General Women, Peace and Security

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.

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 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.

The report (S/2014/181) before us clearly indicates that the prevalence of sexual violence during periods of conflicts often leaves lasting legacies, with acute consequences for the security of women and children in the post-conflict era and beyond.

The elimination of conflict-related sexual violence would not be possible without addressing the root causes of gender inequality and changing the mindset of the perpetrators, victims and society at large. Victims should be encouraged to speak out and report violence.

Sexual violence has increasingly become a grave concern and has proliferated in conflict and post-conflict situations. Women and girls are raped, forced into prostitution and sexual slavery, and subjected to various sexual acts that leave them with severe physical, psychological and emotional trauma. Their lives are shattered, their hopes are destroyed and they are left with permanent stigma.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that Namibia condemns all forms of violence against women in armed conflict and calls for the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions. We also urge the parties to conflicts to abide by international legal instruments to protect women and other disadvantaged groups.

Capacity-building and technical support from the international community are relevant in helping national Governments deal with sexual violence matters. Governments lack adequate national capacities to investigate sexual violence cases and prosecute sexual violence offenders, and that, regrettably, impedes on accountability.