Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Over the past decade, progress in the implementation has been slow and uneven. The resolution's real impact remains to be felt on the ground in many areas. All too often women do not make it to the tables where decisions are taken in peace processes or post-conflict reconstruction that have a direct impact on their lives. There are no issues that are not also women's issues.

As a next step we request the Secretary-General to include the information- gathered on the basis of the indicators in his country-specific and relevant thematic reports in a systematic and comprehensive manner. Without accurate and timely information it is difficult for the Council to take appropriate action in areas that need our urgent attention, such as the prevention of sexual violence.

The recent mass rapes in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo highlight the challenges still faced in ensuring that sexual violence in conflict is addressed comprehensively throughout the entire UN system - particularly as part of UN peacekeeping operations. There remains a gap between our collective expectations on what the UN system should be able to do and the actual capacity of peacekeepers on the ground.

The last year witnessed a rapid rise in our collective will to address sexual violence in conflict. Resolution 1888 broke important new ground in this regard. We welcome the appointment of Margot Wallstrom as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict.

Australia was pleased to support the joint 'Analytical Inventory' developed by DPKO and UNIFEM, under the auspices of the inter-agency network UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict. This is a key tool for the UN to use in improving its ability to protect civilians from sexual violence in conflict as part of peacekeeping operations.

Having had the privilege to chair the fifty-fourth session of the Commission on the Status of Women earlier this year, I would like to emphasize that special attention needs to be paid to children who are victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence, especially girls, who are usually the largest group of victims in armed conflict. In addition to the physical damage, sexual violence often leaves lasting harm and stigma.

As we discuss the role of women in peacemaking and peacebuilding, we cannot ignore an issue that is inextricably tied to it — violence against women and girls in conflict situations. It is unfortunate that, despite the existence of international legal instruments and normative mechanisms, there has been a disturbing escalation in levels of sexual violence during and after armed conflicts

During the past decade, particular attention has been paid to addressing some of the specific crimes experienced by women and girls during armed conflict, namely, rape, trafficking, enforced prostitution and enslavement. It is critical to ensure accountability for past and present crimes and not to grant impunity to perpetrators. Otherwise, we would provide amnesty for future crimes.

The African Union Gender Policy, launched two years ago, stresses the need to reinforce good practices of respect, equality and human dignity between men and women in the workplace and in society at large, and to enforce zero tolerance for gender-based violence, sexual harassment, assault, rape, sexual favours, gender stereotyping, sexism and abusive language and actions in the workplace, society and situations of conflict.

The African Union is further committed to working towards addressing violence against women perpetrated through human and drug trafficking, and to articulate the gender perspectives of child labour, prostitution and abuse.