Conflict and sexual violence feed off one another. The poisonous interrelationship is fully demonstrated in the Secretary-General's report. This is an excellent report, clear and dispassionate in its analysis and incisive in its recommendations. Ireland strongly supports the full range of recommendations and welcomes the extent to which they have been reflected in the resolution.
But helping to change attitudes and standards brings a follow-up responsibility. It cannot be right that communities are left with new ways of looking at things but — with the international presence gone — no means to ensure that new standards are implemented. This is where the continuum between peacekeeping and peacebuilding really matters.
Among the particular priorities stressed throughout this initiative were the need to fight against the culture of impunity in relation to sexual violence, to exclude sex crimes from amnesties, to improve women's access to formal, traditional and transitional justice, to increase awareness among family members and community leaders of issues surrounding sexual and gender-based violence, to enhance capacity to prosecute sex crimes, and to incorp
A further source of insight for us has been the cross-learning process on women, peace and security that Ireland conducted in partnership with Liberia and Timor-Leste. This innovative initiative drew on the experiences of those directly affected by conflict in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Liberia and Timor-Leste to discuss the most critical issues facing women and girls n conflict and post-conflict settings.
We take great pride in the stellar record of our peacekeepers, both men and women, in the protection of women, children and the weak. Indian troops have apprehended some of the principal culprits behind the recent sexual violence in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We can do much more if more resources are made available.
We believe that women's protection advisers have a key role to play in implementation, and we would be happy to contribute such personnel. We value the contributions of civil society in that arena.
Two important strands of international concern converge in this debate. These are the struggle to empower women and the constant endeavour of the United Nations to preserve peace and international security.
There is a saying that all that is necessary for evil to continue is for good men to do nothing. My delegation believes that the community of nations must ensure that the human rights of all are respected. Universal respect for human rights is, in our view, the basis of the common and better future that we seek to build.
The weakest are the biggest victims of conflict and, as the Secretary-General points out in his report (S/2010/604), women continue to suffer appallingly in conflicts. Sexual violence is, according to the report, not merely a consequence of conflict but a driver. It perpetuates conflict and locks its victims into a vicious cycle of violence and oppression.
