Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

The topics promoted through these pillars are primarily participation, conflict prevention, protection against violence against women and children and community recovery.

With respect to sexual violence, the situation is the more terrible for its unequalled scale and the unspeakable suffering of its victims. Even some refugee camps and displaced persons camps have become unsafe places for women and girls, instead of being islands of peace.

On 15 December 2009, Burkina Faso also launched a programme to combat violence against women. This year it commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women with the clear motto: “The consequences of violence against women on victims, families and communities”.

First of all, we can legitimately welcome some achievements, notably at the institutional level, with the appointment of Ms. Margot Wallström as Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Yet much remains to be done. Sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon of war, and peacekeeping missions still struggle to protect women. The participation by women and the representation of women still represent small fractions of what those rates should be. But, at least today we have a much better understanding of the challenges we face and the goals we must meet.

In my own country there has been compelling evidence that, when women are empowered, they can act successfully to change their lives and the lives of those around them. Under “Bolsa Familia”, a conditional cash transfer programme that has lifted millions of Brazilians out of poverty, women are the preferred recipients of transfers.

However, we share a sense of optimism that, given our collective will, especially within the Security Council, we can bring an end to impunity and to this crime against humanity.

As 2010 marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), on women, peace and security, it is of the utmost importance that we strive to ensure gender equality, fight violence against women and to enhance women's participation in international peace and security.

However, we remain concerned that, in spite of the adoption of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), which have become beacons of hope for millions of women and girls, crimes of rape and sexual violence persist. Women and girls continue to be targeted, while rape and sexual violence continue to be used as weapons of war. Women also constitute the majority of the world's refugees and internally displaced persons.

Contemporary conflicts create situations in which women and children are most affected by the deterioration of living conditions and fundamental rights. Deprivation of rights and violence often go hand in hand with conflict. We emphasize that rape as a weapon of war is unacceptable. Efforts to fight impunity, provide assistance to victims and hold perpetrators accountable must be intensified and better coordinated.