Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) theme focuses on the incidence and prevalence of violence against women in conflict and post-conflict settings. Polarisation of gender roles, proliferation of weapons, militarisation, and the breakdown of law influence SGBV.

The risk of SGBV is heightened during conflict by aggravating factors, including the polarization of gender roles, the proliferation of arms, the militarization of society, and the breakdown of law and order. The subsequent long-term and complex impacts of SGBV continue to affect individuals and communities after conflict ends.

SGBV is addressed in all five resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. In SCR 1888, the Security Council expresses its intention to ensure peacekeeping mandate resolutions contain provisions on the prevention of, and response to, sexual violence, with corresponding reporting requirements to the Council (OP11). The resolutions deal with protecting women from violence (1820,OP3, 8-10; 1888,OP3,12); strengthening local and national institutions to assist victims of sexual violence (1820,OP13; 1888,OP13); and including strategies to address sexual violence in post-conflict peacebuilding processes (1820,OP11). SCR 1820 also calls for the participation of women in the development of mechanisms intended to protect women from violence (OP10).

Lastly, SCR 1960 creates institutional tools and teeth to combat impunity and outlines specific steps needed for both the prevention of and protection from conflict-related sexual violence. The new “naming and shaming,” listing mechanism mandated in the Resolution is a step forward in bringing justice for victims and a recognition that sexual violence is a serious violation of human rights and international law.

Addressing SGBV is an integral aspect of the overall Women, Peace and Security agenda. SGBV affects the health and safety of women, and also has significant impact on economic and social stability. The Security Council recognises that sexual violence can threaten international peace and security, and that it is frequently used as a tactic of war to dominate, humiliate, terrorise, and displace.

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8. Calls upon MONUSCO and the UN Country Team to collect information on and i...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Democratic Republic of the Congo
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Protection
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Extract: 

8. Calls upon MONUSCO and the UN Country Team to collect information on and identify potential threats against the civilian population, as well as reliable information on violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, bring them to the attention of the Congolese authorities as appropriate, and to take appropriate action in accordance with the United Nations system wide protection strategy in harmonization with MONUSCO's protection strategy, and further requests MONUSCO, consistent with its mandate and within its current capabilities, to provide assistance and advice to the Congolese authorities with security preparations in relation to elections;

1. Decides to extend until 30 June 2012 the mandate of MONUSCO as set out in ...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Democratic Republic of the Congo
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Peacekeeping
Protection
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Extract: 

1. Decides to extend until 30 June 2012 the mandate of MONUSCO as set out in the Resolution 1925 paragraphs 2, 11 and 12 (a) to (p) and (r) to (t), reaffirms that the protection of civilians must be given priority in decisions about the use of available capacity and resources and encourages further the use of innovative measures implemented by MONUSCO in the protection of civilians;

Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) ...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Democratic Republic of the Congo
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
General Women, Peace and Security
Participation
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Extract: 

Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) on women, peace and security, its resolution 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and its resolution 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict, and recalling the conclusions of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict pertaining to parties in the armed conflict of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially in relation to the adoption of actions plans to put an end to the recruitment and use of children,

Remaining greatly concerned by the humanitarian situation and the persistent ...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Democratic Republic of the Congo
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform
Extract: 

Remaining greatly concerned by the humanitarian situation and the persistent high levels of violence and human rights abuses and violations against civilians, condemning in particular the targeted attacks against civilians, widespread sexual and gender-based violence, recruitment and use of children by parties to the conflict, forced displacement and extrajudicial executions, reiterating the urgent need for the swift prosecution of all perpetrators of human rights abuses and international humanitarian law violations, urging the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in cooperation with the United Nations and other relevant actors, to implement the appropriate responses to address these challenges, including in Walikale, and to provide security, medical, legal, humanitarian and other assistance to victims,

4. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by the United Nations Disengagement ...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Golan Heights
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Peacekeeping
Implementation
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Extract: 

4. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force to implement the Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct, requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary action in this regard and to keep the Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take preventive and disciplinary action to ensure that such acts are properly investigated and punished in cases involving their personnel;

5. Reiterates its firm condemnation of all violence committed against civilia...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Cote d’Ivoire
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Extract: 

5. Reiterates its firm condemnation of all violence committed against civilians, including women, children, internally displaced persons and foreign nationals, and other violations and abuses of human rights, in particular enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, killing and maiming of children and rapes and other forms of sexual violence;

1. Urges all the Ivorian parties and other stakeholders to respect the will o...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Cote d’Ivoire
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Extract: 

1. Urges all the Ivorian parties and other stakeholders to respect the will of the people and the election of Alassane Dramane Ouattara as President of Côte d'Ivoire, as recognized by ECOWAS, the African Union and the rest of the international community, expresses its concern at the recent escalation of violence and demands an immediate end to the violence against civilians, including women, children and Internally displaced persons;,

22. Condemns all attacks against civilians in Somalia, calls for the immediat...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Somalia
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Protection
Extract: 

22. Condemns all attacks against civilians in Somalia, calls for the immediate cessation of all attacks 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 and 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 discriminatory attacks or excessive use of force;

25. Expresses serious concern about increasing reports of conflict-related se...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Somalia
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Extract: 

25. Expresses serious concern about increasing reports of conflict-related sexual violence in Somalia, calls on all parties to cease such violations and abuses, and request the Secretary-General to implement the relevant provisions of Resolution 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), and 1960 (2010), including the strenghtening of women's protection component of UNPOS;

Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006) and 1738 (200...

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Afghanistan
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
General Women, Peace and Security
Participation
Human Rights
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Extract: 

Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006) and 1738 (2006) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, its resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) on women and peace and security,

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