Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

The Commission on the Status of Women plays a central role in monitoring the implementation of the Platform for Action, including with respect to women in armed conflict. I recognize and welcome the key role and critical efforts of the Security Council in preventing sexual violence and combating impunity in conflict and post-conflict situations.

In 2008, the Commission evaluated progress in the implementation of the 2004 agreed conclusions through an interactive dialogue. Many participants reported on initiatives to address sexual violence in armed conflict and to increase the participation of women in peacekeeping and security forces.

Efforts to address violence against women are often not comprehensive, consistent or sustained, and there continues to be insufficient coordination among relevant sectors. Knowledge regarding the scope, prevalence, impact and cost of violence against women remains inadequate, and capacities for collecting such data are insufficient.

The international community cannot remain indifferent to such atrocities, nor accept the myth that rape is an inevitable by-product of war. Doing so would paralyse any attempt to eradicate such actions. Sexual violence must be considered a violation of the victims' human rights; that being the case, the perpetrators must be prosecuted, judged and punished.

Regrettably, sexual violence is a constant at all stages of armed conflict. Often, it is not a matter of isolated incidents, but instead includes related crimes such as kidnapping, indiscriminate killing, torture, looting and forced displacement. The international community must continue to urge armed groups to end such abhorrent practices and to work with States to end the impunity surrounding them.

My country would like to congratulate the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Margot Wallström, on her appointment and the work she is doing.

I would like to conclude by reaffirming my country's unshakable commitment to combating sexual violence in situations of conflict. As a demonstration of that commitment, we were proud to join the co-sponsors of the resolution 1960 (2010), which the Council adopted yesterday.

The progress of the United Nations is the result of years of hard work at Headquarters and in the field. Resolution 1894 (2009) was a landmark in the global effort to better protect civilians in conflict zones. So, too, is this year's report from the General Assembly's Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (A/64/19). Both documents called for mission-wide planning, better predeployment training and stronger protection strategies.

Secondly, we should increase our ability to provide peacekeepers and humanitarian organizations with the knowledge, training and resources needed to fulfil their protection mandates, including protection against sexual and gender-based violence. Many peacekeeping missions and humanitarian organizations struggle due to inadequate resources and insufficient communication with local communities.

Fourthly, we must hold accountable groups and individuals that flagrantly violate the laws of war, including those who use rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war.