First, we strongly welcome the fact that the Secretary-General expresses the ...

First, we strongly welcome the fact that the Secretary-General expresses the need for the women and girls who have been victims of rape to have access to emergency contraception and safe abortion services. They should not be forced to continue a pregnancy as a result of a serious crime against them. All too often, they receive no reparation or any kind of support from their own communities or from the international community. At the same time, where women and girls who have decided to continue their pregnancies cannot look after their children, steps to protect the rights of those children, including providing for national adoption, must be taken.