We are also confident that resolutions 1882 (2009) and 1960 (2010) have contributed to establishing practical means to bridge the difficulty of collecting, systematizing and verifying information on sexual violence in conflict situations, while retaining the separate focus of each mandate.

Bosnia and Herzegovina attaches the utmost importance to the protection of children affected by armed conflict, and strongly condemns all situations, including recruitment, killing, maiming, rape and other sexual violence, attacks on schools and violations of international law committed against children in conflict hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.

Apart from what I have referred to, in many armed conflicts grave violations are committed against children including, in particular the recruitment and use of children, the killing and maiming of children, rape and other sexual violence against children, the abduction of children, attacks on schools and hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access to children by parties to armed conflict, in contravention of applicable international law.

The increase in attacks on schools and hospitals, including the specific targeting of girls, are deeply worrying and need to be clearly condemned. The further expansion of the triggers requires an increased monitoring and reporting capacity by the United Nations.

Violence against children through sexual, physical and domestic abuse is an abomination and against national law. Sexual violence, including pederasty in its local form, which is widely sensationalized in media reports, is a crime that incurs serious punishments under the Afghan legal system. Though such problems are not unique to Afghanistan, we are taking all necessary steps to stop this illegal, un-Islamic and immoral practice.

To date, more than 7 million boys and girls are enrolled in schools, investing in their futures. We have constructed more than 4,000 schools across the country; we predict having nine million children enrolled in schools by 2020; and in a country where practically no girls received education just 10 years ago, over 40 per cent of these new students will be girls.

Forty-four per cent of all child casualties are caused by improvised explosive devices and suicide attacks, which are increasingly intended for soft targets such as civilian roads, schools and health clinics. Children, women and other vulnerable groups are the prime victims of such attacks.

"We now understand that the risk of infection can be even greater in communities emerging from violent conflict. United Nations peacekeeping operations — with their military, police and civilian elements — are well placed to engage with vulnerable communities that have been affected by conflict in order to ensure that the epidemic does not gain a foothold among them.

"In recent months we have discussed in this Chamber ways to combat the disturbing incidence of sexual violence used as a weapon against vulnerable communities. We have heard how sexual exploitation and abuse has the ability to prey on those parts of the community most vital for longer term peace and stability.

"Tragically, we have seen the increased frequency of sexual violence used as a tactic of war. This new resolution is right in calling for HIV prevention among uniformed services to be aligned with efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict. The disproportionate burden of HIV on women is a serious obstacle to the full participation of women in efforts to prevent and resolve conflict and build peace.