Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Women activists in many parts of the world suffering from armed conflict are struggling in their efforts to bring public attention to the fact that women and children, including infants, are faced with extremely high levels of violence, including sexual violence and abuse, by men. Its ongoing effects, long after war is over, should be a primary concern to those who advocate greater inclusion of women in peace-building institutions.

The focus of today's debate is "Women's equal participation and full involvement in all effortsfor the maintenance and promotion of peace and security". In this my delegation would like to emphasize several points. To begin, it should be emphasized that in many countries suffering from armed conflict, women peace builders are often faced with male dominated institutions.

We must expand the role of women in negotiation, mediation, dialogue, constitution drafting, elections, reconstruction and justice. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2008/622) gives us various examples of success stories around the world, where the effective participation of women has borne fruit.

However, we still lack sufficient political will and resources to promote the systematic participation of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations. The report of the Secretary- General disturbingly highlights the fact that only 2.2 per cent of military personnel in United Nations peacekeeping operations and 7.6 per cent of civilian police personnel are women.

However, significant as that progress is, it cannot mask the reality — the reality that the results of women's participation in peacekeeping and peacebuilding is far from what was expected and that many challenges, such as sexual violence of all types and impunity, remain to be met before resolution 1325 (2000) is truly and fully implemented.

The enormous international efforts, including those of the United Nations, to promote the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) and of the relevant presidential statements of the Security Council have produced positive results. Of primary significance is the greater recognition that the maintenance of peace and security requires measures to meet the needs of women.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is respectful of the norms of international law and the commitments undertaken in that context. Violations of women's human rights, given their many social, economic and political implications, undermine human coexistence and constitute serious crimes that compromise the dignity of women, as established in various instruments of international law.

The United States looks forward to the complete and rapid implementation of resolution 1888 (2009). That includes the resolution's call to appoint a Special Representative of the Secretary-General to lead, coordinate and advocate for efforts to end conflict- related sexual violence.

Resolution 1325 (2000) emphasizes the responsibility that all States have to put an end to impunity and prosecute those responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including those relating to sexual violence and other assaults against women and girls.

Last week this Council took decisive action in addressing the sexual violence that all too often follows in conflict's wake, by adopting resolution 1888 (2009). The resolution sends an unequivocal message: violence against women and children will not be tolerated and must be stopped.