As we focus on bringing perpetrators to justice or to face opprobrium, we cannot shirk our duty to ensure proper support to victims. While this is fundamentally the responsibility of States, there are several ways by which the international community can support national efforts in that regard.

Support to national awareness-raising activities and information campaigns that seek to break taboos and misperceptions around the issue are particularly important to preventive efforts. For example, as the Secretary-General's report (S/2010/604) highlights, the myth that rape is an inevitable by-product of war is persistent and dangerously self-fulfilling.

We would also like to commend the delegation of the United States of America for their efforts in drafting resolution 1960 (2010), adopted today. We are convinced that this resolution will contribute towards more effective monitoring, reporting and analysis of data on sexual violence in situations of armed conflict.

We reiterate the need for adequate capabilities and clear and appropriate guidelines to enable peacekeeping missions to carry out their mandated tasks, including preventing and responding to sexual violence. Recruiting women in civil, military and police components of peacekeeping missions can encourage local women to report incidents of sexual violence.

The United Nations and the international community have demonstrated their firm commitment and political will to prevent sexual violence against women, combat impunity and enforce accountability. On the other hand, it is equally crucial that national authorities make every effort to ensure that perpetrators of sexual crimes be brought to justice and not go unpunished.

The examples presented prove how difficult and delicate the issue under discussion today is, and how far post-conflict societies have to go to fully engage and deal with their pasts. However, I wish to ensure you of our firm commitment to do everything to reach justice. We will continue that longstanding struggle and prove that justice must be satisfied for the sake of both the past and the future.

In addition, we must use this opportunity to underscore the responsibilities of States and parties to conflict to observe and uphold their international obligations and respect international humanitarian law, which grants special protection to women and children.

Furthermore, we consider it crucial that the Security Council continue the practice of including, where applicable, designation criteria pertaining to acts of rape and other forms of sexual violence when adopting or renewing targeted sanctions pursuant to resolution 1888 (2009).

Finally, we would like to point out that the international community has taken noteworthy steps, including the adoption of relevant resolutions, to tackle the issue of sexual violence. But, more importantly, the time has come to start converting commitments and promises into real actions on the ground to prevent violence, protect individuals, punish perpetrators and provide redress to victims.

Bosnia and Herzegovina supports the establishment of arrangements for monitoring, analyzing and reporting sexual violence in situations of armed conflict. Such a mechanism is necessary for data collection so that the use of systematic sexual violence in conflict situations on the Council's agenda can be tracked.