Due to the sensitive nature of the crime, rapes are frequently underreported, especially in war. Nonetheless, the rape, torture and mutilation of ethnic Georgian women were by registered by various international and non-governmental organizations, including the independent fact-finding mission headed by Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini.

Despite some achievements and the fact that the issue of women's rights and peace and security has been on the agenda of the Security Council and other relevant United Nations institutions for a decade, we all recognize that serious challenges remain in transforming those positive developments into tangible results.

With regard to strengthening provisions to combat impunity, my delegation believes that it is essential to make that concern part of the system for comprehensive protection against sexual violence in armed conflict. In that regard, we should welcome the progress made in international criminal law in this area.

With regard to improving protection for vulnerable populations, Gabon would like to underscore the importance of ensuring better protection for women and girls in the field. In that regard, we would like to highlight the enormous efforts made by peacekeeping missions, which too often operate in difficult situations and in places that severely challenge their efforts to ensure effective protection for those at risk.

The fight against sexual violence in armed conflicts requires prevention first and foremost. From that angle, the Member States, the United Nations, donors and civil society must resolutely take that approach. Raising awareness regarding the serious danger that sexual violence can create in society should guide their actions.

Sexual violence against women and girls is simultaneously a war crime, a crime against humanity and a grave threat to peace and security. In spite of the enormous efforts made by the international community on the ground to bring it to an end — in implementation of resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) — too many women and girls continue to be victims of rape, sexual slavery and every other sort of sexual violence.

Resolution 1960 (2010), adopted earlier today by the Security Council and which was co-sponsored by my country, takes into account the chief concerns that I have just mentioned and represents accordingly an important step for targeted, strengthened action on the part of the international community with respect to that matter.

My delegation welcomes the holding of this meeting under your presidency Madam, devoted to sexual violence in armed conflict. We also welcome the participation in this debate of His Excellency Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, whom we thank for his introduction of his report (S/2010/604) on the follow-up to the implementation of resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009).

It is equally vital in that exercise that a privileged place be given to women themselves. As we have seen from experience, their perceptions and commitment are undeniable and unparalleled. Not to take that fact into account would mean to deprive ourselves of an advantage in the fight against the discrimination and violence of which women and girls are the chief victims.

In the same vein, we are convinced that the Secretary-General' proposal to annex to his reports on this issue a list of the names of those who carry out sexual violence should serve as a effective instrument for deterrence. However, as we noted during the last debate on the protection of civilians (S/PV.6427), combating impunity is chiefly the responsibility of States.