The appointment of Ms. Wallström in February this year was an important ...

The appointment of Ms. Wallström in February this year was an important signal that increased and focused action would be undertaken in the fight against the scourge of sexual violence in conflict. No one can deny that sexual violence in armed conflict is an abhorrent crime that in some conflict areas is systematically used to destabilize whole societies, and thus constitutes a serious security problem requiring a systematic response, including by the Security Council. With the adoption of resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009), the Council gave this issue the comprehensive and global attention it deserves. We therefore strongly welcome the Secretary-General's report (S/2010/604) and its recommendations, which are reflected in the new resolution 1960 (2010) adopted by the Security Council today. It is a good resolution. We commend all Security Council members for agreeing on this important document in such a short period of time. This underlines the urgency of the problem and shows that the Council is sincerely committed to tackling this issue.