Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

We agree with the Secretary-General's statement that States are primarily responsible for holding individuals to account for sexual and gender-based violence. However, when national jurisdictions are unwilling or unable to fulfil their responsibilities in that regard, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in particular has a complementary role to play.

Kyrgyzstan welcomes the report of the Secretary- General (S/2012/732), which contains a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the progress achieved over the past year. My delegation also welcomes his report on sexual violence in conflict (S/2013/149) and supports the recommendations contained therein.

Kyrgyzstan welcomes the efforts of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in preventing violence against women in armed conflict. In that respect, important measures aim to strengthen the operational capacity of the United Nations, including through the United Nations International Network of Female Police Peacekeepers, established for those taking part in peacekeeping operations.

Kyrgyzstan believes it is necessary to take additional measures to effectively address impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict and to ensure the equal participation of women in mediation, humanitarian assistance and post-conflict recovery processes.

Kyrgyzstan appreciates the efforts of UN-Women to ensure gender mainstreaming within the United Nations system. We underline the importance of the outcome of the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women, held in March, which considered in detail the problems of preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women.

In the current difficult circumstances, my delegation continues to call on UN-Women to strengthen cooperation with other agencies in providing support to Member States in the preparation and implementation of national plans to implement Security Council resolutions on preventing violence against women and enhancing their role in ensuring peace and security.

The Council is taking a positive step by expanding its work at the level of Sanctions Committees by considering sexual violence and rape as designation criteria in various sanctions regimes, as a tool to enhance accountability. It is therefore obligatory on such committees to reinforce those criteria.

Promoting the rights of women is at the core of my country's human rights policy. Kazakhstan, as a member of the Executive Board of UN-Women, has repeatedly voiced the need to accelerate the implementation of global gender commitments.

It is noteworthy that provisions for protection against gender-based violence and violence against women and children were incorporated into article 7, paragraph 4, of the Arms Trade Treaty, which regulates the transfer of major types of weapons and which the General Assembly adopted earlier this month.

I would like to highlight some key proposals and strategies to minimize the prevalence of sexual violence in conflict. Sexual violence is a global phenomenon in times of peace and war and in post-conflict phases. It also affects my region and demands our urgent attention