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7428th Security Council meeting on Women and Peace and Security - part 1
7428th Meeting (AM)
Nearly 70 Speakers Speak on ‘Great Moral Issue of Our Time’
In its fight against sexual violence in conflict, the world had arrived at a “new juncture”, characterized by ongoing, shocking crimes, but also by greater opportunity to respond to the scourge in a resolute and integrated manner, the United Nations’ top official on the issue told the Security Council today ahead of an open debate on women, peace and security.
“Sexual violence in conflict represents a great moral issue of our time and it merits the concerted focus of the Security Council,” Zeinab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, said as she presented the Secretary-General’s latest report (document S/2015/203), which outlined what she called “shocking” incidents in 19 conflict situations.
The crime, in its destruction of the individual and the pervasive way it undermined peace and development “casts a long shadow over our collective humanity”, she said, noting that the report focused on sexual violence as a threat used to induce displacement. It highlighted the targeting of ethnic and religious minorities, the issue of forced marriage, the role of faith-based leaders and local journalists in addressing harmful social norms and the necessity of addressing such issues in ceasefires.
The road to eliminating sexual violence was long, she said. Her departure tomorrow for the Middle East was preceded by a “catastrophic” new trend of extremist groups using sexual violence as a tactic of terror, not only in Iraq and Syria, but in Somalia, Nigeria and Mali. She underscored the Secretary-General’s recommendation that the Sanctions Committee on Al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham (ISIL/ISIS) include such abuse in its criteria for applying targeted measures.
There had been some positive changes, she said: a normative foundation had been laid and deeper knowledge, analysis and information had led to strategic interventions. More resources were being allocated for sexual and gender-based violence programming than ever before, and further, accountability for a crime that had historically been “cost-free” to commit was finally emerging. Ownership of the problem by States and communities was growing and engagement of non-State actors was being explored, she added. Now, such activities and international resolve must crystalize into action to prevent crimes and to care for survivors, she asserted.
Also speaking at the opening of the debate was Hamsatu Allamin, of the Non-Governmental Organization Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, who drew attention to the plight of women and girls in Nigeria’s north-east, a region that had been at the centre of a two-year insurgency. Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the abduction of 276 Chibok girls, of whom 219 were still missing. It was estimated that 2,000 women and girls had been kidnapped by armed men since the start of 2014.
“I am here to implore the Security Council — and the international community — to develop integrated solutions in partnership with women’s groups and service providers,” she said. Solutions should prevent such abuse, protect those at risk, support survivors, prosecute perpetrators and strengthen the rights of women and girls. For its part, the Council must ensure that justice strategies were developed in line with international humanitarian and human rights law, she said.
In the ensuing debate, nearly 70 speakers took the floor to condemn the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war and terror. Many expressed shock that the abduction of Nigerian girls by Boko Haram one year ago today had not been solved. It was unacceptable, they said, that the influence of such extremist groups was still expanding. A number of speakers described efforts to bolster national institutions and agreed with recommendations in the Secretary-General’s report that laid out prescriptions for improving international coordination.
Representing Iraq, a member of the country’s parliament welcomed the report’s attention to extremist groups, saying that sexual violence was a war tactic used by ISIL. He described steps the country had taken to safeguard women and promote their rights, noting that the country was among the first to launch national plans and policies aimed at implementing resolution 1325 (2000). Despite such efforts, however, the Yazidi New Year today received little celebration amid the horrors perpetrated by ISIL.
Along similar lines, the Personal Representative of the Head of State in charge of the fight against sexual violence and recruitment of children of the Democratic Republic of the Congo described rape’s use as a weapon of war in her country and her Government’s efforts to end impunity, rehabilitate survivors and facilitate educational access for girls. Although enormous challenges persisted, she said women had wiped away their tears and embarked on a determined effort to improve their status. The representative of Nigeria said her Government and people were also committed to freeing hostages and crushing Boko Haram. She stressed that the campaign against sexual violence must be integrated with the fight against terrorism.
Ending sexual violence was not a responsibility that Governments alone could bear, many speakers emphasized. On the United Nations role, several speakers, including those from troop- and police-contributing countries, called for the deployment of more female peacekeepers, women protection advisers and gender advisers, as well as more women in senor positions in multidimensional peace operations.
Others focused on the need for early warning indicators, promoting accountability and fighting impunity, including by enacting criminal law reforms, ensuring victim reparations and sending all evidence possible to the International Criminal Court. The representative of Lithuania, in that vein, called for the universal application of the Rome Statute — the basis of the International Criminal Court — as it recognized sexual violence as a crime against humanity.
Also speaking today were Ministers from Belgium and Canada.
Representatives of the following countries also spoke: the United States, France, Angola, Chad, Spain, New Zealand, Venezuela, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, Chile, China, Malaysia, Nigeria, Jordan, India, Thailand, Liechtenstein, Italy, Germany, Colombia, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, Israel, Hungary, Japan, Syria, Luxembourg, Turkey, Viet Nam (on behalf of the Association of South-East Asian Nations), Sudan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Guatemala, Latvia (also on behalf of Estonia), Algeria, Uruguay, Kenya, Ireland, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Morocco, Switzerland, Croatia, Nepal, Poland, Slovenia, Indonesia, Portugal, Zimbabwe (on behalf of the Southern African Development Community), Qatar, Afghanistan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Rwanda, El Salvador, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Argentina.
The observer missions of the African Union, European Union and the Holy See also addressed the Council.
The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. and ended at 6:08 p.m.
