General Women, Peace and Security

in addressing questions related to women, peace and security, including sexual violence, there should be a division of labour among the relevant United Nations organs, which should collaborate with each other. In accordance with its Charter mandate, the Security Council should concern itself with situations that constitute a threat to international peace and security.

Governments bear the main responsibility for protecting women and combating sexual violence, as well as for implementing resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1960 (2010) and the relevant presidential statements.

Making real progress in our efforts against sexual violence in armed conflict requires greater emphasis on prevention and capacity-building. The only way to ensure that the progress achieved during the presence of a peacekeeping mission is sustainable is by working with national Governments to address their needs in the areas of institution-building, the training of personnel, supporting victims and strengthening the rule of law.

We welcome the progress made on the development of the monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements. For those arrangements to be effective, it is essential that they have the support of the broader United Nations membership and not only of the Security Council. To that end, Brazil encourages Ms.

Today's deliberations reaffirm the great importance that we individually and collectively attach to the need to address sexual violence in the context of armed conflict, as well as its impact on women and children. Our deliberations also provide an opportunity for us to take stock of what has been achieved and to identify gaps and challenges that still remain in addressing this scourge.

However, we remain deeply concerned about the persistence and rising levels of sexual violence that still persist in some countries. Women and girls continue to be targeted, while rape and violence, including sexual violence, continue to be used as weapons of war.

In the landmark resolution 1325 (2000), the Security Council recognized the important role of women in maintaining peace and security. It also highlighted specific needs and concerns of women during and in the aftermath of armed conflicts. We feel proud that Bangladesh, as a member of the Council at the time of the resolution's adoption and one of its main sponsors, was closely associated with the adoption of that historic document.

Finally, let me emphasis that we have a solemn responsibility to protect women and girls against all forms of violence and to ensure their rightful place in line with the letter and spirit of resolution 1325 (2000). On its part, my country stands ready to make its humble contribution to global efforts in promoting the status and role of women both nationally and internationally.

The adoption by the Security Council of the landmark resolution 1325 (2001) was an important milestone that took up the issue of women and peace and security as a separate thematic issue and brought international visibility to the plight of women and girls in situations of armed conflict.

In the two and a half years since the Council committed to taking more effective action to prevent and address sexual violence in conflict, we have witnessed a significant number of United Nations actions designed to turn rhetoric into action. The work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict has been integral to this effort.