It is imperative that all parties to armed conflict strictly abide by their o...

It is imperative that all parties to armed conflict strictly abide by their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. Azerbaijan reiterates its strong condemnation of all acts of sexual violence in conflict. There can be no tolerance for such acts, and all the necessary measures must be taken to end impunity. Governments bear the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians, and national courts are the principal venues for holding individuals accountable for crimes of sexual violence. At the same time, inadequate national capacity and expertise for investigating and prosecuting acts of sexual violence remains one of the main impediments to ensuring accountability. In that regard, we note the efforts of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, established pursuant to resolution 1888 (2009), to strengthen the capacity of national rule-of-law and justice actors. However, when national authorities fail to take action, the international community should play a more proactive role in ensuring an appropriate response.