relevant bodies for consideration of women-related issues in the United Nations system, namely, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Economic and Social Council, as well as the General Assembly.

In highlighting once more the importance that Brazil attaches to the women and peace and security agenda of the Security Council, let me conclude by mentioning the release, last March, of Brazil’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which is the result of a joint effort by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Justice and Citizenship, as well as UN-Women and civil society. Policies to protect women and girls from the consequences of war and to prevent sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual violence in conflict, are among the key components of our National Action Plan, along with measures to engage women, including in leadership positions, in peace and security initiatives.

At the national level, Estonia has made important progress with regard to the fight against violence against women and sexual abuse of children. For example, victims of human trafficking, unaccompanied under-age foreigners and sexually abused minors have the right to receive counselling services and psychological help. Furthermore, Estonia considers it important to address sexual violence in conflict as a part of the broader women and peace and security agenda. We have therefore incorporated the subject of human trafficking and gender-based violence into all our pre-mission trainings.

Regardless of our common efforts and achievements, much work remains to be done in the fight against conflict-related sexual violence. Estonia hopes that the topic will remain high on our agenda and calls for comprehensive cooperation by all Member States to combat crimes against humanity.

First, in terms of the link between sexual violence and trafficking, sexual violence in trafficking are issues that must be dealt with by all countries. However, in times of war, relevant prevention and protection mechanisms are almost completely eroded, allowing the activities of terrorist groups and criminal networks to thrive. Resolution 2331 (2016) is our strongest legal instrument yet for highlighting the relationship between sexual violence and trafficking in situations of conflict. We look forward to enhanced efforts by the States Members of the United Nations and the Organization itself aimed at implementing this innovative resolution in complementarity with the women and peace and security agenda. Moreover, as Member States look towards adopting two global compacts in 2018, we hope that the vulnerability of migrants and refugees to both trafficking and sexual violence, on the one hand, and the need for women’s participation in finding solutions, on the other hand, are strongly reflected in them.

That is why we must continue to include sexual violence as a designation criterion for imposing sanctions and to ensure that sanctions committees and monitoring mechanisms base their efforts on experts specializing in gender-based and sexual violence in conflict. We consider it timely for Special Representatives to share information with sanctions committees as needed.

There is in fact political will to address the issue of conflict-related sexual violence, but more needs to be done to fight the culture of impunity. Combating sexual violence in conflict is an integral part of the wider conflict-prevention agenda, and we should spare no effort to tackle the problem holistically. Raising awareness about the scale of sexual violence in conflict and its impact on societies is the first step. One example is the successful initiative of Argentina and its General Assembly resolution 69/293, proclaiming 19 June as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. It draws the attention of the international community to the problem while honouring the victims and survivors and paying tribute to all of those involved in eradicating those crimes.

The allocation of adequate financial resources is another important point. As a proof of our commitment, the Polish Government last year contributed 2.5 million zlotys to the UNICEF operation in Mosul, Iraq, providing assistance to thousands of Christian and Yazidi women and girls fleeing from the horrors of trafficking, forced marriage and sexual enslavement perpetrated by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.

But we can take nothing for granted. How do we go from past horrors to a beginning of post-confit normality? With the help of the United Nations, since the signing of the joint communiqué of 30 March, 2013, our Government has designed and deployed a plan of action to combat sexual violence. It has mobilized all the energies of the nation, especially the Ministries of Justice and National Defence, the defence and security forces, the General Auditorate, civil society organizations, and religious and traditional leaders. Much of this normalization programme is based on prevention, the fight against impunity and the socioeconomic response that I will address in this statement. Beyond technical principles and terms known to us all, these are lessons of humanity, experiments in living together, stories of distress or hope that we champion on a daily basis, claim as our own, and refuse to deny or stigmatize.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has enacted the law of 20 July 2006 and applies the Rome Statute, which punishes sexual violence. Consequently, the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo adopted a campaign plan, led by the internal Specialized Commission for the Fight against Sexual Violence, which has been carrying out awareness-raising activities in all military camps for three years. The Commission is supported by the United Nations system.

The implementation of this plan of action has enabled the developmenet and signing of acts of solemn commitment by 218 commanders, including generals and colonels as well as 13,585 trained soldiers throughout all of the military camps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are not only concerned about the eastern part in conflict, but about the 26 provinces, in order to ensure the sustainability of the culture of the fight against sexual violence. The Congolese national police is part of that dynamic, thereby reinforcing police capacities.

Is that enough? Most certainly it is not. Yet it is a significant step. Such prevention efforts would be insufficient if not accompanied by pedagogical value.

In a war-ravaged country it was nearly impossible to ensure adequate protection, rehabilitation and reintegration for such a large number of victims. The overriding priority was to find custody and shelter for children born of such violence, who were abandoned in most cases. It took us more than four decades to ensure official recognition and compensation for some of the victims who mustered the courage to make themselves known and heard. The work of bringing the perpetrators to account remains an unfinished agenda.

In our modest effort to come to terms with that painful legacy, we took up the issue of women and peace and security as a critical element of our engagement in the United Nations, especially during our membership in the Security Council from 2000 to 2001. We take heart that the suffering experienced by hundreds and thousands of women in Bangladesh and around the world at least paved the way for brave young women like Nadia Mourad and Mina Jaf to appear and eloquently make their cases before the Council.

Colombia endorses the statement delivered by the representative of Canada on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security. I would like to begin by mentioning the progress noted in the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Colombia (S/2017/252) and the support given by the Office of Special Representative Bangura, who personally, along with Executive Director of UN-Women Mlambo-Ngcuka, travelled to Havana and were able to see first-hand the process as it developed and to publicly express their commitment to providing support to survivors of sexual violence in our country. It is worth underscoring the strategy designed by the peace process negotiators, as there were many women team members; the gender subcommittee that was established and which ensured that whatever was agreed would meet the particular needs of women and girls; and that, in the implementation phase, 20 per cent of the military and civilian observers of the special political mission designated by the Security Council are now women.

In that context, allow me to express the Argentine Government’s gratitude for the work done by the outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Zainab Bangura, for her arduous and dedicated efforts over the past five years, during which time she achieved a great deal, including the establishment in 2015, through General Assembly resolution 69/293, of 19 June as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. In this context, I recall that, on 20 June, Argentina will organize, together with the Offices of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and an interregional group of Member States the second formal observance of that International Day. We also welcome the appointment of the new Special Representative, Ms. Pramila Patten, and we wish her every success in the complex task that lies ahead and assure her of Argentina’s unwavering support during her mandate.

The increasing use and threat of crimes of sexual violence against women, girls, men and boys by non-State armed groups, terrorist groups and violent extremists and other State actors as a strategy of recruitment and financing, with the aim of terrorizing, intimidating and stigmatizing specific groups, namely, women, children, religious minorities, LGBT people, displaced persons and so forth, constitute the most serious international crimes. Various international tribunals have established sexual violence as an act of torture, a war crime, a crime against humanity and an act of genocide. Such crimes must be prevented and punished in accordance with the law and we must make use of available tools and mechanisms, including sanctions, and referring cases to the International Criminal Court.

Panama is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the human rights of women. We attach particular importance to initiatives undertaken by UN-Women, such as Justice Rapid Response and the Women’s Alliance in Accountability for Sexual Violence and Gender-Based Violence.

We welcome the efforts of the informal group of experts on resolution 2242 (2015), on women and peace and security, and of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. We also underscore the adoption, as part of Council sanctions regimes, of criteria for identifying individuals or entities for their role in the promotion or carrying out of sexual violence. We would like to emphasize the normative value of the Security Council’s unanimous adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the first instrument to establish the causal relationship between the experiences of women in conflict and the international peace and security agenda and to draw attention to the disproportionate impact of conflicts on women. Today, more than ever, that resolution and those that have followed it are particularly relevant.

With the adoption of resolution 1820 (2008), we made the shift from an era of silence to one in which we recognized the gravity of the phenomenon and became aware of the urgent need to address it. Likewise, the adoption of resolution 1888 (2009) and subsequent resolutions has strengthened the regulatory framework that ensures effective accountability. Similarly, resolutions 2242 (2015) and 2331 (2016) acknowledged the existence of terrorist groups using sexual violence as a tactic to advance their goals. Despite that progress, however, much more remains to be done to ensure that the terrible stories about the use of sexual violence, with which we are all too familiar are not repeated. Mexico would like to make some proposals to strengthen the development of a comprehensive strategy to address, prevent and eradicate this type of violence.

My delegation condemns all forms of sexual violence against women or the use thereof as a tool of war or terror. The international community must join its efforts in order to confront this heinous crime and its root causes, and to prevent the trafficking in women and girls. As the Sudan is a transit country for this kind of crime, a law against human trafficking was drafted and adopted in 2014. In addition, a conference was held in my country on trafficking in Eastern Africa, at which the Khartoum declaration was issued and agreements were signed between the Sudan and a number of neighbouring countries to confront the groups that are violating human rights, particularly those of such vulnerable groups as women and children.

That commitment was demonstrated in a number of efforts that bore fruit in the adoption and implementation of a number of national strategies and plans. An independent commission on human rights was created, based on the Paris Principles and with particular attention given to the situation of women in camps for internally displaced persons. That was done in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme and the human rights division of the United Nations country team in the Sudan. Finally, in that vein, the Sudan has been committed to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security.

It is also crucial to implement Security Council resolutions, which outline commitments and strategies for preventing sexual violence in conflicts and provide for the monitoring of their implementation. Likewise, it is essential to work closely with the relevant sanctions committees to make sexual violence in the context of armed conflict and terrorism a criterion for being subject to sanctions. All those involved in the financing, planning, or supporting of armed groups with links to acts of sexual violence should qualify for inclusion within existing sanctions regimes. If this approach is to be effective, key actors must collaborate in the monitoring of these cases. The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General also plays an important role in this regard, ensuring smooth communication and information exchange.

Secondly, we need to change how women are perceived in society. Adequate role models and gender equality are indispensable in preventing and combating sexual violence against women. We are taking steps towards that goal, as outlined in our recently adopted national action plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). Fourthly and lastly, the shortcomings in the implementation of the strategic results framework on women and peace and security are not due a lack of words, but a lack of action. Those shortcomings must be addressed at different levels

The Commission on the Status of Women and the work done by the Committee on the achievements of and obstacles encountered by States parties in the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women continue to make significant progress in pushing the gender empowerment agenda that in itself has a transformative impact on societies — leading to more sustainable development and prosperity.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development also highlights the importance of sustainable development for ensuring peace and security. India has been an active participant in the comprehensive deliberations on women-related issues at the various United Nations bodies. India has also been among the top contributors towards UN-Women since its inception five years back.

The fight against sexual violence is a priority for Belgium. We are about to adopt our third national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000). The issue of sexual violence against women, including conflict-related violence, is of great importance. For Belgium, accountability is critical in the fight against impunity for crimes of sexual violence. Justice is a prerequisite for building peace and breaking the cycle of conflict. I would like to quickly highlight a few points.

First of all, we welcome the countries mentioned in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2017/249) that have worked actively to establish a legislative framework and take effective measures. We commend the outstanding work of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in supporting national efforts leading to tangible results — for example, in Guinea.

My delegation therefore wishes to highlight the importance of the Secretary-General’s recommendation calling on the Security Council to fully include the issue of conflict-related sexual violence in the work of the sanctions committees. The undeniable legitimacy of the sanctions adopted in that context will indeed lead to strengthened collective efforts in the fight against the scourge.

The Republic of Korea, for its part, has continued to take concrete initiatives to contribute to building the capacities of Governments, as well as of women and girls, in fragile and conflict-affected States. In particular, we have carried out official development assistance projects aimed at supporting the empowerment of women and gender equality. In 2015, we launched the Better Life for Girls initiative, which employs a gender-focused approach to empower girls in developing countries. We have also continuously supported gender-sensitive peacebuilding projects of various international organizations, such as UN-Women’s Building Back Better project and the work of the United Nations Development Programme on gender and human rights.

Before closing, I would like to reiterate that the Republic of Korea is committed to working closely with the international community in order to eradicate sexual violence in conflict around the globe.

The Security Council, in its resolutions adopted since 2008, including resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1960 (2010) and 2106 (2013), has judiciously considered sexual violence to be a tactic of war and an obstacle to maintaining and restoring of international peace and security, by exposing the most vulnerable, especially women and children, to the worst forms of abuse, hence the importance of our meetings today and tomorrow. There must be widespread and comprehensive mobilization.

In conclusion, I wish to reiterate my country’s readiness to pursue these efforts and initiatives in order to combat all forms of sexual violence against women.

Over the past decade, the Security Council has amply identified the scourge of sexual violence in conflict as a devastating tactic of war and terrorism and has recognized it as an issue that affects international peace and security. Today we have a better understanding of the scope and roots of the problem than ever before. In terms of international legal and normative instruments, we have the tools required to take significant action, including seven Security Council resolutions.

In September 2013, 144 countries, including Albania, co-signed the historic Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, thus marking an unprecedented level of momentum and political will.

Yet the shocking and unacceptable reality is that despite our collective efforts and despite international awareness and outrage, conflict-related sexual violence continues unabated and largely unpunished. The real challenge facing us is how to convert our political will into action on the ground; how to implement our objectives in real conflicts, thus effecting change in the lives of millions of vulnerable children, men and women. The challenges to effectively combating this crime are multiple: lack of accountability for the perpetrators, weak Government response, insufficient reporting of the facts, poor monitoring and inadequate support services for the victims, who also have to face the shame, the stigma and the risk of retaliation.

As concerns identifying the problem, the report of the Secretary-General rightly draws our attention to the disturbing trend of sexual violence as a tactic of war and terrorism. Violent extremism is on the rise. Perpetrators often do not react to political pressure or abide by agreements, treaties or international law. The use of rape as an instrument of war and terror constitutes one of the most horrendous human rights violations in the world. The problem is clear, so we need to do more.

This brings me to my third point. We need to take action. Let me share some Dutch examples here. All Dutch police and military personnel receive pre-deployment training, and, together with our valued partner Spain, whose representative spoke earlier today, we provide training to other professionals from other States. Additionally, we financed a specialized training programme for female military officers with UN-Women, and we also made possible a global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

All of this indicates structural gaps. The Government of Syria has already officially submitted and documented all of its structural gaps to the Office of the Special Representative, who has regrettably ignored all its requests. We do not know why, but we hope that she will submit concrete proposals aimed at ending sexual violence against women and using her influence with the countries sponsoring armed terrorists, all of which we are familiar with, to put an end to the terrible crimes committed by these terrorist groups. We do not expect her to submit secret reports to the 1267 Committee that only expand her mandate in a way that interferes with countries’ internal affairs. We are ready to cooperate with the Office of the Special Representative and to be informed of every name and incident that she has received in order to open investigations and punish the perpetrators of any crimes in a framework of cooperation and dialogue, so that she can fulfil her worthy mandate as effectively as possible.

We welcome the Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2017/249), which has given us very important information on the implementation of the Council’s resolutions on conflict-related sexual violence and its substantial recommendations for dealing with that scourge. Almost 17 years ago, the Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, but despite all our efforts and achievements so far, I think we all agree that much remains to be done. Portugal considers it to be extremely important to ensure that the Security Council continues to address concerns relating to the agenda on women and peace and security, which is a critical yet under-utilized tool for preventing conflict and shaping more effective responses to today’s complex crises.

In conclusion, I should like to point out that my delegation e most of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence. Nonetheless, it would like to emphasize the following points.

First, Member States must bring their national legislation in line with international standards with respect to the qualification, prevention and punishment of sexual violence. Secondly, it is important to integrate the issue of sexual violence into peacekeeping operations. Thirdly, priority must be given to capacity-building in areas related to sexual violence before contingents are deployed. Fourthly, human rights, international criminal law and international humanitarian law must be taught during the initial training of national security and defence forces. Fifthly, human rights concepts must be included in secondary school curricula and professional training courses. Finally, my delegation would like to highlight the relevance of the ever-increasing number of female personnel in national defence and security systems and peacekeeping contingents.

We would therefore like to acknowledge the important work being done by the Expert Team on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in support of the national authorities of countries aimed at building institutional and technical capacity to address this issue. We hope that such an important group will not be subject to budget cuts.

My delegation is pleased to note that focus is now shifting from norm-setting to the implementation of existing legal instruments to combat sexual violence in conflict. We recognize the fact that Member States have the primary responsibility for the protection of their peoples for mass atrocities, including sexual violence and, consequently, there is a need to strengthen national capacities to hold perpetrators accountable, to deliver justice to victims, and to deter future crimes through relevant legislative and institutional arrangements.

According to the Secretary General’s report (S/2017/249), this terror tactic is being used not only by non-State actors, but also by national armed forces of States Memberes of the Organization. That is a dreadful thought. The report also offers practical recommendations for the Security Council, Member States and regional organizations on the important steps that must be taken by the international community. Those recommendations can no longer be ignored. Israel fully supports the recommendations and strongly encourages others to do the same.

The recent release of the 82 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram has provided some relief to their families. We believe that supporting those girls and their families must be at the forefront of any response. Equally important is ensuring that mechanisms and programmes are in place to facilitate the reintegration and rehabilitation of the abducted girls, victimized by such heinous acts, into their communities. Malaysia supports the intention to address conflict-related sexual violence in a broader, more systematic manner. While responses and reactions to the situation may provide short-term solutions, it is imperative that we look into preventive and corrective measures as a more sustained solution to the issue. Key to that would be to ride on the successfully renewed international momentum moving towards fully actualizing the involvement of women and leveraging their influence on matters of peace and security, following the high-level review of October 2015 (see S/PV.7533) and its accompanying global study of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) issued by UN-Women. Having said that, we agree with our briefers that ensuring women’s participation in all peacebuilding efforts and increasing their participation in peacebuilding operations deserve the full support of all Member States.

With that stark reality in mind, the Maldives believes that the United Nations, and especially the Security Council, should comprehensively adapt its prevention, protection and recovery efforts to the increasingly asymmetric threats posed by non-State, extremist and terrorist armed groups through sexual violence. The Maldives welcomes resolutions 2242 (2015) and 2331 (2016), which make clear the Council’s recognition of the fact that sexual violence is frequently used as a tactic of terrorism and provide a clear starting point for deepening the strategic alignment of efforts against sexual violence, both across the United Nations and among Member States. They make it clear that the obligations to abide by the protections afforded by international human rights law apply to State and non-State actors alike, and that it is incumbent on all parties to respect their provisions.

In that regard, the Maldives welcomes and fully endorses the Secretary-General’s recommendation that the Security Council employ all means at its disposal to ensure that all parties to a conflict comply with international law regarding protection against sexual violence. In turn, that should be enforced through the systematic monitoring of compliance, the implementation of legislative and institutional arrangements and, when violations do occur, by referring matters to the International Criminal Court.

Under the impetus of numerous international initiatives and resolutions on the women and peace and security agenda, which emerged from the deteriorating situation of women in conflict and post-conflict situations in the 1990s, the adoption and implementation of resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013) and, most recently, 2331 (2016)confirm the ongoing determination of the international community to combat by all means sexual violence as a tactic war and terrorism.