Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

"For our personnel, pre-deployment HIV training is standard.We have trained over 1,500 peacekeepers as peer counsellors. The number of blue helmets seeking voluntary counselling and testing increased from fewer than 2,000 to more than 14,000 in just five years. But we are not just helping our peacekeepers – they work so people recovering from war do not also have to recover from disease.

"We must be aware that women and children continue to be one of the most vulnerable categories in the context of HIV, particularly in conflict and post- conflict situations. They are frequently either combatants or victims of sexual exploitation by parties to conflict. The epidemic also negatively affects the potential of women to participate in conflict prevention and settlement.

"Unfortunately, Mr. President, we are still confronted today with an increasing number of cases of sexual violence in the context of conflict, at a time when conflicts are themselves growing in number and intensity. When combined with HIV/AIDS, these situations become particularly explosive ones."

"Likewise, the adoption of the comprehensive strategy to eliminate sexual abuse in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations is a major step in the right direction. The zero tolerance policy in these missions stands also as a key factor in this area, while a comprehensive policy to prevent sexual abuse should extend to all fields of the United Nations' work.

"Indeed, when these two elements are brought together, they have the potential to generate devastating consequences for whole regions and states, striking the most vital elements of society, namely their youth, including in particular women and children, specially when rape is used as a weapon of war and intimidation."

"Do not doubt, Mr. President, that an effective response to HIV and AIDS through the prevention of sexual violence in conflict and post conflict situations, will greatly contribute to increase the capacity of UN missions in their tasks of protecting civilians and furthering human rights."

"As we know, there is a high prevalence of HIV among women who have been victims of sexual violence and we cannot disregard this fact and its lasting consequences when we address peacebuilding strategies in post-conflict societies."

"We note with concern the consequences of gender-based violence related to HIV and AIDS, especially in conflict situations, as expounded by the Secretary-General and Mr. Sidibé. Nigeria joins the international community in ensuring that women and girls in conflict situations are adequately protected.

" A better understanding of that relationship is crucial for the development of effective and efficient strategies to reduce the risk of infection in conflict and post-conflict settings. Many factors in those settings may increase a population's vulnerability to HIV.

In this context I would like to refer to the abhorrent and intolerable practice of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict, which could lead to the spread of HIV and AIDS.