Nigeria fully embraces the adoption of political commitments to prevent sexual violence in conflict, namely, the historic declarations adopted by the Group of Eight countries in April 2013 and the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, which has been signed by more than 140 nations. We believe that Member States should implement those commitments as a matter of high priority.

At the subregional level in West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has also put in place strong mechanisms with regard to the role of women in conflict prevention and management. Those include the protocol on conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security and the supplementary protocol on democracy and good governance.

At the global level there is now unprecedented commitment and momentum on the application of all the relevant Security Council resolutions. The international community must sustain that momentum. As part of those accomplishments, we believe that a great deal more needs to be done to implement commitments on women and peace and security.

Women's protection advisers play a critical role in prevention and response, and New Zealand calls for more advisers to be deployed to the relevant missions. Consideration should also be given to ensuring adequate deployment of child protection advisers, reflecting the fact that young people are often victims.

We strongly encourage the ongoing training of United Nations peacekeepers to protect populations from sexual violence. Peacekeepers can provide a strong line of prevention and response, both in terms of recognizing early warning signs and reporting them, as well as addressing appropriately instances where sexual violence has occurred.

We have seen some significant steps forward since the Council last convened an open debate to consider this issue in 2013 (see S/PV.7044), including the adoption of resolution 2106 (2013). Over the past year, we have also welcomed specific commitments made by a number of countries to combat sexual violence in armed conflict.

The Security Council must ensure that there is an ongoing systematic focus on prevention, including in all the relevant country-specific resolutions, in peacekeeping mandate authorizations and renewals, and in special political missions. Ensuring strong monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements will help to identify situations of risk early so that they can be addressed.

The Secretary-General's report (S/2014/181) on conflict-related sexual violence is sobering; it illustrates the scale and severity of the challenges that remain. It is clear that political commitments need to translate into concrete actions on the ground.

New Zealand is one of the 144 countries that endorsed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, an initiative of the United Kingdom. The Declaration demonstrated that the political will exists to tackle conflict-related sexual violence.

In the face of those challenges, what can be done? First and foremost, national Governments themselves must show leadership. As an international community, we must support efforts by national Governments and by other actors, including civil society. The Security Council must also continue to focus on the issue.