During the past decade, particular attention has been paid to addressing some...

During the past decade, particular attention has been paid to addressing some of the specific crimes experienced by women and girls during armed conflicts, namely, rape, trafficking, enforced prostitution and enslavement. It is critical to ensure accountability for past and present crimes, and to not grant immunity to perpetrators. Otherwise, we would be providing amnesty for future crimes. In that regard, Armenia is encouraged by the report of the Secretary-General, which for the first time includes an annex that lists the parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape and other forms of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict on the Council's agenda. Such reporting and systematic data collection are critical, because crimes of sexual violence remain underreported due to stigmatization and fear of reprisals. We hope that such measures will promote accountability and that they will provide timely and reliable analyses based on which the Security Council can carry out its responsibility to protect civilians from conflict-related sexual violence. We cannot address sexual violence, however, by simply naming and punishing offenders. More fundamental changes are needed on institutional and societal levels as well.