Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

The Netherlands is committed to strengthening the protection against and the prevention of conflict related sexual violations and violence. We provide financial support to scenario-based training on sexual violence for United Nations peacekeepers, which is referred to both in the Secretary-General's report and in the new resolution.

In the context of the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) and of the third year of the Dutch national action plan, the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence jointly produced a publication entitled The Dutch Do's on Women, Peace and Security —

"In addition, the Netherlands supports a training initiative on the protection of human rights and the prevention of sexual violence with the Congolese Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo. That innovative project makes use of footage from the award-winning documentary Weapon of War, about the perpetrators of sexual violence."

With the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative, an important step was taken to address this phenomenon, and in the short time that she has held that post Ms. Wallström has made it clear that, while there are broad challenges, it is possible to provide a comprehensive and effective response to victims of sexual violence and to make that issue a priority of our strategies for peace and reconciliation.

We recognize that the Security Council has taken determined steps to eliminate the problem of sexual violence in armed conflict. It must continue its work pursuant to resolution 1888 (2009) based on the following four pillars: the fight against impunity; the prevention of new cases and protection of vulnerable groups; security sector reform; and comprehensive care and reparations for victims.

The Security Council faces significant challenges. It must ensure the functioning and impact of the monitoring system and the presentation of reports on sexual violence in conflict, and systematically include components on gender and on prevention of sexual violence in the terms of reference of its field visits and the mandates for its peacekeeping operations.

The atrocities committed against women and children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and other regions of the world are permanent reminders of the fact that existing norms are flagrantly flouted. Ensuring respect for international law is an ongoing challenge, for which the primary responsibility falls to States.

One aspect of particular concern is sexual violence in armed conflict or post-conflict situations, as that subject cannot be approached simply from a gender perspective. The impact on society of sexual violence used as a tactic of war is so great that addressing it must be an integral part of any strategy for peace and security.

Mexico believes that it is not enough to recall that crimes of sexual violence against women have been criminalized. It is necessary to act on our support for strengthening the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order to prosecute the perpetrators of sexual violence in the context of armed conflict.

We warmly welcome the fact that the Council also encourages the Secretary-General to list in an annex to his annual reports the parties that have systematically engaged in acts of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict on the Council agenda.