Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Reiterating its concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, in particular the ongoing violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in the production, trafficking or trade of illicit drugs, and the strong links between terrorism activities and illicit drugs, resulting in threats to the local population, including women, children, national security forces and international military and civilian personnel,

Stressing the importance of a comprehensive and inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process in Afghanistan to support reconciliation for all those who are prepared to reconcile as laid forth in the 20 July 2010 Kabul Conference Communiqué on dialogue for all those who renounce violence, have no links to international terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaida, respect the constitution, including its human rights provisions, notably the rights of women, and are willing to join in building a peaceful Afghanistan, and further elaborated in the 5 December 2011 Bonn Conference Conclusions supported by the Government of Afghanistan and the international community, with full respect for the implementation of measures and application of the procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1988 (2011) and 2082 (2012), and in this context, welcoming recent momentum in the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of peace and reconciliation, welcoming also the activities of the High Peace Council and all efforts aimed at advancing a comprehensive political process, welcoming also the decision taken by some members of the Taliban to reconcile with the Government of Afghanistan, to reject the terrorist ideology of Al-Qaida and its followers, and to support a peaceful resolution to the continuing conflict in Afghanistan, underlines the importance of a comprehensive political process in Afghanistan to support peace and reconciliation among all Afghans,

6. Requests the Panel of Experts to continue to coordinate its activities as appropriate with the operations of the United Nations/African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and with international efforts to promote the political process in Darfur, and to assess in its interim and final reports progress towards reducing violations by all parties of the measures imposed by paragraphs 7 and 8 of resolution 1556 (2005), paragraph 7 of resolution 1591 (2005), and paragraph 10 of resolution 1945 (2010), progress towards removing impediments to the political process, threats to stability in Darfur and the region, violations of international humanitarian or human rights law or other atrocities, including sexual and gender-based violence and grave violations and abuses against children, and other violations of the above-mentioned resolutions, and to provide the Committee with information on the individuals and entities that meet the listing criteria in paragraph 3 (c) of resolution 1591;

Emphasizing the imperative, highlighted in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, for all armed actors to refrain from all acts of violence against civilians, in particular vulnerable groups such as women and children, and from violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and the need to address the urgent humanitarian crisis faced by the people of Darfur, including the guarantee of safe, timely and unrestricted humanitarian access to all areas by humanitarian agencies and personnel,

3. Calls upon the Libyan government to promote and protect human rights, including those of women, children and people belonging to vulnerable groups, to comply with their obligations under international law, including human rights law, and calls for those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, including sexual violence and violations and abuses against children, to be held accountable in accordance with international standards, and urges all Member States to cooperate closely with the Libyan government in their efforts to end impunity for such violations;

Expressing deep concern about reports of sexual violence during the conflict in Libya against women, men and children including in prison facilities and detention centres, and the recruitment and use of children in situations of armed conflict in violation of applicable international law,

(e) As being responsible for violations of applicable international law in Somalia involving the targeting of civilians including children and women in situations of armed conflict, including killing and maiming, sexual and gender-based violence, attacks on schools and hospitals and abduction and forced displacement;

28. Expresses concern at the security situation in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and settlements, condemns all human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence, committed against IDPs by all parties, including armed groups and militias, and calls for the strengthening of protection of IDP camps;

27. Welcomes the commitment made by the President of Somalia to hold the Somali National Security Forces accountable for allegations of sexual violence, urges the Federal Government of Somalia, in cooperation with the United Nations, to initiate its Task Force on Sexual Violence, and to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to sexual violence, and stresses the need for the Federal Government of Somalia to take all appropriate measures to bring to justice any perpetrator of such acts;

26. Condemns all attacks against civilians in Somalia, calls for the immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including sexual and gender based violence, or abuses committed against civilians, including women and children, and humanitarian personnel in violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law, stresses the responsibility of all parties in Somalia to comply with their obligations to protect the civilian population from the effects of hostilities, in particular by avoiding any indiscriminate attacks or excessive use of force, and underscores the need to end impunity, uphold human rights and hold those who commit crimes accountable;