Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Today more women are included in peace talks, more peace agreements contain provisions in support of women’s human rights and more security- sector personnel are trained to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

Violent extremism has intensified and degenerated into the worst forms of violence against women, including sexual violence used as a weapon of war, thereby returning us to a time that we thought had been overcome by humankind.

Millions of women and girls remain among the most vulnerable in situations of armed conflict. The perpetrators of crimes against women and girls include Da’esh and Boko Haram, as well as States that use sexual abuse as a weapon of war. In our region we have seen thousands of women fall victim to brutal oppression; countless others have suffered rape and sexual abuse — the worst and the most traumatic form of violence.

One of the greatest challenges of modern times is the normalization of violence at all levels — be it local, regional, national or international — as it poses a real threat to the lives of women and children. Indeed, attacks on women and girls, as well as the horror of sexual slavery, are sometimes part of the strategies used by combatants and violent extremist groups to achieve their ends.

Sexual violence destroys both individuals and communities and it undermines peace and development. That is why the Nordic countries are focusing on preventing and combating such atrocities.

We are engaged in the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies, which is currently led by Sweden. We work with the African Union and we support United Nations action, Justice Rapid Response and civil society.

My final point is the need to combat conflict-related sexual violence. Like others, New Zealand condemns the use of sexual violence, including as a method of warfare, and supports measures to tackle this challenge. Ongoing United Nations leadership to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence will be essential.

Sexual violence scars families, rips societies apart and slows down peacekeeping and conflict resolution processes. It affects the success of NATO missions. We cannot be bystanders. We need to look at ourselves, too, by raising awareness of NATO codes of conduct and other tools designed to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse.

Crises are not neutral in nature from a gender perspective. Armed conflicts affect women more because, unfortunately, sexual abuse and exploitation have become a weapon of war. Mexico condemns in the strongest terms the violence and sexual exploitation to which women and girls have been subjected in situations of armed conflict. For that reason, our country is a regional champion of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

Secondly, women suffer disproportionately from the effects of armed violence in conflicts. They are killed, robbed, raped, trafficked and forced into prostitution at gunpoint. Women also bear the brunt of armed violence as single heads of households and caregivers. Their needs as ex-combatants and former child soldiers differ from those of their male counterparts.

Secondly, women and girls are increasingly victims of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence. Such risks increase in emergencies, conflicts and post-conflicts situations. The women and peace and security agenda seeks to address such risks, giving the issue of sexual violence in conflicts the centrality it deserves, alongside the economic and political empowerment of women and their vital role in peacebuilding.