Spain

Sexual violence in conflict is a phenomenon that should receive more and urgent attention, and Spain welcomes every effort of the international community to continue working to combat this scourge more effectively. We also welcome the Council's adoption this morning of resolution 2106 (2013), of which Spain was a sponsor. It is particularly pertinent in that it specifically addresses the issue of impunity as one of the key components in the fight against sexual violence in conflict. Combating impunity must be addressed with a comprehensive approach that promotes an education system that promotes the dignity and equality of men and women, a social system that condemns sexual violence and a legal mechanism aimed at ensuring the protection of victims and the punishment of perpetrators.

Regarding training, we must realize that in a post- conflict scenario, where legal systems are broken, it is essential that the reconstruction of national capacities includes specific training on cultures of impunity. Spain has therefore given support to specific programmes in that area through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Spain Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund. To cite but two examples, in South Sudan efforts have been focused primarily on educating and raising awareness in indigenous communities on gender equality, while in Colombia the programme has involved training women in human rights and violence prevention so that they can later replicate such teaching in their communities.