Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Because of the deliberate attacks targeting schools and hospitals in Syria, which are often turned into centres for detention and torture, and because of the acts of violence committed against children, who are being tortured, raped and killed outright, this year the Syrian army and its auxiliary forces have been put on the list of infamy.”

“Still, we have also witnessed deterioration in other places, such as Syria, where many children are among the victims of egregious crimes and where the tremendous suffering of girls and boys has been going on for much too long.”

“We urgently call on the Security Council and its relevant Sanctions Committees to take tangible steps to systematically impose sanctions and targeted measures to hold perpetrators accountable for committing grave atrocities, such as the killing and rape of girls and boys.”

“Now I will speak in my national capacity…The need for further action is evident when looking at the dire situation of children in Syria, a reality reflected in the annual report. Canada is deeply disturbed by reports of senseless killing, torture, sexual abuse, and the use of children as human shields in this country.”

“First, let me say a few words on behalf of the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict…The Friends firmly believe that the Secretary General must continue to provide an annual report on children and armed conflict to the Council, including the two annexes therein which list those parties that recruit or use children, kill or maim them, commit rape or other forms of sexual violence against them, or engage in attacks on sch

“tragically, sexual abuse of children still occurs in all parts of the world including Afghanistan. The Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, the Martyred and Disabled (MoLSAMD) has been tasked with designing an effective strategy that will coordinate efforts with national and international organizations, including UNICEF, to combat the sexual abuse of children.”

“Children in Afghanistan suffer from the consequences of the terrorism and violence of the Taliban, al Qaeda, and terrorist groups. These groups are responsible for brutal acts against civilians, such as the Taliban attacks targeting girls' schools in 2012 using poisonous gas.”

In spite of legal and constitutional protections for women, violence against women and girls remains pervasive in Afghanistan. Improvements require the enforcement of laws — notably the law on the elimination of violence against women — that criminalize and penalize violence and harmful practices against women and girls.

Furthermore, all parties must respect the achievements of the past decade, in particular Afghanistan's international human rights obligations and core principles enshrined in the Afghan Constitution. Women's rights and the empowerment of women should be critical elements of the peace process, and must remain on the top of our agenda.