The international prohibition on sexual violence in conflict is long-standing...

The international prohibition on sexual violence in conflict is long-standing, but our plan for combating it has not previously been laid out. That is why the advances last year were so important. Those include the adoption of resolution 2106 (2013), setting out a comprehensive prevention framework, and the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, signed now by over 140 nations. We congratulate the United Kingdom and Foreign Secretary Hague on their efforts on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, in which Australia's Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, is an active champion.Our challenge, now as always, is implementation—turning the resolutions into solutions, as Ms. Bangura has just said. Fundamental to that is timely and comprehensive information. Unhindered humanitarian access is essential, as are measures to fight the stigma and threats of reprisal against survivors, which impede its reporting. Increasing the numbers of women in peacekeeping missions and police units can help, and we must address barriers to their recruitment, deployment and retention. We must ensure the early deployment of women protection advisers in United Nations missions. Commitments on the part of Governments and parties to conflict to combating sexual violence are crucial to change on the ground. We commend Special Representative Bangura for securing new commitments with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia. Reaching armed groups is hard, but we must try. Ceasefire agreements should always include sexual violence as a prohibited act.