Kazakhstan
I would like to highlight some key proposals and strategies to minimize the p...
I would like to highlight some key proposals and strategies to minimize the prevalence of sexual violence in conflict. Sexual violence is a global phenomenon in times of peace and war and in post-conflict phases. It also affects my region and demands our urgent attention
Promoting the rights of women is at the core of my country's human rights pol...
Promoting the rights of women is at the core of my country's human rights policy. Kazakhstan, as a member of the Executive Board of UN-Women, has repeatedly voiced the need to accelerate the implementation of global gender commitments. Those include the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (see A/S-23/10/Rev.1), the Millennium Development Goals, the Beijing Platform for Action, the 2013 Commission on the Status of Women follow- up process, and resolutions 1325 (2000), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) — all of which touch upon sexual violence in conflict. To implement them, Member States must live up to their commitments and actions. Closer interaction is needed among the Council and the Special Representative, UN-Women, the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, as well as country teams on the ground.
The Council is taking a positive step by expanding its work at the level of S...
The Council is taking a positive step by expanding its work at the level of Sanctions Committees by considering sexual violence and rape as designation criteria in various sanctions regimes, as a tool to enhance accountability. It is therefore obligatory on such committees to reinforce those criteria. To succeed, there has to be better information sharing among the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Sanctions Committees and their associated expert groups. The submission of names of perpetrators should be followed up on without delay, and without impunity being granted to State or non-State actors.
It would help to have at least one gender expert on every Sanctions Committee...
It would help to have at least one gender expert on every Sanctions Committee and peacekeeping mission or political office in the field. Resources must be allocated to that end. Likewise, the women and peace and security agenda should be incorporated into the terms of reference of Security Council visiting missions when interacting with interlocutors and stakeholders.
It is noteworthy that provisions for protection against gender-based violence...
It is noteworthy that provisions for protection against gender-based violence and violence against women and children were incorporated into article 7, paragraph 4, of the Arms Trade Treaty, which regulates the transfer of major types of weapons and which the General Assembly adopted earlier this month. The 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons must also begin to reflect a gender-sensitive perspective, like the Arms Trade Treaty, because armed sexual violence in armed conflict totally devastates women and children. For significant results to accrue, each tool should not to be implemented piecemeal but taken as part of a unified, consolidated and comprehensive approach. United Nations system- wide coherence on gender-based violence in conflict, combining synergy with regional organizations, intergovernmental bodies and key stakeholders, would result in strengthened mechanisms for monitoring, reporting and implementation.
At the same time, we need to facilitate and reinforce women's participation, ...
At the same time, we need to facilitate and reinforce women's participation, through their local networks and groups, by assessing and overcoming factors that impede their effective involvement. Hurdles created by a lack of resources, access to information and security itself can be counteracted through the inclusion of women's groups in strategies for conflict prevention, resolution and recovery, especially in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes, through training and capacity-building.
In conclusion, we commend the Security Council's continuing attention to the ...
In conclusion, we commend the Security Council's continuing attention to the urgent and crucial issue of women and peace and security and strengthening it on its ongoing agenda.