Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

At the same time, the lack of adequate national capacity and expertise to prevent, investigate and prosecute violence remain among the main impediments in combating sexual violence and ensuring accountability. We are encouraged by the United Nations efforts to assist the strengthening of national capacities.

Another concrete and laudable example is the joint UN-Women/Justice Rapid Response training, roster management, and deployment mechanism established upon a request of the Secretary-General to ensure that each commission of inquiry is provided with expertise on investigations of sexual and gender-based violence.

The International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic should provide all relevant information to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) in order to list the perpetrators and send a strong signal that all offenders will be held accountable.

The inclusion of provisions on sexual violence in the Arms Trade Treaty is just one of the recent encouraging examples of action in that regard.

The recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2014/181) once again illustrates the alarming increase in sexual violence, which is often used as a method of warfare. With the adoption of resolution 2106 (2013), the Council has provided us with important tools to end that abominable practice. Nevertheless, we continue to face a major gap in the actual implementation of those measures.

Nevertheless, justice for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence continues to be the exception to the rule, and holding perpetrators accountable has proven to be exceedingly difficult. Generally speaking, it is crucial that evidence be professionally collected at the earliest possible stage. That process may be assisted, inter alia, by the Justice Rapid Response initiative.

A major barrier to the effective protection of women from sexual violence is the continuing culture of impunity. We welcome the focus of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the fight against sexual violence in her work. Crimes of sexual violence play a role in nearly every case under investigation.

The Secretary-General's report (S/2014/181) makes for grim reading, and very clearly there is much we, the Member States concerned, need to do.

We must do better on matters relating to paternity. In situ courts martial for military offenders must be the rule, and not the exception, for sexual offenses.

Turning to the Secretary-General's recommendations, I join others in stating that it is pointless discussing accountability for sexual crimes perpetrated against women, girls and boys unless we do two things.