Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

The Council and individual Member States have an important role to play in those matters. My delegation welcomes the recent declaration by the Group of Eight, including the provisions on improved investigation and documentation of sexual violence in conflict.

Speaking elsewhere earlier this year, Ms. Bangura insisted that sexual violence as a tactic of war was as effective as any bomb and as destructive as any mine, and that it needed to be addressed with the same determination as any other deadly weapon used in war. Indeed, we cannot stem conflict-related sexual aggression unless we are determined to prevent, protect and prosecute.

On a broader scale, however, we as the international community should be using all means and opportunities available for stemming sexual violence as a tool of war.

My delegation would welcome enhanced interaction between the Special Representative of the Secretary- General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the relevant Security Council Sanctions Committees and expert groups, as well as between the Special Representative and the Council as a whole.

Lithuania supports the full implementation of the provisions of resolution 1960 (2010) on rape and other forms of sexual violence as designation criteria when adopting or renewing targeted sanctions in situations of armed conflict. We expect such criteria to be consistently applied in sanctioning entities and individuals identified in the Secretary-General's reports and those named by the Special Representative.

As horrendous assault on individual bodies and human dignity, sexual violence in conflict goes far beyond common banditry and has been repeatedly used in the imposition of wider political agendas, the destruction of opponents, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement and clearing of access to resources and territory.

We welcome the second report of the Secretary-General entitled “Sexual violence in conflict” (S/2013/149), which updates us on the widespread use of sexual violence as a method of warfare in various situations. Let me also commend the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms.

There is a clear and obvious link between the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and gender-based violence in conflict and post-conflict situations. There is ample evidence that small arms facilitate a vast spectrum of human rights violations, including rape and other forms of sexual violence.

My delegation aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of Canada, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, in particular with its call for increased accountability for acts of conflict-related sexual violence, which is best done by enhancing support for the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in establishing the monitoring, analysis and reporting arra

Delivering justice for victims of sexual violence also includes reparative justice. Liechtenstein is a proud donor to the ICC's Trust Fund for Victims, which adopts a gender perspective in all its activities and conducts programmes specifically aimed at assisting victims of sexual and gender-based violence.