UN Security Council Addresses Rights For War Rape Survivors

UN Security Council Addresses Sexual & Reproductive Rights For Girls & Women Raped In War

Via Global Network of Women Peacebuilders

Ahead of the UNSC debate as members of the GNWP we collectively developed language on the resolution:

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2106 to join the other women peace and security (WPS) resolutions i.e. UNSCR 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889, and 1960. This resolution which mainly a reiteration of the previous resolutions, aims to strengthen efforts to end impunity for sexual violence affecting not only large numbers of women and girls, but also men and boys.

It emphasizes more consistent and rigorous prosecution and investigation of sexual violence crimes as the main point of concern in prevention efforts.

The resolution also calls for the further deployment of Women Protection Advisers (WPA) in accordance with UNSCR 1888 to ensure the implementation all relevant resolutions on women, peace and security issues.

It also expressed the need to ensure women’s participation in all aspects of mediation, post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding and to address sexual violence in conflict in the establishment of mandates, missions and other relevant work of the Security Council.

Furthermore, it also called on the UNSC to use its leadership to ensure that governments, UN bodies and all who can play a decisive part in the arrest and surrender of alleged perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence, fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
 
Even though a majority of the points in relation to justice, CSOs, TRCs, DDR, SSR, and small arms that were raised in the GNWP letter during the preparation of the proposed new resolution on women, peace and security have been addressed within the resolution, there are still some issues that were not included.

For instance with the exception of specific language on ensuring comprehensive gender training to all relevant peacekeeping and civilian personnel, mainstreaming of peace education as a pathway to the prevention of sexual violence was not included.

There is also no language pertaining to the situation of internally displaced and refugee women who are particularly at risk of sexual and other forms of violence other the recalling the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on United Nations Support to non-United Nations Security Forces as a tool to enhance compliance with international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.

Furthermore, the inclusion of economic rights was limited to the context of providing assistance to survivors of sexual violence and not to programs that strengthen the economic capacity as suggested in the GNWP letter.

And lastly, as expected there is no mention of the CEDAW and how it could serve as a complementary procedure for monitoring the implementation of the resolutions on women peace and security.

ENDS

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