Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Belgium would like to underscore, as the Secretary-General did, that the end of a conflict does not mean an end of sexual violence. Post-conflict situations create high-risk environments

Belgium would also like to underscore the importance of ensuring access to effective justice for victims of sexual violence

Belgium is particularly concerned about sexual violence committed by members of the police, the army and some armed groups, in particular in Afghanistan and in Côte d'Ivoire. The climate of impunity, characterized by a lack of disciplinary procedures, sanctions and criminal prosecution, significantly contributes to creating a high-risk environment for women and girls.

We also call upon the members of the Security Council to use all means at their disposal to address sexual violence in armed conflicts, including by making referrals to the International Criminal Court and other relevant actions.

However, our group is concerned about elements in the report indicating the systematic and widespread use of sexual violence as a tool of intimidation and social control. In addition, the report highlights the continued use of sexual violence as a means of displacing populations, as well as the pregnancies resulting from sexual violence and the plight of children born of rape, which requires much more attention

Furthermore, parties to conflict have to provide remedy and assistance to victims and survivors of sexual violence, including health-care services

Conflict-related sexual violence is pervasive, although, as the report clearly states, it is almost universally underreported due to factors such as stigma, reprisals and the targeting of survivors and those who support them, including humanitarian workers, human rights defenders and journalists

Ceasefire and peace agreements should contain provisions that stipulate conflict-related sexual violence as a prohibited act in the definition of a ceasefire, and amnesty provisions must not be applicable to crimes of sexual violence.

Where national jurisdictions are unable or unwilling to prosecute perpetrators, the Council should consider referrals to the International Criminal Court. Targeted Council sanctions have a clear role to play — to expose and circumscribe the perpetrators and create a powerful deterrent to others. The current events in South Sudan encapsulate the challenges we face in that regard.

To conclude, the Security Council's debate on sexual violence may only take place once a year, but our work to end that barbaric practice — that crime — must be a daily commitment and attract our serious attention across the whole of our agenda. The Council must take every opportunity available and use every tool it has to end that abhorrent crime and provide survivors the justice and services they need to rebuild their lives.