I have also previously highlighted the specific concern of sexual violence perpetrated against men and boys. In April 2013, the countries of the Group of Eight adopted the historic declaration on the prevention of sexual violence. As such, it is only indicative of the scope, scale and nature of sexual violence committed against women, men and children.
At least 146 pregnancies resulting from conflict-related sexual violence were recorded by UN partners during 2013. The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) notes that while cases of sexual violence were recorded in the western part of the country, they are now being recorded in the north. A total of 24 cases of sexual violence investigated by the UN in 2013 involved elements of the Forces républicaines de Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI), the police, the gendarmerie or former combatants.
Psychosocial assistance was provided to 78 percent of the total (9,533 survivors, including 3,205 minors) under a program to provide assistance to survivors of sexual violence. The visit resulted in the adoption, on March 30, 2013, of a joint communiqué of the Government and the United Nations on combating conflict-related sexual violence. My Special Representative held discussions with the Minister of Defense and addressed a special session of the Senate on sexual violence.
The United Nations, together with partners, has also implemented projects for the prevention of sexual violence and the collection and management of data. During 2013, in the context of persistent and widespread insecurity, reports of conflict-related sexual violence increased in Darfur. Fear of retaliation, social stigmatization and a lack of safe and confidential response services for survivors have severely limited reporting on sexual violence in the context of the Syrian conflict.
Addressing conflict-related sexual violence crimes in post-conflict situations
Work of United Nations Action against Sexual Violence, including information on progress made in the
Work of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict
The team complements and adds value to the work of the United Nations on the ground and enables national authorities to take the lead. In the Central African Republic, following the commitments made by the government in the joint communication on addressing sexual violence of 12 December 2012, the team of experts carried out a technical assessment in partnership with UN-Women and the entities that responsible for the area of gender performed. -based violence within the Global Protection Cluster. While the current security situation in the Central African Republic does not allow the provision of assistance, the team received a request from the government regarding the provision of support to the gendarmerie for the establishment of a specialized unit on sexual violence.
In addition, at the request of the national authorities, the team provided input for the development of guidelines by the Ministry of Defense on addressing conflict-related sexual violence for the police and the military. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the team of experts, in coordination with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the United Nations Development Program and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, continued to support national authorities by strengthening their capacity to to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual violence crimes committed by FARDC and other security forces in the northern and southern parts of the country. In the future, the team will focus its efforts on fair trial standards and the safety of survivors in cases involving sexual violence.
The team also helped the government assess its needs and capacity to implement the commitments made in the joint communique on combating conflict-related sexual violence of 30 March 2013. In July 2013, through a technical workshop, the team helped the government develop a plan for implementation of the joint communiqué. In accordance with the joint communiqué signed between the Government of Guinea and the United Nations in November 2011, the Team of Experts continues to assist national authorities in investigating sexual violence crimes and prosecuting alleged perpetrators of such crimes committed in Conakry in September 2009.
Since December 2012, a member of the Team based in Conakry has provided advice to the panel of judges established by the Government; which led to an increase in the number of hearings of sexual violence cases: more than 200 victims were heard by the panel since December 2012. In the future, the team will also look at establishing systems to protect victims and witnesses and strengthening security measures for the panel of judges. In Somalia, the team of experts carried out a technical assessment in partnership with UN-Women and the Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative of the United Kingdom to help the Government of Somalia develop a plan for implementing the commitments it made in the joint communiqué of 7 May 2013 and in accordance with the Somali Agreement.
In South Sudan, the government is considering the findings of the team's 2012 assessment and recommendations regarding priorities for legislative reform and strategies to strengthen capacity at the national and state level in the justice sector to address sexual violence . The team will continue to support the government in developing an implementation plan to address the issue. The team continues to build a roster of experts in coordination with initiatives such as the Justice Rapid Response Mechanism and the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative.
Recommendations
One notable result is the indictment and court appearance of Colonel Claude Pivi, chief of presidential security, and the hearing of General Ibrahima Baldé, chief of gendarmerie staff. I call on the Security Council to strengthen the key elements of the preventive framework outlined in its resolution by: Adequate and timely funding is required for the effective implementation of ceasefire and peace agreements, including provisions related to conflict-related sexual violence. g) Ensuring that action to prevent conflict-related sexual violence is explicitly reflected in security sector reform processes, in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes and in justice reform initiatives.
Where possible, monitoring efforts should be combined with service delivery, and emphasis should be placed on coordination and information sharing across peacekeeping, humanitarian, human rights, political and security sectors. i) Continue to encourage and support the training of all UN peacekeeping personnel using the innovative tools developed by UN action partners, including Combating conflict-related sexual violence: an analytical inventory of peacekeeping practices and the matrix of early warning indicators , by encouraging troop- and police-contributing countries to increase the number of women recruited and deployed to peacekeeping operations, and by encouraging troop- and police-contributing countries to deal rigorously with allegations of sexual violence and sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers. j) Recognizing and addressing the links between conflict-related sexual violence and illicit trade in natural resources, as well as illicit activities such as trafficking in illegal drugs and people. In that regard, the Security Council may consider the applicability of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols and its relevant legal tools. k) Encouraging business actors to make specific commitments in connection with the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence, including with regard to obtaining materials for their production processes from areas not affected by conflict. l) Recognizing that sexual violence is not only a risk to displaced persons, but also a tactic used to induce displacement, and therefore giving due consideration to accepting sexual violence in conflict as a form of persecution , which should lead to the recognition of refugee status for the persons concerned. m) Continue to apply pressure on perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence, including the individuals, parties and states mentioned in my reports, through the adoption of targeted measures by relevant sanctions committees and by considering when adopting or renewing targeted sanctions in situations of armed conflict and, where relevant, the inclusion of acts of rape and other serious forms of sexual violence as criteria for designating individuals. Such actions by the Security Council should apply to those who commit, command or condone (by failing to prevent or punish) sexual violence, in accordance with the provisions of international criminal law relating to those bearing direct, command or overall responsibility.
I recognize that Member States have made political commitments outside the framework of the Security Council to prevent sexual violence in conflict and to provide care for survivors, namely the historic declarations adopted by the . In addition, in line with my emphasis on promoting national ownership, leadership and accountability, I urge Member States to draw on and support the Expert Team's expertise on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict strengthening the rule of law and the capacity of civilian and military justice systems, as part of wider efforts to strengthen institutional safeguards against impunity for conflict-related sexual violence. Finally, I urge all Member States to support the efforts of the United Nations against sexual violence in conflict and its Multi-Partner Trust Fund, in particular to develop and implement comprehensive national strategies aimed at preventing and addressing conflict-related sexual violence.
Annexed list
Annex
List of parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape and other forms of sexual
