United Nations S/ PV.7938 Security Council Provisional Seventy-second year 7938th meeting Monday, 15 May 2017, 10.30 a.m. New York President: Mr. Cancela/Mr. Rosselli/Mr. Bermúdez .............. (Uruguay) Members: Bolivia (Plurinational State of) ..................... Mr. Llorentty Solíz China ......................................... Mr. Wu Haitao Egypt ......................................... Mr. Aboulatta Ethiopia ....................................... Mr. Alemu France ........................................ Mr. Delattre Italy .......................................... Mr. Cardi Japan ......................................... Mr. Minami Kazakhstan .................................... Mr. Sadykov Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Zagaynov Senegal ....................................... Mr. Barro Sweden ....................................... Mr. Hultqvist Ukraine ....................................... Mr. Vitrenko United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Mr. Rycroft United States of America .......................... Ms. Sison Agenda Women and peace and security Sexual violence in conflict Letter dated 5 May 2017 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (S/2017/402) This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org). 17-13474 (E) *1713474* S/PV.7938 Women and peace and security 15/05/2017 The meeting was called to order at 10.40 a.m. the United Nations to participate in the meeting, in accordance with the provisional rules of procedure and Adoption of the agenda the previous practice in this regard. The agenda was adopted. There being no objection, it is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration Women and peace and security of the item on its agenda. Sexual violence in conflict I wish to draw the attention of Council members to Letter dated 5 May 2017 from the Chargé document S/2017/402, which contains the text of a letter d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of dated 5 May 2017 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Uruguay to the United Nations addressed to Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations the Secretary-General (S/2017/402) addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept note on the item under consideration. The President (spoke in Spanish): In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of I wish to warmly welcome Her Excellency the procedure, I invite the representatives of Albania, Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed, to Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, the Bolivarian whom I now give the floor. Republic of Venezuela, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Ms. Mohammed: Let me begin by commending Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Uruguay, and the Deputy Foreign Minister in Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Democratic Republic particular, for hosting this important event. I also salute of the Congo, Djibouti, Estonia, Germany, Ghana, the Security Council for its work to combat sexual in Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, conflict, including through the recent adoption of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Liechtenstein, resolution 2331 (2016), which highlights the linkages Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Mexico, between conflict-related sexual violence, trafficking the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, in armed conflict and violence and extremism. Allow Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of me also to thank and welcome Ms. Mina Jaf of Iraq, Korea, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, the who is in the Chamber today to give voice to civil Sudan, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia society as a key partner and compass of our work at the and Turkey to participate in this meeting. United Nations. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s Today’s debate takes place at a critical juncture. provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following On the one hand, the deep silence that has traditionally briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Adama shrouded crimes of sexual violence is finally breaking: Dieng, Under-Secretary-General and Acting Special there is more visibility, more political will and more Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual momentum. Global understanding of this scourge is Violence in Conflict and Special Adviser to the increasing. Sexual violence in conflict is no longer Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, seen as merely a women’s issue or a lesser evil in a and Ms. Mina Jaf, Founder and Executive Director of false hierarchy of human rights violations. Instead, Women’s Refugee Route. it is rightly viewed as a legitimate threat to security In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s and durable peace that requires an operational, provisional rules of procedure, I also invite the security and justice response, in addition to ensuring following briefers to participate in this meeting: multidimensional services for survivors of such crimes. Ms. Mara Marinaki, Principal Adviser on Gender and Secretary-General António Guterres has placed on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution priority on prevention. The sexual violence in conflict 1325 (2000) on Women and Peace and Security of the mandate — through the strategic leadership of European External Action Service of the European successive Special representatives, the engagement of Union; and Mr. Téte António, Permanent Observer of Member States and partnerships between the United the African Union to the United Nations. Nations family and civil society — shows how timely I propose that the Council invite the Permanent and reliable information and analysis may be leveraged Observer of the Observer State of the Holy See to for prevention. 2/83 17-13474 15/05/2017 Women and peace and security S/PV.7938 A robust legislative framework now exists, Secretary-General has devoted specific attention to including a series of precise Security Council enhancing the process of gaining concrete protection resolutions that give us new tools to drive change and commitments from parties listed annually in his reports progress. We are beginning to see some accountability on sexual violence and children in armed conflict. Of at the international and national levels. There is a course, we face unprecedented political and operational gradual shift from a reality in which it is cost free to challenges, requiring the concerted effort and support rape a woman, child or man in conflict to one where of Member States and the entire United Nations system. there are consequences for anyone who commits, The mass migration crisis and massive displacement commands or condones such crimes. We see greater of populations due to protracted conflicts worldwide national ownership, leadership and responsibility. More Governments are formally committing to take action. has heightened the risk of sexual violence. We see the Regional organizations are working in concert with the acute vulnerability of refugees and internally displaced United Nations to add to this effort. This is all much- persons not only within camps or settlements, but at needed good news. every stage of displacement, and how sexual violence may be a significant factor driving vulnerable from However, the truth is that we must confront the their homes and communities. deep roots of conflict-related sexual violence that lie in fundamental inequality and discrimination against Let us also acknowledge that the response of women in all contexts. Too many women live with the United Nations is undermined by unacceptable the spectre of violence in their daily lives, in their allegations and incidents of sexual abuse and households and in their families. Armed conflict serves exploitation by peacekeepers. The Secretary-General only to exacerbate these prevailing conditions. These and all of us are determined to tackle this challenge circumstances have created an enabling environment head on, as reflected in the recent report on special for widespread and systematic sexual violence in measures for protection from sexual exploitation and conflict situations around the world, including in South abuse (A/71/818), which outlines a strategy for making Sudan where it is a weapon of choice and a tactic of war zero tolerance a reality. being used to terrorize and persecute populations. Sexual violence is a uniquely heart-wrenching As the report (S/2017/249) of Secretary-General crime because victims, instead of the perpetrators, makes clear, we are also confronted by new challenges. often bear the stigma. Those who commit these Sexual violence is increasingly used as a tactic of heinous crimes often escape justice. Meanwhile, their terrorism, employed by extremist groups in places such victims are often forced to live with the shame of as Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Nigeria and Mali to having been raped and rejected by their families and advance their military, economic and ideological