Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

We recognize that the mandate of combating sexual violence in situations of conflict is a very complex one. When these crimes are perpetrated in a massive and systematic way against women and girls by armed groups, they have the aim, among other aspects, to punish, humiliate and destroy the fabric of society. Moreover, very often this widespread violence includes discriminatory attitudes, sheltered by a culture of impunity.

This Council has recognized the threat of conflict-related sexual violence to peace and security. Resolutions 1820, 1888 and 1960 have been historic responses to a heinous reality. However, the disturbing situation on the ground, reflected in the recent report of the Secretary General and in today's briefings, underlines the strong imperative to “keep up the fight”.

Thirdly, we need greater resolve on ensuring the participation of women in all stages of peace processes. To take an example: the issue of sexual violence has not yet figured in most ceasefire or peace agreements. To start closing this gap an interesting new tool has been developed by DPA: New mediation guidelines, which take into account the issue of sexual violence.

The issue on our agenda today is one of the most abhorrent, yet still all too often concealed and under-reported crimes. In a number of armed conflicts sexual violence is used as a “weapon of war”, thus not only destroying its victims but traumatizing societies at large.

Secondly, we must accelerate our fight against impunity. Perpetrators have to be brought to justice. Bearing in mind the main responsibility of States to investigate and prosecute, the Security Council also has a role to play.

Fourthly, reparation schemes and funding frameworks should be guided by a survivor-focused approach. Both, physical and mental scars have to be treated in order to allow survivors to once again actively participate in their societies.

The effective implementation of Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security is a priority for France, which worked actively for their adoption. It also worked to strengthen attention to this issue within the European Union. At the national level, at the end of 2010 France adopted an action plan for the implementation of the resolutions on women, peace and security.

We also welcome the establishment of a list of parties, annexed to the report of the Special Representative, pursuant to resolution 1960 (2010). This list should make it possible to improve communication of information on troubling situations. It is indeed a decisive step forward in combating impunity for the perpetrators of sexual violence, another imperative in our combat against this scourge.

Sexual violence remains intolerably high. In many conflicts today, sexual violence is a weapon used to crush individuals and communities. Therefore, these acts of violence are a destabilizing factor and a threat to peace and security with, as Ms. Wallström emphasized, lasting consequences. By way of example, hundreds of Somali women refugees have been raped, sometimes in front of their husbands.

Sexual violence does not occur only when there is an armed conflict, as the Special Representative pointed out in her report. Situations in which there is political instability, including a climate of violence before and after elections, are particularly favourable for the commission of those crimes. Thus in Syria, the Syrian armed forces and security forces have resorted to sexual torture of prisoners, including children and adolescents.