UN / SEXUAL VIOLENCE WRAP

Newly appointed special representative for sexual violence in conflict Margot Wallstrőm says sexual violence is not cultural but criminal and emphasizes that sex crimes are a human right's issue. UNTV / FILE

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:15
• Production Date: 9 February 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS OBSERVER MISSSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - MONUC; UNITED NATIONS-AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN DARFUR - UNAMID
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; CRIMES; CRIMINAL JUSTICE
• MAMS Id: U100209a

Description

STORY: UN/ SEXUAL VIOLENCE WRAP
TRT: 2.15
SOURCE: UNTV/ UNAMID / MONUC
RESTRICTIONS
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 9 FEBRUARY 2010, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – UNTV – RECENT 2010, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

UNTV – 9 FEBRUARY 2010, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon handshake with Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallström:
3. SOUNDBITE (English) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
“Your appointment is a clear demonstration of our firm commitment of the United Nations in the fight against sexual violence against women in armed conflict situations. As you know, this has been our priority agenda, not only for the United Nations but this is the high expectation of the international community.”
4. Wide shot, walk-in of the participants to the press conference
5. Cutaway, reporters
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Margot Wallström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict:
“Sexual violence against women is not culture, it’s criminal. It’s not a women’s issue, it’s a human rights issue. It’s for both men and women to make sure that women have the right to their bodies. And I think this will also affect the way we look at security. Women define security very often differently from men and this has to be acknowledged. As in the famous book, women carry half the sky.”
7. Cutaway, reporters:
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
“Without MONUC’s presence, the number of cases [of sexual violence] would be drastically much more. But still we need additional help and of course we count on Ms. Wallstrom’s advocacy to help us convince not only the governments but also other Member States to help us to convince the authorities and of course to empower women to help them also to defend themselves.”
9. Wide shot, reporters

FILE – UNAMID – 14 MAY 2009, ABSHOUK CAMP, NORTH DARFUR, SUDAN

10. Wide shot, peacekeeper on armored personnel carrier

FILE - MONUC - 21 SEPTEMBER 2008, MASISI, NORTH KIVU PROVINCE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

11. Tracking shot, women and children fleeing

FILE – UNTV - MARCH 2009, GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

12. Wide shot, exterior Heal Africa hospital where victims of sexual violence are treated
13. Various shots, nurses tending to patients in Heal Africa hospital

FILE – MONUC - 1 NOVEMBER 2009, MARABO, ITURI DISTRICT, BUNIA AND DUNGU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

14. Various shots, women
15. Tracking shot, MONUC’s Moroccan peacekeepers in military jeep

FILE – MONUC - 24 APRIL 2009, DUNGU, NORTHEASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

16. Various shots, MONUC soldiers at food distribution

Storyline

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today (9 February) met with newly appointed Special Representative (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallström of Sweden.

Later, Ban told reporters that Ms. Wallström’s appointment was a ‘clear demonstration of [the] firm commitment of the United Nations in the fight against sexual violence against women.’

Wallström confirmed that cultural differences cannot excuse violence against women which remain criminal actions violating basic human rights. She said that sexual violence against women was not only a women’s rights issue, but that it was up to ‘both men and women to make sure that women have the right to their bodies.’

Margot Wallström, a Swedish politician with a long history in defending women’s rights, cited the need to end impunity as a priority area.

Asked by reporters on MONUC’s (UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo) role in preventing sexual violence against Congolese women, the chief of peacekeeping operations Alain Le Roy said that without MONUC’s presence, the number of cases [of sexual violence] would be, “drastically much more” and confirmed that he counts on Ms. Wallström’s advocacy to further protect women from sex crimes.

Since her appointment to the European Commission in 1999, Ms. Wallström has been actively engaged in promoting the participation of women in peace- and security-related issues, most notably the injustice and violence faced by women during armed conflict.