Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

The earlier that is accomplished, the better. Early conflict settlement spares and saves a great many lives. When such an agreement is concluded, all parties, domestic and foreign, must refrain from undermining it. The United Nations must adopt that principle and tolerate no exceptions in that regard, in the context of peacekeeping operations.

Secondly, we will gradually increase the number of women deployed in peacekeeping missions. It is important to recall that as of 1999, women can ascend to all positions of the armed forces and that we give women priority so that they can participate in peacekeeping missions. I see the Colombian Ambassador here today.

Civilians, especially women and girls, continue to be caught up in armed conflicts around the world. Acts of sexual violence committed by non-State actors are particularly alarming.

Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by conflict situations, especially where sexual abuse and violence are concerned. That reality underpins the principles of resolution 1325 (2000), which addresses sexual violence in conflict and forms an integral part of the women and peace and security agenda.

We also call for greater efforts to promote and respect the human rights of women and girls as, well as to strengthen all efforts to effectively address gender- based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. For too long, sexual violence against women and girls has been committed on a systematic and widespread scale as a crime against humanity, or even a weapon of war.

In conclusion, we underline our continued support for the zero-tolerance policy of the United Nations and the approach of zero impunity for all military, police and civilian personnel of the United Nations in the area of prevention and protection against sexual violence in peacekeeping operations.

On another level, in Senegal, a sectoral strategy implemented by the Ministries of Defence and Security has led to the institutionalization of the gender approach in actions taken by the Senegalese defence and security forces. Senegal has also adopted the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual or gender-based violence, particularly in peacekeeping operations.

Many countries have committed to action to prevent and address conflict- related sexual violence.

The Office of my Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict is focusing international attention on one of the greatest moral challenges of our time.

As far as the attitude of the Ukrainian authorities to women is concerned, I will simply cite a few facts from a recent report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. On 19 January 2015, some men in masks and camouflage arrested a woman in her home. For more than a week, they kept her in a basement in a Ukrainian Security Service building, where they beat and tortured her with electric shocks and burning plastic.

Portugal also reiterates its pledge to continue conducting training programmes for national personnel and members of the armed and security forces assigned to international peacekeeping missions on gender equality and violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings.