Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Conflict-related sexual violence is an issue that, in recent years, has continued to rise on the international agenda.

As we know, sexual violence in conflict is vicious and pitiless, and there is no sign of it abating. Rather, the roll call of shame continues to grow ever longer. Insofar as today's debate strengthens our resolve and brings us closer to achieving a real and life-changing impact on the ground, it will indeed be worthwhile.

Indonesia commends the adoption of the agreed conclusions of the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), last month, as a manifestation of the intergovernmental efforts that have been made by countries under the United Nations framework. The agreement reached on the agreed conclusions is a step forward in strengthening countries' commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.

With its multifold economic, social and cultural consequences, sexual violence in conflict hampers not only women and men victims, but also their families and communities. Therefore, Indonesia supports the six-point priority agenda established by the former and current Special Representatives of the Secretary- General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Those gaps have yet to be bridged by States as the bearers of the primary responsibility in addressing the issue of violence against women and its impact, in order to translate commitments into practical approaches and actions on the ground, to fashion more compassionate responses for victims, to pursue more aggressive prosecutions of perpetrators and to create more secure communities and environments.

The CSW conclusions send a clear and strong message: violence against women and girls committed in armed conflict and post-conflict situations is strongly condemned; sexual and gender-based violence, which affects victims, families, communities and societies, is recognized; and effective accountability and redress measures, as well remedies, are required.

Indonesia wishes to highlight some of the main challenges in our efforts to eliminate and further prevent violence against women, including sexual violence: first, insufficient gender-sensitive policies; secondly, inadequate implementation of legal and policy frameworks; thirdly, inadequate data collection, analysis and research; fourthly, the lack of financial and human resources and insufficient allocation of such resources; and, fifthly, th

Indonesia notes with deep concern the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war and one that worsens its consequences, as highlighted in the Secretary- General's report. Against that backdrop, Indonesia condemns all forms of violence against women and girls in armed conflicts, particularly sexual violence, which, as the report states, predominantly affects women and girls but can also affect men and boys.

Indonesia commends the adoption of the agreed conclusions of the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), last month, as a manifestation of the intergovernmental efforts that have been made by countries under the United Nations framework. The agreement reached on the agreed conclusions is a step forward in strengthening countries' commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.

At the national level, Indonesia's national action plan on human rights serves as a strong platform for our commitment to eliminate and prevent violence against women. The process of drafting a presidential decree is ongoing, as a legal basis to formulate a national action plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).