Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

26. Requests MINUSTAH to continue to pursue its community violence reduction approach, in close collaboration with the Haitian Government, with a particular focus on at-risk youth, women, the displaced and those living in violenceaffected neighbourhoods and to ensure that this activity is coordinated with, and supports the work of, the United Nations country team to build local capacity in this area by taking into account Haitian priorities;

25. Strongly condemns the grave violations against children affected particularly by criminal gang violence, as well as widespread rape and other sexual abuse of women and girls, and calls upon the Government of Haiti, with the support of MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team, to continue to promote and protect the rights of women and children as set out in Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1612 (2005), 1820 (2008), 1882 (2009), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 2106 (2013) and 2122 (2013), and encourages all actors in the Haitian Government, the international community and civil society to renew their efforts to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence in Haiti; as well as to improve response to rape complaints and access to justice for the victims of rape and other sexual crimes; encourages national authorities to promote national legislation in this regard;

32. Further calls upon the Government of South Sudan, while taking note of paragraph 3.2.2 of Chapter V of the Agreement, to hold to account all those responsible for violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and to ensure that all victims of sexual violence have equal protection under the law and equal access to justice, and to safeguard equal respect for the rights of women and girls in these processes; 

8. Expresses its continued concern that women and girls in Liberia continue to face a high incidence of sexual and gender-based violence, reiterates its call on the Government of Liberia to continue to combat sexual violence, particularly against children, and gender-based violence and to combat impunity for perpetrators of such crimes and to provide redress, support and protection to victims, including through public information campaigns and by continuing to strengthen national police capacity in this area and to raise awareness of existing national legislation on sexual violence and encourages the Government to reinforce its commitment in this regard, including by funding the implementation of its national action plan on sexual and gender-based violence and improving women and girls’ access to justice;

Expressing grave concern at the current security situation in Iraq as a result of a large-scale offensive carried out by terrorist groups, in particular the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), (also known as Da’esh) and associated armed groups, involving violations of international humanitarian law, heavy civilian casualties, including women and children, the displacement of more than three million Iraqi civilians, use of sexual violence against and the sexual enslavement of women and girls, threats against all religious and ethnic groups, and the threat to the safety of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel; condemning the attacks perpetrated by these terrorist groups and associated armed groups against the people of Iraq in an attempt to destabilize the country and region, and reiterating its commitment to Iraq’s security and territorial integrity,

Encouraging the Government of Iraq to continue strengthening governance, promoting human rights and the rule of law, improving the situation of women and girls, especially those impacted by ISIL, improving security and public order, combating terrorism and sectarian violence, and reiterating its support to the people and the Government of Iraq in their efforts to build a secure, stable, federal, united and democratic nation, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights,

Further expressing grave concern that the violent extremism and terrorism perpetrated by ISIL in Iraq has frequently targeted women and girls, and that ISIL has committed serious human rights abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law against women and children, including those involving murder, kidnapping, hostage taking, enslavement, their sale into or otherwise forced marriage, human trafficking, rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence, and expressing grave concern at the recruitment and use of children by ISIL and other armed groups in violation of international law,

Encouraging the Government of Iraq to continue in its efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and reaffirming its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013), and 2122 (2013) on women, peace, and security and reiterating the need for the full, equal, and effective participation of women; reaffirming the key role women can play in re -establishing the fabric of society and stressing the need for their full political participation, including in peace processes, political decision making, and the development of national strategies, in order to take into account their perspectives, and looking forward to the full implementation, including funding, of Iraq’s National Action Plan on Security Council resolution 1325 (2000),

Reaffirming that all parties should continue to take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians, including children, women and members of religious and ethnic minority groups, and should create conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons or local integration of internally displaced persons, particularly in areas newly-liberated from ISIL, and to promote stabilization activities and long-term sustainable development, welcoming commitments and encouraging continued efforts of the Government of Iraq for the relief of internally displaced persons, refugees and returnees, noting the important role of the Office of the United Na tions High Commissioner for Refugees, based on its mandate, in providing continued advice and support to the Government of Iraq, in coordination with UNAMI, on these issues, and encouraging the Government of Iraq to continue working with UNAMI and humanitarian agencies to ensure the delivery of humanitarian relief to those in need,

32. Underlines the importance of respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, especially women and children, by all armed groups in Somalia;

Reaffirming its previous resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006), 1894 (2009) 2175 (2014) and 2222 (2015) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict; 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), 2068 (2012), 2143 (2014) and 2223 (2015) on children and armed conflict; 1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel; and 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013) and 2122 (2013) on women peace and security, 

Stressing the need for effective human rights monitoring, including of any sexual and gender-based violence and violations and abuses committed against women and children, taking note that there have been no developments with regard to the operationalization of human rights monitoring in the Abyei Area, and reiterating its concern at the lack of cooperation by the parties with the Secretary-General to this end,

Recalling that its resolution 2086 (2013) reiterates the importance, when establishing and renewing the mandates of United Nations Missions, of including provisions on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in post-conflict situations and on children and armed conflict, and emphasizing that persistent barriers to full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) will only be dismantled through dedicated commitment to women’s empowerment, participation, and human rights, and through concerted leadership, consistent information and action, and support, to build women’s engagement in all levels of decision-making.