UN urges action against conflict-related sexual violence

The UN Security Council on Thursday called for effective responses to sexual violence in war and in the aftermath of conflict.In a unanimously-adopted presidential statement, the council expressed its deep concern “about incidents, trends, and patterns of sexual violence in armed conflict and post-conflict situations, including the deliberate targeting of civilians for sexual violence, inter alia, for political motivations, and its use as a tactic of war”. The statement was adopted at the conclusion of an open Security Council meeting titled Women, Peace, and Security: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. “The council stresses that acts of sexual violence not only severely undermine the critical contribution of women to society, but also challenge inclusive and sustainable peace processes,” the statement said.Emphasizing the need for effective responses to incidents of these crimes, the statement noted that early warning systems are essential to the prevention of sexual violence in conflict. The council called on all UN member states and conflict parties to “comply fully with their obligations under applicable international law, including the prohibition of all forms of sexual violence.”Member states should also take other actions such as providing victims of sexual violence with access to healthcare, legal assistance and socio-economic reintegration services, said the statement.