Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) theme focuses on the incidence and prevalence of violence against women in conflict and post-conflict settings. Polarisation of gender roles, proliferation of weapons, militarisation, and the breakdown of law influence SGBV.

The risk of SGBV is heightened during conflict by aggravating factors, including the polarization of gender roles, the proliferation of arms, the militarization of society, and the breakdown of law and order. The subsequent long-term and complex impacts of SGBV continue to affect individuals and communities after conflict ends.

SGBV is addressed in all five resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. In SCR 1888, the Security Council expresses its intention to ensure peacekeeping mandate resolutions contain provisions on the prevention of, and response to, sexual violence, with corresponding reporting requirements to the Council (OP11). The resolutions deal with protecting women from violence (1820,OP3, 8-10; 1888,OP3,12); strengthening local and national institutions to assist victims of sexual violence (1820,OP13; 1888,OP13); and including strategies to address sexual violence in post-conflict peacebuilding processes (1820,OP11). SCR 1820 also calls for the participation of women in the development of mechanisms intended to protect women from violence (OP10).

Lastly, SCR 1960 creates institutional tools and teeth to combat impunity and outlines specific steps needed for both the prevention of and protection from conflict-related sexual violence. The new “naming and shaming,” listing mechanism mandated in the Resolution is a step forward in bringing justice for victims and a recognition that sexual violence is a serious violation of human rights and international law.

Addressing SGBV is an integral aspect of the overall Women, Peace and Security agenda. SGBV affects the health and safety of women, and also has significant impact on economic and social stability. The Security Council recognises that sexual violence can threaten international peace and security, and that it is frequently used as a tactic of war to dominate, humiliate, terrorise, and displace.

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SGBV, part, prot

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Secondly, our training includes courses on the protection and promotion of human rights and international humanitarian law and on sexual and gender-based violence and includes individual programmes on appropriate conduct and local customs, while ensuring the firmest stance against abuses.

SGBV, Implementation, Protection

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Thirdly, the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is a valuable tool to advance the protection of civilians. Resolution 1325 (2000) was a milestone for the Council. It acknowledged that women and girls face specific risks in conflict settings, which require specific actions for protection.

SGBV

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Georgia is fully committed to a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeeping personnel. On 5 June, an inter-agency investigative team, set up at the initiative of the Defence Minister of Georgia, left for the Central African Republic to carry out investigative activities on the ground.

SGBV

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The protection of civilians in armed conflict remains a deep concern for Estonia, as do the particular needs of women and children. As was expressed by my delegation in this Chamber last week (see S/PV.7704), sexual violence in conflict is also a continuing concern.

Pre-deployment and in-mission training should also include issues such as sexual exploitation and abuse as well as child protection.

SGBV

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Civilians, in principle, are not fighters but nevertheless count among the largest number of casualties in armed conflict. They are subject to mass killings, rape and often forced displacement — in a word, all types of violence.

SGBV

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The recourse to violence and terrorism to undermine societies, civilizations, religions and beliefs is assuming terrible manifestations, such as the recruitment of children, abductions, the destruction of the cultural heritage of humankind, slavery and sexual violence as weapons of war, as well as the use of chemical weapons.

Uruguay

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Uruguay takes note of reports on cases of human rights violations, including reports of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Secretary- General, which stress accusations of killings, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, refugee rights, impunity for crimes of sexual violence, and the need to clarify cases of forced disappearance, among other aspects.

Security Council Resolution 2340

2341 SGBV

PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
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Requests the Panel of Experts to assess in its first and final reports progress towards reducing violations by all parties of the measures imposed by paragraphs 7 and 8 of resolution 1556 (2005), paragraph 7 of resolution 1591 (2005), and paragraph 10 of resolution 1945 (2010), and progress towards removing impediments to the political process, threats to stability in Darfur and the region; violations of international humanitarian law or violations or abuses of human rights, including those that involve attacks on the civilian population, sexual- and gender- based violence, violations and abuses against children, and other violations of the above-mentioned resolutions, and to provide the Committee with information on the individuals and entities that meet the listing criteria in paragraph 3 (c) of resolution 1591;

Demanding an immediate and complete cessation by all parties to the armed conflict of all deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, acts of sexual violence against civilians, the recruitment and use of children in violation of applicable international law, and other violations and abuses against children, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, in line with all relevant resolutions on these issues, and emphasizing that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable,

SGBV

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Human trafficking in our hemisphere focuses on sexual exploitation, mainly of women and girls or adolescents. The Work Plan takes into account the different manifestations of exploitation considered as human trafficking, and pays special attention to vulnerable, at-risk groups and indigenous populations and other traditional communities, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons groups.

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