Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

In recognition of the critical need to investigate sexual-violence atrocities committed in conflict situations, one of the objectives of the AU Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan is to document atrocities of sexual violence with a view to ensuring the accountability of those responsible and fighting impunity.

Conflict-related violence continues to claim lives and lead to serious and irreparable consequences for its survivors, their communities and their families, including children born of rape. That is clearly reflected in the alarming information in the latest report submitted by the Secretary-General (S/2014/181).

Concerning access to justice and accountability, crimes of sexual violence must be prosecuted and punished under national and international law. In that regard, we emphasize the significant advances made in international law by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the non-permanent international criminal tribunals relating to combating sexual violence in conflict, as well as national efforts to implement the Statute.

To reverse the near complete impunity that perpetrators of sexual violence currently enjoy, it is important that States build the capacity to ensure accountability

It is of utmost importance that peacekeepers continue to be trained to enhance their capacity to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence, that women protection advisers be deployed within peacekeeping and special political missions, and that ceasefire or peace agreements explicitly reflect sexual violence considerations Latvia and Estonia commend United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict and the efforts of the U

Indeed, the Security Council, through its five resolutions, has developed a robust framework to prevent and address sexual violence in armed conflict.

In order to enhance accountability, the Council could adopt targeted measures against those responsible for conflict-related sexual violence and include individuals sought by the ICC on the sanctions lists.

However, gender crimes remain an enduring part of most armed conflicts and rape continues to be used as a weapon of war.

Estonia and Latvia believe that accountability for sexual violence crimes is crucial for deterring and ultimately preventing their commission, and for doing justice by victims

Among other things, we have been informed about an increase in reported incidents of sexual violence in Afghanistan, and there are clear indications that conflict-related sexual violence has been a main feature of attacks in the Central African Republic and a consistent characteristic of the crisis in South Sudan.