General Women, Peace and Security

Today's discussion is about our collective responsibility to give voice to the voiceless. An increasing number of conflicts around the world are made even more horrific by the use of sexual violence. These are often the most disturbing and the most hidden elements of conflict. Yet, the number of victims is staggering, and it continues to grow every day. Each one of these people has a name and has a family.

The Secretary-General's report (S/2012/33) offers clear guidance on important steps that the international community must take. For instance, operationally, those listed in the annex of these reports should face additional measures from the Security Council sanctions committees. Israel also strongly supports the recommendation to include provisions for conflictrelated sexual violence in ceasefire and peace agreements.

Major General Patrick Cammaert, the former Commander of United Nations peacekeeping forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo said:

The report before us is testament to the need for a dedicated Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, with the strong mandate which the Special Representative holds. These are crimes surrounded by taboos and silence, consistently underreported and, even when they are reported, unlikely to be followed up. If there is to be any chance of penetrating the darkness, we need a strong and unwavering searchlight.

Women must be free to live their lives without having to face the threat of violence, sexual or otherwise. We note with deep concern the fact that while the Security Council resolutions related to women and peace and security have served to highlight the problem and force action aimed at its elimination, the violations persist. We have every reason to speedily implement resolution 1960 (2010).

We are informed by the Secretary-General's report that over the past year, there have been several new and ongoing armed conflicts in which sexual violence has been widespread, with civilian populations being systematically targeted. What is even more disturbing is the fact that most perpetrators remain at large. Indonesia finds this unfortunate situation unacceptable.

At the international level, the emergence of a universal working definition to facilitate data collection should advocate timely, reliable and verified information and proper analysis of data on the

It is also important that the role of women not be minimized in any way at this level. Their inputs are integral to enhancing civilian capacity, especially in the most affected developing countries. Indonesia believes that dialogue, partnership and cooperation within the framework of the global South are of critical importance to the peacebuilding capacities of developing countries.

Fourthly, reparation schemes and funding frameworks should be guided by a survivor-focused approach. Both, physical and mental scars have to be treated in order to allow survivors to once again actively participate in their societies.

The effective implementation of Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security is a priority for France, which worked actively for their adoption. It also worked to strengthen attention to this issue within the European Union. At the national level, at the end of 2010 France adopted an action plan for the implementation of the resolutions on women, peace and security.