Word Assigned Security Council Report话分安全理事会的报告.docVIP

11 June 2008 No. 3 Women, Peace and Security: sexual violence in situations of armed conflict Expected Council Action The US, which has the presidency in June, has advocated for an open thematic debate on “women, peace and security: sexual violence in situations of armed conflict.” Council members have now agreed to schedule this for 19 June. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to chair the debate. It seems that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, Liberia Foreign Minister Olubanke King-Akerele and Major General Patrick Cammaert (former Force Commander of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)) will brief the Council. In a concept paper, the US suggested several areas of focus for the debate: information gathering and reporting by the UN on the scope of sexual violence in armed conflict; prevention and protection through strengthening peacekeeping missions’ mandates; and accountability for perpetrators. The US also emphasised what it sees as a link between sexual violence and instability which can undermine confidence in a peace process. A draft resolution on sexual violence has been circulated by the US. At press time, the first draft included the following elements: the recognition that sexual violence, when used as a weapon of war, can significantly exacerbate armed conflict and, therefore, effective steps to prevent and respond to such violence would contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security; the demand that all parties to armed conflict should immediately cease acts of sexual violence and take measures to protect women and girls; the recognition that sexual violence can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity or a constitutive act with respect to genocide and that ending impunity for such acts is important; the intention to consider targeted and graduated measures; a request to the Secretary-General to develop mechanisms to increase peacekeeping op